Waiting for Santa! (Or, not...) December 19, 2012

While Quintin had never before demonstrated anything but complete antipathy towards Santa, he was now three years old, and we figured it was an ideal age to help him move past the initial fear and mistrust, to embrace, as his peers did, Santa the Giver.  Along this vein, Kevin and I loaded Quintin into the car and headed to Lakeland Square Mall, Santa's closest outpost.

Since it was just under a week before Christmas, we were competing with about 300 other children and families for the chance to talk with the guy in the big red suit.  Fortunately, Santa's throne bordered a play area, and we were able to keep Quintin happily occupied for the almost two hour wait.  While we waited, Mommy pointed out Santa and took Quintin close enough to see other children crawling onto his lap to discuss their wish-lists.  He seemed pleased by the concept, and waved to Santa happily before heading back to play.   Daddy got up to hold our place in line, and Quintin and I played...and played...and played... I used to the time to contemplate desired poses for the great photo opportunity.  I also discussed some of our family's traditions with Quintin, including our own understanding of the Christmas story's significance and Santa's role in it (his gifts to remind us of God's Great Gift).  He wasn't that interested, but we were surrounded by play equipment ;-).

At long last, our turn came.  Daddy was looking pretty grumpy by the wait (standing in line turned out not to be his favorite way to spend the day), but none of that mattered when Santa looked over at us with his jolly grin.  I turned, smiling, to my precious son.  He glowered back at all of us, saving a particularly brutal glare for Santa.  We were lucky to get out of there before Santa got injured.  Apparently, the man in the big red suit makes Quintin see, well, red.  We talked, on the way back to the care, about showing kindness and love toward everyone, especially someone like Santa who makes such an effort to care for others.  Quintin did not look convinced.  Maybe next year...  Meanwhile, I decided to enjoy another year without Santa and all the more negative aspects of the holiday he can sometimes come to represent.  I guess there are worse things ;-)