The Christmas Special Issue
Santa, religion and the perfect present.
by Babble
December 18, 2007
Those of us with young children often find ourselves asking ourselves at this time of year: What kind of holiday do I want to give my child? That means literally: Hanukkah or Christmas? Both or neither? But also: Full of wonder and indulgence or full of honesty and charity? And what about Santa? Is he friend or foe?
As soon as the weather turned cool, writers started sending us pieces about the holidays. The dawn of the season had them struggling with feelings about their extended families, religion and commercialism.
We picked three articles about Santa. Here are three new mothers with very different takes on the jolly old man and his reindeer, and we present them to you in order of belief.
First, Sasha Brown-Worsham gives us "Bad Parent: The Grinch. Why I won't let my child believe in Santa." Sasha was terrified of Santa as a child and is raising her child to be honest at all costs, so to perpetuate the Santa myth in her own home seemed like hypocrisy.
Then, Jennifer Cattaui (founder of the stylish boutique Babesta) tells in "You Better Not Cry" how she uses Santa's power to rein in her high-energy daughters, shamelessly employing her Santa-like father in this creative means of behavior modification.
For Christmas Eve, we give you Kim Brooks, an avowed atheist who suddenly finds herself, on her baby's first Christmas, wanting to throw herself into the spirit of the season. In "'Tis the Season," she describes how she sees something worthwhile in the longing to, just once a year, pretend: pretend that Santa exists, pretend that we can afford our gifts, pretend that everyone in the whole family (even the drunk uncles and imperfect parents) love each other without condition. There are worse things than that to give a kid.
So, in the spirit of good-intentioned lies we tell our kids and each other, Merry Christmas everyone! — Ada Calhoun
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by the Babble Editors
Perfect presents for every family.
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by Erin K. Blakeley
I'm Catholic. My husband's Jewish. What does that make our son? |
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by Amy Lutz
Why I don't believe in "no gifts" parties. |
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by Sasha Brown Worsham
Why I won't let my child believe in Santa. |
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by Jennifer Cattui
Santa's the disciplinarian at our house. |
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by Kim Brooks
Why my Jewish baby is celebrating Christmas. |
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by Lisa Carver and kids
Shrek vs. Dudley Moore vs. The Doodlebops! |
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©2007 Nerve Media
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