Why I Don’t Take My Kids To See Santa

Tell me, do you trudge over to the shopping mall with the kiddies to see Santa Claus?

It sounds like such a nice idea, doesn’t it?

I mean, to have a picture of the children with Santa Claus all rosy cheeked and smiling…a dreamy sight to see. You can send the said sweet picture to all your family and friends by e-mail, give a copy to the grandparents, and have it as a memory for the year, and forevermore.

So why am I not bringing my kids to see Santa? Read on.

Shopping mall Santas are very rarely the vision of Santa that you or your children imagine. By four years old, children understand there is a man playing a role at the shopping mall. And when the role isn’t played well, get ready for the questions!

Mama, why is Santa wearing a fake beard?

Mama, why doesn’t Santa have rosy cheeks?

Mama, he didn’t ho ho ho.

Mama, Santa smelt funny.

Mama, why isn’t Santa smiling?

…and the best one to date,

Mama, why is Santa speaking French to me?

This all happened two years ago when we went to the magical holiday show at a shopping mall near our place. It advertised princesses, elves and other character singing in a festive show sure to please children of all ages. And the piece de resistance was that Santa would be there as well.

The children were thrilled to go but that all changed shortly after we arrived.

It was overcrowded and unorganized for the amount of people there. Sadly, as all stupid, I mean determined parents do at least once, we stayed and tried to make the most of it since we had made it this far and had to give something to the children to remember.

Oh and they remember…

I suppose by now it is a distant enough memory, and I’d like to keep it that way.

Not all Santas are bad. But you can never be sure who will be the Santa in your shopping mall and how your children will react.

Why not organize your own event with a Santa you have met beforehand. We were lucky to have a super duper Santa come to our children’s preschool each year. He was so realistic and jolly. And the lead up to his entrance was priceless – we waited for the sounds of reindeer and bells.

If you have been asked all the questions and your children are still young enough to  believe but not sure who they saw at the shopping mall, here is our staple answer now: the men at the stores are there as helpers to Santa to spread cheer before the big day. Besides, Santa is way to busy to be at shopping malls so close to Christmas.

So tell me, have you had a good experience or a bad experience or no experience at all with shopping mall Santas?

I’d love to read your comments below.