Santa has been a tough sell for Chloe Jane. Two years ago, he terrified little Chloe Jane when we tried to take her to sit on Santa’s lap at the Lenox Mall. The episode was documented in the Bad Santa post. The following year, she wasn’t terrified of him, but she was clearly still wary. She preferred to keep him at arm’s length and bring her own protection when she met him at the Botanical Garden. The photos from that year are of Chloe Jane sitting in my lap next to Santa.
This year, we believed she was ready.
On December 1, we put up an Advent calendar which counts the days to Christmas with colorful felt ornaments pinned to a Christmas tree. When we explained that once we reach the last day–the last ornament–on the calendar, Santa Claus will come to our house. She looked up at me and said softly, “I don’t want him to come to our house.”
To give her a better understanding of Santa, we showed her educational films like “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” and “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.” She soaked them in and truly enjoyed the shows. She asked to watch “Rudolph” two more times (she actually called him “Reindolph” and some times confused him with Bambi). But, a few days later she asked me, “Daddy, is Santa going to take our toys away?” “No, no” I explained, “You’ve got it all wrong. Santa Claus brings presents” Perplexed by the mix up, I thought about the end of “Rudolph” which she watched three times. At the end, Santa Claus swoops down to the Island of Misfit Toys; scoops up all the toys and then tosses them out of his sleigh as he flies through the air laughing to himself like some deranged elf.
Later in December, when a box arrived from the grandparents, Chloe Jane helped her Mom put the presents under the tree. As she zipped by me to get another gift from the box, she exclaimed, “Look, Daddy, we’re hiding our presents from Santa!”
As Christmas Day drew near, Chloe Jane really focused on the fact that Santa knows when you are sleeping and knows when you’re awake. She also knew that you had better not cry and better not pout. She felt this was an important character trait and one not to be trifled with. When ever Cara cried, Chloe Jane was quick to let her know, “Better not pout Cara. Santa is watching! You’re going to get no presents!”
As the days ticked off the Advent calendar, Chloe Jane became resigned to the inevitable: Santa was in fact coming. When we told her that Santa was coming on Friday and he was going to bring her presents, she furrowed her brow, balled up her fists, and insisted, “We HAVE presents already!”
Ruth explained in more detail about Kris Kringle. Chloe Jane listened with interest but interrupted, “People don’t go down chimneys; smoke goes up chimneys. People use doors.” Undeterred, Ruth explained that Santa has to come down the chimney because people lock their doors at night. We read “T’was the Night before Christmas” every night to show Chloe Jane definitive proof that Santa comes down the chimney to leave presents for girls and boys. Chloe Jane remained unconvinced. “We better leave a key, ” she told her Mom.
On Christmas Eve, although she was skeptical about how the jolly old elf would gain entry to our house, Chloe Jane nonetheless, put out some cookies and milk right next to the fireplace. The next morning, Chloe Jane was thrilled to see that not only had Santa not taken the presents that were already under the tree, he had left her many more toys and treats including what she really wanted him to bring her: a lollipop (a small one because the big one we got for her at Stone Mountain was too big. When she told us that “maybe Santa will bring me a lollipop,” I had responded that “maybe it will be a big one like the one you had at Stone Mountain.” Chloe Jane said, “maybe a little lollipop; maybe that lollipop was too big).
Christmas morning, Chloe Jane found a small train chugging around the Christmas tree and each car carried a little lollipop as cargo. After she finished her lollipop, she went over to the plate and noticed that Santa had eaten the cookies she left for him–but she also noticed Santa didn’t finish them, so she promptly did.
It has been a tough road for him, but I believe Santa has finally won over our little girl. By Christmas Day, she was full of joy from the magic of Christmas.
Nevertheless, after it was all over, she told me, “Daddy, you got to tell Santa to use the door. He’s not learning, Daddy.”
“I’ll tell him, sweetheart.”
Both girls really loved Christmas. They were also very happy to have their Aunt Holly share it with them and I know Aunt Holly loved watching the girls on Christmas.
After opening a few presents, Ruth prepared Ebelskivers for all of us. It has been a tradition in her family for years and it has become a welcome and tasty tradition in ours. Ebelksivers are like little beignets–topped with your choice of honey or jam or confection sugar. Some have fresh stawberries inside. Just one more reason to look forward to Christmas morning.
For more photos of Christmas morning, check out the SmugMug Gallery.