That is truly a tough one we have all struggled with. One of the best expressed visualized metaphors I have seen for Santa (and Mrs. Claus) was in the opening 10 minutes of Santa Claus The Movie (with Dudley Moore), an oldie but goodie (the rest of the movie after the opening is meh, 80s fun). Santa and Mrs. Claus were a beautiful real couple with no children who made toys for children and families in the village (in the undefined cold north) and delivered them by sleigh. One night they were halted by a terrible blizzard and transitioned to a beautiful magical world in the North Pole and met by an impish Elf (played by Dudley Moore). I found it the most beautiful and loving expression of the mystical magic and wonder of the Love of God in all of us. So, by all means Santa and Mrs. Claus and all the elves who bring this love and giving to life are "real."
Yes. They’re not really separate, are they? It’s difficult to make an abstract concrete. So, we create words and rituals, movies, art and s books to help us. Best wishes and have fun! It’s all about the Love anyway.
Also, babies and children 'know' about the abstract or God, as that is where they just came from. We merely help them to remember before they forget. OR perhaps they are helping us to remember what we forgot!
P.S. children also seem to really love Elf on the Shelf, which I don't particularly care for, but it does give parents the ability to give unique expression to a 'personal angel' in the elf who disappears during the day and comes out for some mischievous fun at night all of the parents' creation.
If it helps at all, we pretended Santa was real until the day that Everett, at 5, literally looked at me and said, “dad, is Santa real?” I looked at Mellette, gave her a ‘well…’ shrug and said, “no buddy, he’s just a character for fun.”
But we still do Santa letters that I write and gifts from Santa. Everett still seems to find joy in the character of Santa and fun of it!
But you still have time. Haha. I wouldn’t make too big a deal of it.
Yeah I think we may do it am just acknowledge this is is just a story from the beginning, and then not make it a huge deal. But I have gone back and forth pretty hard.
That is truly a tough one we have all struggled with. One of the best expressed visualized metaphors I have seen for Santa (and Mrs. Claus) was in the opening 10 minutes of Santa Claus The Movie (with Dudley Moore), an oldie but goodie (the rest of the movie after the opening is meh, 80s fun). Santa and Mrs. Claus were a beautiful real couple with no children who made toys for children and families in the village (in the undefined cold north) and delivered them by sleigh. One night they were halted by a terrible blizzard and transitioned to a beautiful magical world in the North Pole and met by an impish Elf (played by Dudley Moore). I found it the most beautiful and loving expression of the mystical magic and wonder of the Love of God in all of us. So, by all means Santa and Mrs. Claus and all the elves who bring this love and giving to life are "real."
I’ll have to check it out. We have some time, but still trying to wrap my head around how to separate a metaphor from reality for kids!
Yes. They’re not really separate, are they? It’s difficult to make an abstract concrete. So, we create words and rituals, movies, art and s books to help us. Best wishes and have fun! It’s all about the Love anyway.
No they aren’t separate! Good word. Thanks!
Also, babies and children 'know' about the abstract or God, as that is where they just came from. We merely help them to remember before they forget. OR perhaps they are helping us to remember what we forgot!
P.S. children also seem to really love Elf on the Shelf, which I don't particularly care for, but it does give parents the ability to give unique expression to a 'personal angel' in the elf who disappears during the day and comes out for some mischievous fun at night all of the parents' creation.
If it helps at all, we pretended Santa was real until the day that Everett, at 5, literally looked at me and said, “dad, is Santa real?” I looked at Mellette, gave her a ‘well…’ shrug and said, “no buddy, he’s just a character for fun.”
But we still do Santa letters that I write and gifts from Santa. Everett still seems to find joy in the character of Santa and fun of it!
But you still have time. Haha. I wouldn’t make too big a deal of it.
Yeah I think we may do it am just acknowledge this is is just a story from the beginning, and then not make it a huge deal. But I have gone back and forth pretty hard.