The time has finally come.
Last week on the way home we were having a discussion about what Miles wanted for CHRISTmas. McKinley was in the back seat listening quietly. I knew in my gut what she was about to ask...
"Mom, is Santa real?"
I knew this day would come. I actually looked forward to it in a sense. Most occasions I don't look forward to ANY part of the kids getting older, but this one, I did.
You all know how hard it is to try and make a list, check it twice and then act like a crazy, mad man trying to find it, keep it hidden, put it together, wrap it, write the note, make the cookies, eat the cookies...you get the picture.
So when my youngest munchkin popped the question, I was quite quick to answer, "No sweetie". That simple.
"WHAT!!!???"
Ok, maybe I should have eased into that discussion a little softer and with the help of her father.
Mac has always had a very tender heart and a sweet little nook in the center of her big 'ol heart for the special things in life. Santa was a special thing. Every year she went through great lengths to write him a note, even when she was too little to write, she had me write her letter for her "exactly as I say". She baked cookies for Santa and always left a big glass of milk. Sometimes when we traveled for the Holidays she would leave a note saying where we were going to be on CHRSITmas Eve. We followed Santa on the Doppler Radar, made sure we put the fire out before bed so he wouldn't burn his booty coming down the chimney. We did it all, and then some.
There was the year that all she wanted for CHRISTmas was a picture of Santa Clause and Mrs. Clause and he delivered. Even autographed the pictures that he took just for her!! Then there was the year that the movie Polar Express came out. All she wanted that year was a bell from Santa's sleigh. (Have you tried to find a really BIG, nice, gold bell lately??!) But once again, Santa came through. She still has that bell...and the pictures....and all the notes Santa left for her every CHRISTmas morning.
So yes, maybe I should have taken a little more care to gently spill the beans.
"So, what are you saying Mom??!"
"Well sweetheart, you asked. I thought you would want to know the truth."
"Ok, so, what are you saying...wait a minute, are you saying, do you mean that YOU AND DAD ARE SANTA???!!!!!!!"
"Yes baby girl, we are."
"But what about all those letters? Did you write those?"
"Yes, every one."
"What about the cookies? Did you guys eat those?"
"Yep. Those were my teeth marks in the ones left on the plate for you to see."
"And the pictures?? Where did they come from? and WHO signed them?"
"Ms. Renee helped me on those."
"Ok. But what about the bell? That was special. It was from Santa's sleigh."
"I bought that too."
"You mean, YOU bought my DSI???!!!!"
"Yes. Your dad and I got that for you"
"And the WII???!!!"
"Yep. We had to stand in line for hours to get that game system that year."
Then there was a long pause.
"Am I going to have to pay you guys back for all that stuff???"
These are all great memories that we have made over the last 10 years. Memories and traditions that we will likely talk about for years to come and many of them that we will in fact still do. We will always make cookies CHRISTmas Eve, but maybe now we can keep the fire burning all night.
Keeping it real,
~A
