Don't Be a Grinch

I cannot quite remember when I first found out Santa was imaginary; however, I can remember the excitement of waking on Christmas Day and running to our family Christmas tree to see what presents Santa had left for me during his overnight journey.  The excitement would have most definitely been minimized if not completely gone had I known all along that all of those presents I had received over the years had come solely from my parents. Santa Clause encourages children to use their imagination and explore new ideas in their heads; why would a parent want to take the fun out of a holiday? Santa Clause is part of the Christmas tradition; what little kid do you know that does not have a picture sitting on Santa's lap in the mall or even with the Easter bunny? The anticipation of Santa coming to your house in the middle of the night is the most exciting part of Christmas in my opinion. 

Making cookies and leaving milk out for Santa to take with him and his reindeer on their long journey was a very rewarding feeling. Could you even imagine Christmas time without Santa Clause? No Christmas movies, no Rudolf, no Santa at the mall, and most importantly no cookies. I personally enjoy seeing little kids' faces light up the morning of Christmas or even when they are sitting on Santa's lap at the mall as they spew out their Christmas wish lists to the old man in a beard. Without Santa Clause, Christmas is simply not the same holiday that we all know and love; all of our comforting traditions would cease to exist. So parents, do not be a Grinch and take all the fun out of Christmas by being honest about Santa Clause, let your children enjoy their childhood and live out the Christmas experience to the fullest.