Saving Santa

Last Christmas, my wife and I had to make a decision that we hoped we would never face: whether or not to give one of our children coal for Christmas.

My youngest son had a rough year last year, both at school and at home, and unfortunately my wife and I, as well as his teachers used the old “Santa Clause is watching” and “Santa will bring you coal” threat just a little too often with him. So a couple of days, we had to decide whether or not we were going to follow through with the “threat”. The decision was easy really, we had to do it. We went out and found a mesh stocking full of coal and placed it under the tree on Christmas Eve.

Now, he did get presents from his brother and sister and from us. He even got some presents from Santa, but he got less than the other kids did. He also got a letter from Santa, explaining the fact that he was getting coal due to his poor decision making over the summer. The letter also explained that this was a warning, that if he continued to make poor decisions he would get less presents next year and more coal.

The coal made the impression we were hoping for. Although there we plenty of tears in the immediate aftermath of the coal present, my son was genuinely affected by the experience. Although this year has not been prefect by any stretch of the imagination, now that the Christmas season is upon us, he is worried about getting more coal. He is trying to improve his behavior because he knows Santa really will bring coal on Christmas.

An unforeseen problem has arisen from the coal experience however. My wife was at the drug-store with the boys last week and of course, they were both exploring the toy and Christmas aisle. My oldest son can be pretty observant (when he wants to be) and of course he noticed a mesh stocking, full of coal that looked awfully similar to the one Santa brought last year. He started to ask his mother about it. Thankfully, my wife had also noticed the coal, knew he had seen it and was able to stop him from making it a big deal out of it in front of his brother. She was also able to distract him long enough to avoid the question that night, although I fear that it will not be forgotten.

My oldest son is eight and has been wavering in his belief of Santa for a year or so and the coal has added to his skepticism. My wife and I have discussed how we are going to explain that Santa isn’t a real person, but that the spirit of Santa and of Christmas lives in all of us, but I don’t want it to end just yet. I want him to still believe in Santa, just as I want his younger brother and sister to believe. I want them to hold on to the “magic” of Christmas as long as possible. So how do I save Santa? I am open to suggestions.