I waited in line over a hour to see Santa the other day. I feel a little silly admitting this. Of course this was for Willie, but then, well, I ended up sitting on Santa's lap too. This was a big switch from my childhood as I was one of those afraid to go near Santa children. But yet, there I was the other night, laughing and sitting up with Santa himself, who told me I wasn't as heavy as the last adult who sat on his lap.
Perhaps I should explain a little here. We took Willie to the holiday open house in downtown Exeter last Thursday night. We'd been getting ready for this for weeks--the first intro to Santa. Every time I drove Willie through the downtown, I pointed out the bandstand and told him that Santa would be coming to sit there soon.
I of course was expecting that he would do what I had done as a child. Run. Scream. Cry. Refuse to sit on Santa's lap.
Perhaps my brainwashing worked better than I expected. Because when it was time for Willie to climb up the stairs of the bandstand to sit with Santa, he put his arms up and gladly hopped up on the old elf's lap. No fear at all. More a bit skeptical really. But he seemed to get into the spirit of things. And then how could I not go along with the fun and jump up too? It was for the kid, really. Really it was. Ha.
The first intro to Santa for kids seems to be a milestone. What has it been like for others out there? What did you child do the first time? Any really funny stories? Memorable ones. Share please!
Santa scared my daughter
Those who know me, know my daughter is now married and has her own daughter. That being said, I have to find the picture of her first visit to Santa at the mall. She was so cute, all dressed in red. In the picture, she is actually looking at Santa with a horrified look on her face and both little hands slapped over her mouth. It's a riot.
Thanks for taking me there
Oh what a smile I have on my face. The first time Wyatt met Santa was at York's lighting of the Nubble Light house when he was a wee one. Both Bill and I cried at the thrill of having a healthy boy to introduce all of our family holiday traditions to. It was a surprisingly sweet night. So many years of dreaming of being parents...and there we were....freezing and sipping cocoa on Nubble point with thousands of people, singing Christmas carols and Santa drove up on a fire truck. It was precious.
Wyatt seemed excited about the whole big man in a red suit idea, so I took him to Town Hall to give Santa his list and to meet him in person. I HAD TO STAND SO CLOSE, BUT NOT in the picture in order make that Kodak moment happen! He sort of freaked out by the beard or something and couldn't get too comfy on that lap.
But we got the photo and I got ribbed for quite awhile after that by my husband for wanting the photo so bad that the poor kid was no picked up immediately when he made his feelings known? Yikes. The things we do. Thanks for taking me there Lara!
Especially since this is our second Christmas since Wyatt learned that I was Santa!
Growing up too fast
Your second Christmas as Santa.. wow. I was just lamenting that with kids growing up so fast now, we'd be lucky if Willie still believes by the time he goes to school...
Anything is possible
With the help of my amazing sisters we enjoyed the chance to keep the mystery and magic of Christmas alive and well for as long as we could. And in the end, it was an error on my part that let the cat out of the bag. My sister came up to Maine and took the new surf board to NY for me and while in riding in my sister's car in NY Wyatt saw the plastic wrapping from the board with a sticker on it showing it was from Liquid Dreams in Ogunquit. I was busted!
Now I still talk about Santa as being the spirit of giving our love to those we love.
And he rolls his eyes!