While I have been struggling a bit to find the holiday spirit lately, Dylan is the Dahoo-Dores singing Dilly Lou Who to my inner Grinch. He has such faith in Santa I’ve found myself in at least one awkward conversation about whether that factory at the North Pole really makes every present a kid gets, like even Amazon gift cards? (Me: “Uhhhhh so I think Santa has some ummmm strategic partnerships with certain retailers and manufacturers, in addition to elf labor …”), and he seems to one hundred percent believe that a stuffed elf is moving around on its own each night.*

Dylan’s pure joy at seeing a familiar ornament or re-watching A Christmas Story or driving around to marvel at neighborhood lights or placing gumdrops on the roofline of a gingerbread house or arranging the stockings just so, because that’s how they hang every year — if there is a bit of a meh-shaped hole in my ho-ho-ho this year, he is for sure the antidote.

I don’t know how much longer he’ll the true believer he is today, but I hope his love for tradition lasts forever.

(*Speaking of That Damned Elf, I did this idiotic and possibly/probably immoral thing the other day where I took a picture of it while holding its fey little body, which, if you have one of these elves, you know is a big no-no — no touching allowed lest you drain its powers with your stupid muggle fingers, or something — and then I forgot about the photo until Dylan was flipping through my phone and was totally horrified, like, “Mom, is Relf in your hand??” at which point I snatched it away from him and quickly deleted the image while insisting that no, no, of course not honey, that was just a photo I’d taken that morning of the elf sitting in our tree, because he was just so adorable up there, and then I distracted him with a YouTube video of a sneezing Pomeranian. Christmas: a time for magic, a time for gaslighting.)

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Stacy
Stacy
7 years ago

I mean, I’ll say that I stopped really believing in Santa before I ever told my mom and my grandma about it. I just liked the idea of Santa so I just carried on as if I believed. It sounds like even if he’s not there yet that he might do something similar.

The blogger formerly known as Warcrygirl
The blogger formerly known as Warcrygirl
7 years ago

Those who believe, receive.

sooboo
sooboo
7 years ago

My mom told me about Santa during summer vacation which was very smart of her as it took the sting out a bit. That being said, I’d love to borrow Dylan as we are not feeling it over here this year.

Sarah
Sarah
7 years ago

My son wanted an iphone one year and I said that was pretty expensive maybe ask for something else. His reply was that Santa didn’t have to buy it, the elves would make it. It was really hard to refute the logic…

Mary Clare
Mary Clare
7 years ago

My daughter, close to Dylan’s age, still believes. When she heard the alternate theories about Santa last year from the cool older friend, I thought it was over. She seems to be purposefully ignoring that and still strongly believes. We’ll run with it for now. In the dark doldrums of winter I need some light and magic.

LD's Mom
LD's Mom
7 years ago

My 8 yo is on all accounts a logical, figure-out-how-everything-works kinda guy, except for Santa, Elf, Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy. I was sure last year was the end to Xmas beliefs, but this year he has renewed spirit in his belief in it all. I so easily could be caught red-handed with a photo like you describe, so that made me laugh out loud. But whatever random, lame excuse I would have come up with would have equally flown over just fine. I love it!!!

camille
camille
7 years ago

If you haven’t seen the movie “Arthur Christmas”, it is a must. Its not that annoying rodent, Arthur (Arthur is one of Santa’s sons, along with his type A brother Steve), but a kids movie that is captivating, provides a believable backstory to Santa and how he gets toys to all the kids in the world, and most importantly, is actually enjoyable for parents to watch too.

Andrea
Andrea
7 years ago

My kids were Santa-believers for a really long time, and I loved it. My youngest (20) is all about tradition, in all things. I think it’s genetic, because I am such a sentimental fool. I wholeheartedly feed the tradition monster, much to the rolling eyes and groaning from her older brothers (22 and 24).

Gretchen in HB
Gretchen in HB
7 years ago

I just have to comment that Camille is SO WRONG! The PBS Kids Arthur is an aardvark, a-a-r-d-v-a-r-k and he is AWESOME! ;-)

Enjoy the believing while it lasts, even if he is faking for your benefit, isn’t it fun? <3

Donna
Donna
7 years ago

Idly clicked on this link in my Journals folder an hour ago because “gee, wouldn’t it be nice if Linda were writing again .. but reading an ‘old’ Linda-post would be nice, too . . .” and ohmygosh. My heart did a little happy dance when I realized that YES, those were indeed new entries and not old titles that I’d forgotten about! I’m delighted that you’re back (have already both laughed and shed a tear), saddened that you’re still having ups and downs with addiction, and grateful that your writing is giving me help with my own issues with food. Thank you for deciding to share your life with us again. (Also – there are times when your commenters make me laugh almost as much as your original post, i.e., the booties!)