The Santa Debacle

Okay, so I feel like this post is going to be interesting. I want to start by saying that this is something we have DECIDED to do. It may not be popular, but it's something we feel strongly about. I've already had some feedback (some good, some not), but I want to post mainly because I want to give other parents who may eventually stumble on this blog something to think about. I think parenting should be an ever changing experience, and I want to encourage others to talk with their spouse and not be afraid to do things differently. So now, without more adieu, I give you our Santa decision:

We're not doing him.

Yep, you read me right, we are not going to do the whole Santa thing. We have reasons, which I will talk about, but I want to reiterate that we have made this decision. Any family or friends reading this that want to debate it with us are welcome, but don't expect us to be easily persuaded. Please also understand that we are not saying that parents who do the whole Santa thing are bad people, because they aren't. My parents did Santa with me, and their parents with them.

I also want to reassure anyone worried that because Link doesn't believe in Santa means that he's going to go running around informing the other kids at school. We plan on working very hard at explaining to him that it's important he not interfere with other families ideals and beliefs. This is a trait we think is important for him to learn anyway, and this is just one way he can learn it.

One of the biggest reasons I didn't want to do Santa was that I feel like it's almost like lying to him. We're telling him about this man who lives far away, and who visits once a year while he's sleeping and drops off toys, knowing all along that this isn't true.

Another reason is that I didn't want Link to go through the devastation of finding out that Santa isn't real. I remember how confused and upset I was, and my sister and I have discussed how she felt. It seems like such a difficult thing for a child to go through.

The next reason ties in some with the previous. We worry some that if Link is brought up to believe in Santa, someone that he never sees (well, sees once at the mall) but then learns isn't real, that bringing him to believe in Christ may be a challenge. I can already hear the argument from my family, but you believed in Santa but still have a firm faith in Christ. That is true, but I don't think that this is excuse enough.

Let me reiterate again that because we are not judging those who choose to do Santa, nor are we trying to imply that we are somehow superior. We are simply defending our alternative parenting style on this subject.

I dare say this is probably the most scandalous blog post yet. I suppose now I'll wait for the phone calls from family members...

Sleep is, evidently, overrated

Okay, so I suppose it's kinda our fault for letting him sleep for two hours after 6 p.m., but last night was, in a nutshell, an experience.

It started out as one of those nights where we found ourselves pleading with our adorable baby boy to please, please go to bed around 11. This lasted for about a half hour, before we conceded that Link was not in fact going to sleep. Then, I offered to let Tyler go to bed since he had to work today, but that also was short lived, when God gave me the insight to realize that my anger had the upper hand. So, at right around midnight, Link, Tyler, my pillow and I headed back upstairs.

Another thing that we learned from last night: if you want your child to lay down and try to sleep, don't put on their favorite movie. Tyler and I (mostly I), in our infinite (or not) wisdom, decided that the simple solution would be to lay down a blanket, put on a VeggieTales, lay down on previously-mentioned blanket, and wait for Link to lay down next to you and fall asleep. HA!

Oy. Long story short-ish, my wonderful and caring husband took one for the team and took Link to his room, sat down in the recliner, and rocked Link as he screamed as if we had taken away his birthday. This lasted until shortly after 1, when Link finally gave in to sleep and Tyler, extremely exhausted, laid down in bed.

I woke up as Tyler was getting in the shower, and decided to stay up and enjoy some time to myself. Tyler got ready for work and left right around 8:30. I sat on the couch as he left, ready to enjoy some time to myself, but as soon as the door shut behind Tyler, I heard crying come over the monitor. Yep, Link was up, at quarter to nine. And he shows no sign of napping.

But, in all of that, I can still say that I am so happy. I'm happy that I have a child to keep us from falling asleep. I'm happy that he wants to spend time with his parents (I know that someday this desire will be gone). And I'm happy that even though he doesn't always want to sleep, we have a healthy, happy baby boy.