Keeping the Santa Secret – Christine Hutchins
40 years ago my mum made Christmas stockings for me and my sister – we both still have them, and I use mine as a template for the stockings I make for others. A very clear memory from a year or two later is of Christmas Eve (although I don’t recall knowing clearly at the time that it was Christmas Eve). Being only about 6 or 7 years old, I got out of bed in the night, as I needed the toilet. As I left my bedroom, I saw our stockings partly filled on the blanket chest on the landing, and the door to the bathroom was half open / half closed. As a young child, I was convinced that Father Christmas was using our toilet, so I went in to my mum’s room, telling her that I needed the toilet. She said “Well go then, you silly child” – and I told her: “I can’t – Father Christmas is in there…!” – even though she told me it would be okay, I was not entirely convinced that he wouldn’t be in our bathroom!
Santa’s Epic Fail – Sylvia Priest
When our kids were young we used to spend Christmas Eve with neighbours, each year having a bottle or two of festive cheer together. Inevitably things would last into the night, but we were still left with the last few presents to wrap in time for Santa to arrive. One particular year we had a a tractor and trailer to complete for our lad. Somehow, in amongst all the giggles and laughter, the party, which that year was at our house, decided to help out. A large bow was left on the top of the tractor and it was left alongside the tree for Santa to smile on when he passed by. Christmas morning dawned, crisp and bright and very early as usual. The kids knew back then it was the only day they could wake us up early. We crept down together and our lad squealed with pleasure at the sight of the one thing he had been asking for. At 3 year old it was something special to him. He ran over and leaped onto the tractor, and, oh no, everything fell apart, the wheels dropped off, the trailer fell apart … everything. He stood, looked and then looked at us with a look of disgust. “Mummy,” he said, “I think Father Christmas needs a new tool set!” We love both our kids equally, always have, but that year was just really wonderful.
The Real Santa Claus – Sue Griffiths
Many years ago my eldest daughter, then in year two came home very upset. The news was out. Santa did not exist and even her much loved teacher did not believe in Santa Claus.
She wasn’t ready for it.
I took a deep breath.
“I believe in Santa claus”
She wasn’t convinced.
“You know when you were little and you thought the dress up santas in the shops were really Santa Claus.” She nodded seriously. “But now you don’t think that.” Head shake.
“Well as you get older your idea of Santa will change. I still believe in Santa Claus, but my ideas about Santa changed as I grew up.”
She nodded very seriously again. But I could see that she could accept this. Disaster averted.
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