Why I would like to throttle the mall Santa

[Gillian]

I knew there was a reason that we skip the mall santas! Other than lines & crowds & stuff. Santa only brings one gift for each kid. My 7 year old knows the rest comes from mom & dad. He was with me when I bought the Wii, so it's kind of hard to hide.

I wish we would have started like that. We are actually trying to phase out Santa. This will be our 2nd year celebrating Hanukkah and although we do not buy the kids gifts for Christmas he still brings them a treat because a) Santa is non-denominational and b) I was/am too scared/sad to break the news about me and DH being Santa.

Santa might be non-denominational, but he isn't Jewish. At least that's what my parents told me. We never had anything even remotely Christmas-y in our house.

We've mainly celebrated Christmas since the kids were born, but we're going to focus on Hanukah this year. Santa will still be able to find the kids to bring a small gift to each of them (we're visiting family in Florida). Actually, it works out well with it being early this year because then we can give them gifts for the drive down before we leave. Then we'll do church with the family and the santa gift.

 

[lynninpa]

DH took the kids to the mall yesterday and Santa was there. Our son asked Santa for a Wii. Santa tells him: it's already in my bag!

The kids are getting a Wii but what if they weren't???? I could throttle that mall Santa. I wonder how many other parents he has set up?

Bad Santa!

Santa must have seen the expression on DH's face because when DD asked for a mouse, he said he'd have to check his list.

Please tell me that maybe your DH made some sort of "heads up gesture" to Santa (A little nod? A wink?) to let Santa know that your son was getting a Wii? Otherwise, I can totally understand why you would like to throttle the guy! I just keep thinking about the kids that were promised gifts by this guy only to be disappointed on Christmas morning.

 

[rentayenta]

Please tell me that maybe your DH made some sort of "heads up gesture" to Santa (A little nod? A wink?) to let Santa know that your son was getting a Wii? Otherwise, I can totally understand why you would like to throttle the guy! I just keep thinking about the kids that were promised gifts by this guy only to be disappointed on Christmas morning.

Nope, he didn't. He would have contacted the management but the kids were with him so he couldn't. I am planning on contacting them tomorrow. What kills me is what bothers you, the thought of the kids who wake up disappointed. Not that life isn't full of them but to purposely create it is insane.

 

[rentayenta]

I knew there was a reason that we skip the mall santas! Other than lines & crowds & stuff. Santa only brings one gift for each kid. My 7 year old knows the rest comes from mom & dad. He was with me when I bought the Wii, so it's kind of hard to hide.

Santa might be non-denominational, but he isn't Jewish. At least that's what my parents told me. We never had anything even remotely Christmas-y in our house.

We've mainly celebrated Christmas since the kids were born, but we're going to focus on Hanukah this year. Santa will still be able to find the kids to bring a small gift to each of them (we're visiting family in Florida). Actually, it works out well with it being early this year because then we can give them gifts for the drive down before we leave. Then we'll do church with the family and the santa gift.

Santa isn't a Jew?


We are focusing on Hanukkah too. DH wants to phase all signs of Christmas out now but I think it's too much at once. The kids got their Jewish names, we are honoring Shabbat, going to the synagogue on Fridays, and they attend Hebrew school on Sunday. We even try to keep kosher and have cut out all pork and shellfish.

 

[lynninpa]

Nope, he didn't. He would have contacted the management but the kids were with him so he couldn't. I am planning on contacting them tomorrow. What kills me is what bothers you, the thought of the kids who wake up disappointed. Not that life isn't full of them but to purposely create it is insane.

Oh my! This really pisses me off! (Can I say that?!) Not that Christmas should revolve around presents-that certainly is not what it is about. But when it comes to little ones falling asleep on Christmas Eve dreaming about what some friggin' idiot at the mall promised them would be under the tree the next morning-that veey well may not be there? GRRRRR!

 

[disneyjunkie]

This is one reason why my sister and BIL never did the whole Santa thing. They will take the kids to visit Santa in a mall, but they know he isn't bringing them anything.


When my oldest niece was 4 my sister and I took her and her brother to see Santa. Santa asked her what she wanted him to bring her for Christmas.

Her response?

"Nothing, you don't bring gifts to my house. Do you want me to tell you what I want my mommy and daddy to get me for Christmas?"

 

[rentayenta]

Oh my! This really pisses me off! (Can I say that?!) Not that Christmas should revolve around presents-that certainly is not what it is about. But when it comes to little ones falling asleep on Christmas Eve dreaming about what some friggin' idiot at the mall promised them would be under the tree the next morning-that veey well may not be there? GRRRRR!

