A defining moment in every child's life is discovering the heartbreaking truth about Santa. Whether it's from a friend at school, or they figure it out on their own, it's often a sad moment when the magic of Christmas and innocence are simultaneously lost.
Breaking the news about Santa to your kids is hard, but as many cases of coming home from school in tears suggest, sometimes letting them figure it out on their own is even harder.
If you're having trouble navigating this tricky situation, have no fear! Mother of two Charity Hutchinson shared a genius Santa strategy on Facebook and is giving us all something to think about.
In the post, the mom reveals that she thinks most children are ready to hear the truth when they are only 6 or 7, or "whenever you see that dawning suspicion that Santa may not be a material thing."
Charity didn't come up with the plan herself, but says, "Immediately I knew I wanted to get the word out to my friends too about this amazing idea!"
The mom had no idea the story would garner this much attention, but can see why it did in retrospect. "It's a very special and sweet way to tell your kids about Santa," she says.
The plan starts with sitting down with the child over coffee. After ordering drinks, initiate what we all expect to be a tough conversation.
Here's what she suggests you say:
You sure have grown an awful lot this year. Not only are you taller, but I can see that your heart has grown, too. [Point out 2-3 examples of empathetic behavior, consideration of people’s feelings, good deeds etc, the kid has done in the past year]. In fact, your heart has grown so much that I think you are ready to become a Santa Claus.
Instead of crushing a child's hopes and dreams by saying Santa is fake, Charity opts to keep the Christmas spirit alive by charging her responsibility-hungry grade-schooler with the special task of being Santa Claus.
Of course, this doesn't involve dressing up in a red suit or anything of the sort. Rather, Charity gives her child a very important mission: to choose someone they know and "secretly, deviously, find out something that the person needs, and then provide it, wrap it, deliver it — and never reveal to the target where it came from."
The anonymity is central to the exercise:"Being a Santa isn't about getting credit, you see. It's unselfish giving."
This aspect is why Charity and moms everywhere are going crazy for this idea.
"I think it also really touched me because inside of this mom's incredible story were all of these amazing nuggets of truth and life lessons," she says. "I want to teach my kids that it's better to give than to receive and to be generous and kind at any time of year, and this story just teaches parents how to share the true meaning of the holidays and Christmas (through the magic of Santa), which is that no matter your beliefs or backgrounds you should always give generously and joyfully to others and find ways to help and bless those around you."
Charity shares how her oldest son enjoyed giving a pair of slippers to an unfriendly neighbor they refer to as the "witch lady," and how the tradition of giving has taken a beautiful shape over the years and touched its recipients.
She even shares how her older son got in on the action and excitedly told his younger brother about the meaning of being a Santa when he too was ready.
Charity says she will continue this tradition for years to come with her boys, and that this way they never grow out of Santa!
Please SHARE this story with your friends who have their own Santas-in-waiting!
