For day two of the Be The Boy Holiday celebration we’re going to talk about Santa Claus, specifically how I found out there was no such thing. As the oldest kid in the family it was my job to serve as my mom’s assistant/accomplice when it came to thing like shopping or taking things that didn’t belong to us. The upside to this responsibility was the fact that she’d sometimes take me out of school to go to the mall but the downside was that I learned more than I needed to know, like the truth about Santa.
It happened when we were shopping one December afternoon. I should have been enjoying second grade but Mom took me out of school early. She hated going to the mall alone and when we got to the store she said:
“Help me pick your brothers presents”
-”Why…He told Santa already”
“Santa said I should get them and he’d pay me back”
-”…..Is there really a Santa?”
“No, but don’t tell your brother and sister”
I let the news sink in. I was disappointed but also pleased to be trusted with secret information.
-”Do I still have to be good”
“Yes, at least at home”
-”OK….He likes toy cars, I’ll get some”
“Remember what I said about stealing”
-”If they catch me I should cry”
So, how did you find out that Santa wasn’t real?
Also, If you don’t observe Christmas, you can substitute for Santa, something else you once believed.
