Santa Isn’t Real
I am sorry to say that today someone told my daughter’s preschool class that Santa is, in fact, not real. My husband and I were there for lunch with her class to celebrate her birthday, and we were witnesses to the whole thing. It was awful.
After lunch, all the children gathered around Miss Pam for a final Christmas story. This was to be the last Christmas book they would share together; Christmas break was starting in about five minutes.
The children listened attentively. All of them, that is, except for one little blonde-headed girl who sat in the back row grinning with delight at the fact that her mommy and daddy were there visiting her classroom. Hugh and I beamed back at Hannajean, munching on our white frosted birthday cookies. We, too, listened to the story of Mary’s ride to Bethlehem.
As soon as the story finished, Miss Pam began her holiday farwells. “Now, you all be very good for your parents because Christmas is still a week away, okay?” she said, smiling. “And don’t forget to put out the reindeer food for Santa’s reindeer on your lawn on Christmas Eve.” She held a baggie of Instant Oatmeal high in the air in front of the children.
My daughter glanced back at me with a huge smile, very excited about her baggie of oats.
“Oh, wow, Hugh,” I whispered. “She actually thinks the reindeer are going to come! That is so sweet.”
I reflected for a second on how young five years old really is; on how she seems to be growing so fast, but maybe, just maybe, she is still my sweet little girl.
Hannajean turned back to Miss Pam. Her little hand shot up in the air. “Yes, Hannajean?” asked Miss Pam.
“Santa isn’t real,” she announced loudly to the circle of children. A few children gasped. So did Miss Pam.
“Oh yes! Yes, yes, yes, Santa IS real. Santa is love and Christmas is all about love and..well, yes. He, uh, is. Real. Hannajean.” Miss Pam finished, glancing at us where we sat on our two small red plastic chairs, cookies forgotten.
Hugh was trying to hold in his laughter. I, however, was mortified.
Why. Seriously. As if I didn’t already have enough embarrassing moments in my life, with everyone knowing the minute I slip into depression thanks to my blog - now I have to go and watch my daughter destroy the Christmas dreams of her classmates.
I guess Hannajean wasn’t excited about her reindeer food after all. She was excited about the opportunity to share the truth about Mr. Claus with a bunch of five-year-olds.
I know one day I will laugh at this. (Ok. Maybe that day is today.) And I guess it’s part of the journey: that strange mixture of embarrassment and joy that comes from parenting.
Merry Christmas.
Oh my. That is precious. I’m impressed that she knows the truth at such a young and impressionable age. THAT is precicely why we teach our children the same thing. Imagine the poor little dears whose Christmas is ruined because of your daughter’s honesty. Had their parents been honest to them in the first place, this never would have happened. Heee hee, I’m still laughing.
I don’t care what she says! Santa is REAL! I believe in him, don’t you?
Jessica, I love your blog anyway, but these are by far my favorite posts…I guess it’s because I can just see you chuckling while you’re writing it!
i am laughing to, with you of course. josh and jordyn have told other kids that too, just not in a whole class setting with all attention on them, like your sweet girl. i have been struggling with the whole santa thing this year and trying to figure out who does santa and who doesnt and who my kids need to not tell the truth too, anyway…. i understand your pain, girl!
HA!! It was funny when you told it to me..even funnier when I read it. I can just hear Hugh’s belly laugh
. I tell you between Hannajean and Aaron it’s a wonder that more children’s lives havent been ruined 
. I think I told you but Aaron announced when my mom was talking about Santa and his jolly face and red hat, “Santa is dead. His hat is not red, it is black because he died a long time ago.” Guess I shouldnt have read Aaron the true story Of St. Nick. 
You give Hannajean a huge kiss from Aunt Mander
Thanks for the heads up. I’ll be sure to keep HJ off the topic of Santa in Quest on Sunday!
Isn’t that interesting that a school teacher would adamantly insist that Santa is real, but teachers won’t do the same for Jesus and he ‘is’ the real reason for Christmas? So your daughter wants to tell the truth? I can just imagine this as you described the smile on her face, oh boy! Maybe she’ll grow up to be a teacher of the Lord. ((hugs))