Sunday, December 20, 2009

Christmas...means less now that my baby doesn't belive in Santa!


This time of year is very aggravating to me. We have a bunch of expectations to meet and even in times of plenty I struggle to succumb to the commercialism of the holiday.

When I was a kid who still had a belief in Santa...and in a god...this season was all magic. From the decorations to the cookies and fudge to the gifts and the anticipation. I loved the stories of a Night Before Christmas, The Little Drummer Boy, and A Christmas Carol.

As I grew older Christmas became tainted by the domestic issues my parents had and the expectations that my father had failed to meet or the unrealistic expectations that my mother had of him. But, for most of the years I lived at home there was someone who believed in Santa Claus.

I easily shed my belief in god at about age 16. The belief in Santa had be be pried from me at age 12. I suffered greatly at this time of year. I worried about the emotional health of my family and if Santa knew what I wanted for Christmas. The night before Christmas I would lay awake the entire night listening for Sleigh Bells and wondering how Santa would get down that chimney; which would lead him to the basement where I slept, and get upstairs without me hearing him. I became a Santa apologist. I was a hopeless romantic!

When I started having children of my own I still loved the whole idea of Santa...but hated the financial pressures the season brings. We did little to raise our children as Christians in fact we avoided most references to Christ in the season. When my oldest, Skyler was about four he was watching a "First Christmas" program on TV. He turned from the TV and asked emphatically..."who is this Jesus dude anyway?" When my youngest boy, Michael, was about 10 he was helping my wife set up a small nativity in the great room. He handed her a figurine of the baby Jesus and said, "Don't forget Noah". He only knew about Noah from the Veggie Tales cartoon that my Mother-in-law lent him despite my objection.

My youngest, Kiera, shed her belief in Santa last year telling us she had caught us a couple of years ago. She kept up appearances because of the "If you don't believe...you don't receive" mantra my wife would repeat all season.

For a Curmudgeon, I love to entertain, decorate my home, and to cook great meals for my family and guests. I am a designer at heart and each tree I put up is an experiment in a new theme, color pallet, each center piece is an opportunity to show Martha Stewart up!

I started this blog as a result of struggling with this question...'Why does an atheist celebrate Christmas at all?' A year later I an no closer to answering this question. I spent most of today shopping for gifts and supporting this artificial economy we have built around this holiday. I believe more this year than I did last that Christ was a legend and not a real person. I struggle to justify the celebration in his name or the financial stress this holiday puts on me and most of middle America. I celebrate it because my wife still loves it.....And I design a mean Christmas Tree!

1 comment:

  1. Comments from Facebook:
    Brooke Pugmire: Kevin, I was devasted when I found out there wasn't a Santa. With that magic gone, my world was changed. The magic returned when I had kids of my own who believed. I too am now in the same boat of not having any of my kids believe anymore. They still humor me because they know how much it means to me.
    As you know, I do believe in Christ. I try to... See More give gifts to Him during this time by doing some sort of kindness or service. They are relatively small things. I have a long ways to go. I hope I am given the time I need to do greater things.
    Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Christmas! I think celebrating it because you love Lisa is beautiful!
    I wish you and your wonderful family peace, joy and love!

    Wyatt Felger: Santa is not real? What? No he has to be real how do the cookies get eaten and presents get under the tree?!??!!?!?!? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

    Shelly Dudley Aoude: Kevin, you have allways made Christmas beautiful for me. I still remember Dads grinchy ways and Moms perpetual disappointment but my fondest memories are of the long nights we spent imagining reindeers hoofs on the roof and the sound of Santa's bells and then waiting for it to be late enough in the morning to wake Mom and Dad so we could open our ... See Morepresents. Now my children will have fond memories of Christmas spent at your magically decorated home and great Christmas dinners. I love you and my Christmas memories wouldnt be the same without you!
    2 hours ago · Delete

    ReplyDelete