As my four children grew up we enjoyed the Christmas holidays. The decorations, the lights, the stories, the legends.
Each of my four children believed in Santa Claus in their early days. As they grew older they would ask me and their mother if Santa Claus was real. My wife would tell them that Santa Claus was real and he was at the mall waiting to take a picture with them. When they came to me and asked me about Santa Claus I would smile and say I am Santa Claus.
I told them I was Batman and the Easter Bunny. That I was the tooth fairy. That I was all the mystical creations. And they smiled and laughed and told me know when that I couldn't be all that. And they didn't believe me.
Until they got older. And they discovered that I really was the one that replace the tooth with the dollar. I was the one that filled their Easter baskets with their mother. I was the one that filled their stockings on Christmas Eve after I encourage them to go upstairs and stay in their bedrooms with the door closed so they didn't spoil the surprise. I was the one that got them the surprise that they needed.
I love being that person. Part of me is sad that I was so honest with them, but one of my core values is that I don't online the people. Including my family. So I never lied to my children about Santa Claus. Or any of the other characters that we grew up with.
Now on Christmas morning when they get a gift from the Grinch they know that it's socks or underwear. When they have a gift labeled from the president they know that is probably going to cost them money. Recently with the stupid virus reactions when they get a gift from Dr. Fauchi or the CDC they know that it's probably a mask or something silly like hand sanitizer.
I love being honest with my family. Especially my children. I hope they appreciate it.
