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Pushing Kids to Santa’s Lap

One of my daughters and I were out this weekend doing a little shopping at our nearby mall. Of course the place was abuzz with bodies and people and plenty of noise and the ching ching of cash registers. Since neither of us are big shoppers and she is less patient in a big crowd than I am, we didn’t last too long. But after feeling sorry for all the sad and sickly-looking puppies in the pet store, we wandered down to the main courtyard where the Santa operation was set-up. As we were watching the line of parents and smartly-dressed children—we watched as one mother literally shoved and pushed her scared four-year-old toward the mall Santa…

Now the child didn’t kick and scream or run, frightened from the fenced in area (is that why it is all roped and fenced?)—but he was definitely petrified and trying to back away. He didn’t want to do it. But the mother was down on her knees with her hands on his shoulders and back—shoving and pushing him toward the burly bearded man. Everyone within the Santa pen acted as if it was the most natural thing in the world while my daughter and I were horrified.

What if we saw a parent pushing her child toward any other strange old man at any other time of the year? We would be justifiably horrified. I cannot think a child’s natural instinct to feel cautious and wary should be encouraged and respected—not penalized and shamed. Of course, some children LOVE it! They can’t wait to march up there and tell Santa what the want and have a nice chat complete with photos, candy, the lap and the whole deal. But there are others (and my three kids were definitely in this camp) who just don’t feel right about it. It scares them or they fell uncomfortable. They don’t want to be on display and they definitely don’t want to sit on some strange person’s lap. Why push them? Why force it? Why shame and threaten? What good can come of such a “seasonal” activity or tradition? Is it all just for the photo to send to the relatives?

Also: Santa Clause is Coming to Town

Seeing Santa

A Christmas Challenge