I agree. I called the mall today and spoke with a woman who is going to pass along the info. he was a fill in Santa, of course what are they going to say, so she's going to contact the co. and they will contact me. She said if they haven't within a week to contact her again.

When my oldest niece was 4 my sister and I took her and her brother to see Santa. Santa asked her what she wanted him to bring her for Christmas.

Her response?

"Nothing, you don't bring gifts to my house. Do you want me to tell you what I want my mommy and daddy to get me for Christmas?"

Snarky Santa!

 

[MSSANDRA]

This is one reason why my sister and BIL never did the whole Santa thing. They will take the kids to visit Santa in a mall, but they know he isn't bringing them anything.


When my oldest niece was 4 my sister and I took her and her brother to see Santa. Santa asked her what she wanted him to bring her for Christmas.

Her response?

"Nothing, you don't bring gifts to my house. Do you want me to tell you what I want my mommy and daddy to get me for Christmas?"

Maybe I am am wrong but this one bothers me . I have NO problem with not doing Santa in your family but why put your children in the position of being asked by Santa what they want him to bring them AND perhaps with in hearing distance of other children whom have parents that do want them to believe??


Please do not think I am trying to stir up a debate but I am just currious why a family switches from celebrating Christmas to celebrating Hanukkah or even vice versa. Is it a religious change for your family ?????

 

[foltzy]

I mentioned to my husband this morning that Santa was coming to town sometime or another (I've actually forgot when now). He told my 2 year old to ask Santa for stuff and he'd bring it to her. I was not happy. So he and I will be having a discussion on how to handle Santa with her and her 6 month old brother. This is the first year we're really doing Santa so it's new territory but I could have killed him when he told her that Santa would bring her what she asked for especially because she's been asking for just about everything she's seen on TV.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Maybe I am am wrong but this one bothers me . I have NO problem with not doing Santa in your family but why put your children in the position of being asked by Santa what they want him to bring them AND perhaps with in hearing distance of other children whom have parents that do want them to believe??


Please do not think I am trying to stir up a debate but I am just currious why a family switches from celebrating Christmas to celebrating Hanukkah or even vice versa. Is it a religious change for your family ?????

My family hasn't converted. My family celebrates Christmas and all other Christian holidays.

My sister and BIL just refuse to do the Santa and Easter Bunny thing. They just don't believe in giving others credit for their hard work.

As far as visiting Santa, they take the kids because they enjoy it.

We visit Santa at Macy's. There's a huge line that ends at a row of little houses. (Maybe 5-10 houses) Each house has a Santa and a photographer inside. Only one family is allowed inside at a time. It's impossible for another child to hear what’s being said if they aren't inside the house.

My niece and nephew know not to say anything to other kids about Santa or the Easter Bunny. I've been around my niece when other kids start talking about Santa. She looks over at me, smiles and winks, but never reveals anything. She knows that it isn't ok to spoil the fun for others.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Sorry,

Sounds like your family is very considerate of other children. We did Santa but i sometimes wish we had not. We are a Christian family and
though I dreaded the year that Ds knew about Santa, it was really the best Christmas ever. He was so much more understanding of our desire to give to others at Christmas and the whole spirit of Christmas was more focused on what I wanted it to be on.



The Christmas /Hanukkah issue was from another poster. They had celebrated Christmas in the past but were celebrating Hanukkah this year. I just wondered, while respecting choices, how that came to be.

 

[rentayenta]

Please do not think I am trying to stir up a debate but I am just currious why a family switches from celebrating Christmas to celebrating Hanukkah or even vice versa. Is it a religious change for your family ?????

I guess this was meant for me?


For us it's not a religious change as much as it is a relgious beginning. Christmas was hardly a religious holiday around our home but more about the spirit of giving. DH hates almost any type of formal religion but thankfully has embraced Judaism and it's been amazingly powerful.

 

[Katy Belle]

A few years ago we went to the mall santa. My middle DS was probably 6 at the time. He asked Santa for a Robin, from Batman, costume. That Santa was GREAT! He told him that his elves don't make costumes so they'd have to get it from a store and Halloween had passed. He told him he would try. What a fantastic answer!!! We did find one at costumes.com and DS was surprised and thrilled!
Katy

 

[MSSANDRA]

I guess this was meant for me?


For us it's not a religious change as much as it is a relgious beginning. Christmas was hardly a religious holiday around our home but more about the spirit of giving. DH hates almost any type of formal religion but thankfully has embraced Judaism and it's been amazingly powerful.

blessings and peace to your family this year!!: