If “Born in the USA” has taught us anything, it’s that people will cheerfully blare any song with a catchy beat regardless of the incongruously depressing lyrics. These days every store you walk into is legally required to play Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” at least once an hour. Tucked into that ditty about holiday cheer is this little chestnut:

There’ll be scary ghost stories
and tales of the glories
Of Christmases long, long ago

Wait – what?

Scary ghost stories? Scary Christmas ghost stories!?

On the surface, it seems like a lyric a few months past its Halloween expiration date. But scratch the tinseled surface and Christmas has some weird undertones.

What’s so jolly about a young, panicked woman giving birth in a filthy stable in the dead of night? Or an immortal being who breaks into houses and whose omnipresent gaze is fixed on your every move? Watching. Judging.

Life’s ghosts don’t take a Christmas vacation, and hardships don’t plan around your holiday calendar. So as I sat with my mother in hospice, two days before Christmas a few years back, it was hard not to notice the almost purgatorial nature of her room. At the nurse’s station outside, people flitted by – chatting next to holiday décor. In her room, it was dark and still. There was no longer the need for the expensive machines she had been hooked to for the past 10 months. No beeping or dinging. Just her shallow breath and closed eyes.

Ours had always been a difficult relationship. She was what some would describe as a “formidable woman.” Her superpower was bending reality to justify her actions. On the rare occasion where she owned up to being in the wrong, she would happily tell you why it was really someone else’s fault. Likely yours.

Becoming a father put into relief how differently we were wired. My journey into parenthood has taught me the value of self-reflection – examining why I am where I am, what I’m feeling, and what lessons I have learned. And how am I going to impart that to the two malleable humans who are always learning from me, whether I want them to or not? It’s a rich and rewarding road, but the tradeoff is it doesn’t end until you do. There’s no finish line. And you never get to fold your arms and say, “So there. Checkmate.” Reflection versus justification. My mother and I simply had different approaches to life.

But, oh, how she was loyal. I knew she would pitch a tent and just live in that room if the tables were turned. If half of life is showing up, she showed up – even if you didn’t realize you needed someone there. That’s also how she was wired. I admired that. I wanted to be that kind of person. And she brought me into this world. She deserved someone to stand sentry as her body prepared to leave it. The someone should be me.

Hours later, my thoughts turned to another family. The one I chose to build with the woman I love. A year of managing my mother’s illness had taken me away from them so often – missing moments big and small. They deserved my showing up as well, especially at Christmas. In the dark, I gathered my things and stood over her and said the last words I hoped she would hear. “I love you. … Goodbye.” And I left

The next morning my phone rang. It was the hospice. At 7:30 a.m. On Christmas Eve. They weren’t calling to discuss paperwork.

Christmas Day, my wife and I had to sit down our 6-year-old and tell her grandma died. She had known pets who had passed on, and over the year I kept her up to date as best I could on what was going on with her grandmother, even though she might not make it. All this she handled with surprising grace. But the end hit her hard. Amid the debris of wrapping paper and toys, I held my crying daughter and told her all the things I had researched to say. I spoke honestly about how special their relationship was. We would make a memory book of all the fun times they shared. I also could see her telling a future therapist, “I think it all started when I was 6 and my dad interrupted Christmas to tell me THAT MY FRIGGIN’ GRANDMOTHER WAS DEAD.”

I’ll give my mother this much, she had a flair for the dramatic. Every Christmas Eve from now on I’ll be haunted by her ghost, like Jacob Marley visiting Scrooge. As for my daughter, well, we’ve all changed in this last year. Kids are strong and resilient all right, but you can’t just say that with a shrug and go get a snack. There’ll be checking in, talking, listening, observing. As I said, no finish line.

If you want Christmas “tales of the glories,” you’ll have to take the Christmas “ghost stories.” That’s what relationships leave you with – even at this time of year. Especially at this time of year. Whenever we can celebrate the holidays with people and music again, you’re likely to be visited by a ghost or two as everyone is swaying to a favorite seasonal tune – be it traditional or hip. And if someone is wondering why you aren’t moved like they are, just give them this sage response: “Well, because, I’m listening to the words.”

Christmas ghost stories of photo by © RK1919 / Adobe Stock.

My wife worships Christmas.

Once the Thanksgiving dishes are done, it’s all Yule, all the time for her. Nothing but Christmas music in the car, Christmas movies on the television, and Christmas shopping on the weekends.

And she was like this BEFORE we had a kid. Now that he’s here, and he’s alive enough to begin to understand Santa and presents and cookies and the tree and all that, not only has my wife’s Christmas-loving resolve strengthened, but I no longer have a Scroogey cane to stand on.

Especially on Christmas Eve when there’s work to do!

This past Christmas the kid had a sense of what was happening, in that he enjoyed tearing the brightly colored wrapping paper off things that were handed to him. This year, he understands toys and seems to get the concept of presents. So it’s game on for the Wife!

Now that our kid is in the know, my wife’s Christmas obsession is in the stratosphere. She wants nothing more than to give our son a good Christmas, which means making sure all the TV he watches is Christmas-themed, all the songs he sings – and he does sing – are Christmas songs, and that he is indoctrinated into the (fraudulent) magic of Santa Claus.

He has been told who Santa is, can identify him in a lineup, and seems genuinely excited about him delivering presents overnight. So yeah, the kid is into the whole Santa Claus thing, so long as that “thing” doesn’t involve going anywhere near an actual person dressed as Santa Claus.

Of course, to complete the illusion, most of the gifts my son will be getting have been signed “From Santa” and, most importantly, none of them are under the tree before he goes to bed on Christmas Eve.

This means after he goes to sleep that night, a half-in-the-bag Daddy is forced to lug everything down from various hiding places throughout the house and down the stairs so that they will magically appear under the tree by the time he wakes up.

I am OK with it. Christmas magic hasn’t happened here in a while and the whole holiday had gotten pretty stale around here, but now that there’s a kid around, the holidays are re-energized, and that’s nice.

Provided I don’t break my neck carrying a huge wooden train set down the stairs.

A version of this first appeared on Dad and Buried.

A meme poking fun at parents who had to balance the holidays with throwing parties for their kids who had mid-to-late December birthdays recently floated around the internet. As soon as I saw it, I had to chuckle because, in the middle of trying to make sure everything was in order for Christmas, I had to think to myself, “What about Eden’s birthday?” Sure, the Amazon orders for my son’s gifts from Santa had already been placed, and my wife was taken care of, but what were we going to do on the 27th, my daughter’s birthday?

Back in mid-2021, my wife learned she was pregnant with Baby No. 2. At that time, we were finally finding our footing as parents of a 2-year-old. We were sleeping pretty well and were in that sweet spot before the “terrible twos” really started to show their ugly face. Nonetheless, it was exciting for us to soon grow from a family of three to four.

I did the math in my head and guessed we were likely looking at a December baby. When we went to the OBGYN for our first appointment, they confirmed that Baby Girl Hudson would be due on Christmas Day! Throughout that year, I was back and forth on where I stood on having a Christmas baby. On one hand, I thought it would be really cool. I have some friends and family who are Christmas babies and they love it. And besides, it would be the easiest birthday to remember. On the other hand, I thought about how difficult it could potentially be to try and balance a child’s birthday with everything that comes with Christmas. I thought about how my child would possibly never be able to have a “real” birthday party because her friends would always be with their families and loved ones on Christmas.

Fast forward to December 2021. Christmas eventually came and went with no baby. Our precious Eden ended up coming two days later on Dec. 27. Although it is still the holiday season, she’ll have a day just for her.

As we approached her first birthday a few weeks ago, it was a joy to be able to celebrate with our extended family who we were with for Christmas. It made me realize that balancing the holidays with your child’s birthday isn’t a bad thing at all. We ended up singing “Happy Birthday” and having cake the night of Christmas. It was the perfect end to a beautiful, albeit long, day. Just as I did when my son turned one, I took some time to reflect on my first year as a girl dad and father of two. Three things (among many others) have stood out:

Experience matters

When our son came along, I had no idea what I was doing. I’d never changed a diaper before he was born. It was trial by fire until we sort of figured out what we were doing. When Eden came along, I was three years in the game as a dad. A seasoned vet. I was a more confident dad this go-’round. There was really nothing that surprised me during her first year. From how to deal with the early sleepless nights, to going to the pediatrician, to being able to read and understand my wife in her postpartum state, having “been there before” made this past year much smoother.

Children can fill lifelong voids

As an only child, I’ve always wondered what it was like to grow up with a sibling. I never really dwelled on it because it was just the way life ended up for me. However, now as a dad of two, I catch myself in awe of their interactions on a daily basis. While things got off to a rocky start with Emory being jealous at first, now that we’re a year in, they are inseparable. They go to school together, play together, and show each other affection. It has allowed me to experience something as a dad, I didn’t know I needed. It’s amazing to watch – even when it gets a little testy between the two.

Little girls will melt your heart

My friends told me to get ready. Those guys who were already girl dads warned me that there would be nothing like it. That my little girl would have me wrapped around her finger. I didn’t believe it would be like that. Boy, was I wrong. I love my son unconditionally. We have a father-son bond that I pray lasts forever. But a daughter’s love is different. This past year, I’ve been softened by her presence. Her smile eases the pain of a rough day. She has given me another reason to be the best dad I can be, and even more of a reason to look forward to the holiday season each year.

Photo: © yanlev / Adobe Stock.

Most people think of Hersheypark — with it’s combined theme park, zoo and water park — as the ultimate summer destination. You might be surprised to know that Hersheypark is open daily for the rest of December (closed Christmas Day) and through January 1, 2023.

During the most wonderful time of the year, you’ll be amazed by the Hersheypark Christmas Candylane spectacular. The seasonal event is a feast for the eyes as it features more than five million twinkling lights. Most incredible is the NOEL light show with lights synchronized to holiday music.

It’s also a sense-tingling thrill time. Several family-friendly rides are open including six awesome roller coasters, including Candymonium and Laff Trakk. Additionally, your taste buds will be dancing. Hersheypark rolls out a host of holiday-themed sweet treats like s’mores carts, king-sized shakes and their signature hot chocolate (see photo).

Their Christmas Candylane event includes photo ops with Santa Claus, of course. But it also prides itself as being the only Northeast destination with an interactive, up-close experience with Santa’s Reindeer, including Rudolph!

The Boardwalk water park becomes a festive holiday adventure trail called TREEville. The trail includes a dozen pit-stops with uniquely decorated trees, each sharing stories about the Sweetest Place on Earth.

Don’t want to be chilly? You can also enjoy some Hershey magic from the comforts of your own car. Just outside Hersheypark is the Hershey Sweet Lights drive-through attraction, open nightly through New Year’s Day 2023. This experience (beware: you need a separate ticket) includes two miles of fields and trails with beautifully designed, animated displays and LED lights galore.

Beyond Christmas Candylane and Hershey Sweet Lights, there is still plenty of fun to be had to make it a Hersheypark happy holiday:

• Make a personalized Hershey chocolate bar or hop on the FREE tour ride on how chocolate is made at Hershey’s Chocolate World.
• Play and stay at one of the Hershey’s Entertainment Resorts.
• View some animals at ZooAmerica.

Coming in 2023: Wildcat’s Revenge roller coaster

Already looking forward to 2023 at Hersheypark? So are we!

The Wildcat roller coaster is back with an exhilarating twist! The all-new wood and steel hybrid coaster, Wildcat’s Revenge, will take riders on a thrilling new Hersheypark experience. Climb a 140-foot hill, hit max speeds of 62 mph, dive into an 82-degree drop, invert four times, and get whisked through the world’s largest underflip. This new coaster will be ready for Summer 2023 and is the most highly anticipated ride opening since Candymonium.

Disclosure: Lance Somerfeld is a member of Hersheypark’s Sweetest Families Program. The program includes complimentary park passes and hotel accommodations for our family provided by the kind folks at Hershey’s Entertainment & Resorts. His thoughts and opinions are genuine and have not been influenced from the brand. All photos provided by Hersheypark.

At my house, we are preparing to break the spell over one of the first deceptions we perpetrated on our children. That is correct, we are bracing to break the news about The Santa Claus Lie.

It is a moment I feel a little apprehensive about. That moment when one or both of my kids ask us if Santa is real and expect a real answer from us.

I know I shouldn’t feel worried. This is a rite of passage most Western kids experience. I know because I did and I still love the Christmas season, and I had no hesitation perpetuating the myth when it was my turn to do so.

However, when I step back for a moment and look at what is happening I am encouraged. The story we told them as kids has turned into more of a mystery and less of a deception, just as it did for us all those years ago.

As it stands right now, when they broach the subject we respond with questions like: “Well, what do you think?” or “Who do you think ate the cookies you left?” We keep waiting to see where the line of questioning goes. Every time one of them asks, we’ve seen them probe a little further. Sometimes they pause and you can see their minds at work. Other times they begin to lay their case out with the clues they have amassed. Like when my youngest noticed that the wrapping paper Santa used matched the paper we had been using. Or when my oldest had to discount the validity of shopping mall Santas because there were just too many of them for them all to be real.

I remember putting the clues together and figuring it out long before I was ready to admit to my parents I knew about the Santa Claus Lie. There was a window of time when I knew what was true, but wasn’t ready to give up the magic. If my kids are there now I’m more than happy to let them hold on to that magic for as long as they want or need to.

For the time being it is a fascinating experience to watch their growing minds work. Sifting the evidence uncovering the clues. Their critical thinking skills work at a problem that they will eventually solve. When they discover the inconsistencies we let them ponder them, because a great mystery is fun to solve.

We don’t try to sell it anymore that time has long passed, it is a waiting game now. We play along as they play along, and soon (sooner than we are probably ready for), they will lay out their case and we will celebrate their discovery with them.

We will congratulate them on their thinking and reward them with the truth that the rest of us know. And with that welcome them into the next stage of life. We will find new ways to celebrate this holiday season together. Ways that don’t forget the myth that made Christmas Eve a magical part of our childhood, but that celebrate it in a new way with fond remembrance of our treasured youth.

A version of this post originally appeared on The Good Men Project. Photo: ©khosrork / Adobe Stock.

From Christmas lights to Christmas trees, from Santa and his reindeer to that (damn) Elf on the Shelf, December is synonymous with one holiday – Christmas. And, as much as I love to get into the Christmas spirit with my kids, I find that I know nothing about the other holidays that are happening around us without much less fanfare: Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

If I know zero about Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, my kids will know even less. That changes this holiday season! This year I plan to add some inclusiveness, diversity, and sensitivity to our traditional red and green holiday cheer. 

How might I explain the basics of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa to my children? With a parody of a Christmas classic, of course –

Shine Your Light

‘Twas the weeks before Christmas,

And all over town,

Kids made wish lists,

Red and green lights and decor all around.

My friend, Ashley, she’s Jewish,

She does different stuff,

She tells me her menorahs are cool,

A “Festival of Lights,” to me, is interesting enough. 

Hanukkah lasts for eight days,

Is the Hebrew word for rededication,

Lit candles from the December 18^th through 26^th,

Makes quite a marvelous window decoration. 

During Hanukkah, Ashley spins a dreidel,

To me, it looks like a top,

Saying “nun,” “gimmel,” “hei,” or “shin”,

She gets a gift when her’s finally stops. 

Christmas and Hanukkah are both coming soon?

I’m excited to add more celebrations to December,

I’ll wish Ashley “Happy Hanukkah,”

The week before Christmas if I remember.

“There is another holiday,”

Said my friend, Jenna, “this time of year,”

“It’s called Kwanzaa,

Right after Santa leaves with his flying reindeer.”

“Kwanzaa starts on the 26^th,

It’s a celebration of community,

Bedded in seven guiding principles,

That, until last year, were all new to me.”

Umoja is “Unity,”

Kujichagulia is “Self-Determination,”

Ujima is “Responsibility,”

These principles are better than a new game on PlayStation!

Ujamaa is “Collective Economics,”

Nia means “Purpose,”

Kuumba is “Creativity,”

Imani is “Faith” and that’s all seven, Jenna’s certain. 

On day six of Kwanzaa Jenna even says,

It’s time to feast,

And after celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, and this,

I may be the size of Disney’s Beast!

I thank Jenna and Ashley,

They have me here thinking,

There is more to December,

Than gift wrapping and Christmas carol singing.

So many of us celebrate differently,

In our own kind of way,

Whether Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, or all,

The feeling of joy and gratitude is the same.

So, to my friends in December,

As I wave them goodbye,

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas,

Blessed Kwanzaa.

Good night.

Whether on a tree or a menorah,

Do our community a favor,

My friends,

And shine your light. 

+ + +

Maybe, after all, learning the basics of these other December holidays will allow my kids to better understand what the Christmas season is all about – collective good, family, and celebrating all the differences that make each of us, ourselves.  And, let’s be honest, aren’t those better lessons for our kids to understand than how the Elf on the Shelf made snow angels in the sugar?

Photo: © Ana / Adobe Stock.

Seeking a unique, awesome, outdoor experience for the family this holiday season? Look no further than the magical landscape of dazzling lanterns and holiday lights that is the LuminoCity Festival at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, Long Island.

Our family recently ventured over to immerse ourselves in this wonderland of holiday lights at LuminoCity Festival, now in its fourth year. We loved navigating the spectacular, creative and expansive display of art, color, and light sculptures that heightened the senses, bringing excitement to our family during the festive holidays.

** Keep reading to save 15% on LuminoCity Festival! **

This enchanting experience lasted a little more than an hour. That’s more than enough time for you to snap tons of Instagrammable photos, gawk at the mesmerizing displays, and pop into the heated gift shop. This was our second time at Luminocity and they have definitely found their sweet spot. Shimmering LEDs unfold in a lovely setting where each display area is more beautiful than the next. Additionally, there are numerous animatronic dinosaur displays for all of you dinosaur lovers.

Parking is FREE and located near the entry gates which is a significant improvement from their previous Randall’s Island, NYC location. We were so impressed by the unforgettable, state-of-the-art production that we’ll definitely be back again next year.

Discounted tickets to see the holiday lights

We at NYC Dads Group recognize area families are craving entertaining experiences during the holiday season, so strongly encourage you to grab the opportunity and secure your tickets to LuminoCity Festival before they sell out.

The event runs every Wednesday to Sunday, except on the Christmas and New Year’s Day weekends, from 4:30 – 9:30 p.m. through January 8, 2023. You can choose designated one-hour time slots online to ensure a seamless experience. The last entry is 9 p.m., grounds are cleared at 9:20 p.m.

Tickets run from $19 (kids ages 3-12) to $32. The $68 VIP pass gets you a Fast Pass into the festival, 10% off the onsite gift shop, a Lumi Goodie Bag with Lumi’s favorite things, and a free dino ride for the kids.

Bonus for our members and friends: Save 15% using our exclusive discount code! Visit the ticketing website and enter NYCDADS in all caps) before it closes.

All photos provided by the Somerfeld family.

Need a break from the summer swelter? How about a little Christmas in July? Give a listen to a special audio version of I’m Dreaming of a Brown Christmas, a children’s book released last year by City Dads Group contributor Vernon D. Gibbs II.

People who supported the Kickstarter campaign to help Gibbs publish the book received a link recently to a reading of Brown Christmas by Emmy Award-winning actor and notable voiceover actor Keith David. David’s extensive acting resume includes Greenleaf on the OWN Network, TV and streaming’s Community, Armageddon, The Princess and the Frog, and the upcoming Jordan Peele movie Nope.  

The recording was produced for the Tell Me a Bedtime Story podcast, hosted by Dr. Lori James of the James M. Dixon Foundation for Alzheimer’s Research.

Gibbs’ father suggested his son send the book to David. The two had recently had a chance meeting through some business ventures, according to Gibbs.

“Keith recommended it for the podcast because he liked it so much,” Gibbs wrote in a text interview with City Dads. “He already had a connection with the foundation and they had been looking for him to do some readings for them and he really liked this book and its message.”

I’m Dreaming of a Brown Christmas, a full-color picture book, is inspired by the classic song “White Christmas.” The story focuses on the holiday from the point of view of a young African-American boy.

Brown Christmas is Gibbs’ second children’s book. The northern New Jersey-based at-home father of three also wrote When Good Fruit Goes Bad in 2020. That book recounts a rebellion of past-its-prime fruit at a grocery store for a tale about healthy food choices and finding one’s inner worth.

Gibbs produced both books with his cousin, illustrator Steve Gray. Gray composed and performed the music in the audio version of Brown Christmas.

Light up the night! Families seeking unique, safe, outdoor adventures this holiday season should venture over to Shimmering Solstice at Old Westbury Gardens. Immerse in a majestic fairytale as you wander the lovely grounds at Old Westbury Gardens transformed into a wonderland of light.

This is the first year for this festival of lights on Long Island, NY. It took about 75 minutes to meander and explore dramatic light effects at this walk-through (it’s approximately one mile) experience. Surprises abound at every turn until the magical, grand finale- a ten minute, projection light show displayed on the face of stately, Westbury House. A truly intoxicating encounter! We could gush on and on about how the projection show alone is worth the price of admission, but don’t won’t to be a spoiler.

Overall, this outdoor experience felt very safe. A few of the paths were narrow, but we had plenty of space to ourselves most of the time. It was very family friendly and we all enjoyed the “warming area” filled with seating, heaters, and fire pits with a tent that served overpriced ($6 per cup), but delicious hot chocolate and cookies.

#ShimmeringSolstice runs almost daily before wrapping up on January 9, 2022.

We loved it and will definitely be back again next year!

Disclosure: NYC Dads Group received free admission to Shimmering Solstice. Opinions provided in this post have not been influenced by the free passes.

Like most parents, I aim to be truthful with my kids. Truth and honesty are fundamental values in society, and obvious bedrocks for children. But what should one do with the truth about Santa Claus?

When my son entered the “why” phase around age 3, I started overloading him with facts. This was the easiest way to deal with a barrage of unending questions. When he found our wine cork screw I told him quite truthfully that his mom and dad sometimes enjoy drinking rotten grapes. We put rotten grapes in special bottles that have a special opener. All true. He’s convinced grownups are weird. Maybe he’s right.

By the time he turned 5, the whys most clearly articulated themselves before the daily drop offs at kindergarten. One day he began with the age-old, “Why is the sky blue?” and “Why can I see the moon in day?” Both have simple answers, but to stem the flow I decided to go rather detailed in my explanation of astrophysics, ending with gravitational theory and temporal mechanics. I’d just started to touch on string theory when he climbed out, and needless to say, he’d stopped asking questions. Nothing I said was false. Truths all the way.

Yet, the holiday season begs a big question. Is it sometimes OK to lie especially when it comes to the truth about Santa?

Like many parents, I’ve been talking a lot about a fat man in red who’s supposedly monitoring my kids 24/7, judging whether they’re naughty or nice, making them gifts, and planning to break into our house sometime after they go to sleep on Christmas Eve. It’s a weird lie, one some experts say is damaging to children in the long run. And forget overloading the kids with truth on this one because the more the kid digs, the more parents scramble to keep the “magic” alive.

Before the whys, I used to walk through the forest with my son, pointing out dragon tracks and spots where they lay eggs. We used to search for the footprints of giants and the remnants of ogres. As a fantasy author, I’ve no qualms blending magic and reality in order to encourage imagination. Yet, by the time my son reached his fifth birthday, he started asking point blank which things were real and which weren’t. I did my best to explain the concept of myths and fantasy. He now realizes dragons and Pokemon are fiction (a year earlier he’d been convinced the Pokemon went extinct during the same event that ended the dinosaurs). However, he still enjoys pretending to hunt for them.

Why then, am I so reluctant to puncture the Santa myth? Why am I getting money ready from the Tooth Fairy? Why am I hiding Easter baskets, supposedly to be delivered by a giant bunny?

I recall believing quite fervently in Santa as a kid. Then one year my parents packed the car to visit my grandparents in New York. On the top of our station wagon were several long parcels, rather “ski shaped” for lack of a better term. And that year, Santa just happened to give us skis. Yup, that’s when I learned the truth about Santa. It’s a sort of rite of passage in our culture, like learning to drive. And for a long time, that was that. Santa was fake, my parents lied, and I was past that phase.

Then I had kids of my own. All the holidays took on new meanings. Holidays as a parent are a chance to relive that magic, and watch that excitement in your children’s eyes. My wife and I talked about Santa. Did we want to go along with the communal lie? Did we want to tell him early on? And what would that do to his friends? If we drew back the veil on Santa for our son, would he then tell all the other kids? Were we robbing others of happiness? Of that innocence? What would we really gain from the truth in this case?

We’ve seen constant crises these past few years: a global pandemic, climate change, political upheaval, racial reckonings and more. We’ve also seen the power of misinformation. We’ve seen that when different parties can’t agree on simple truths that society suffers. Are we setting our kids up to continue this struggle by perpetuating this false Santa narrative, one we know to be untrue?

I don’t have any answers. Yet, my gut tells me maybe it is OK to lie. Childhood is a magical time. A time where the world is good, and a magical fat guy really will reward you for good behavior. Where losing a tooth means a fairy will sneak under your pillow, or a bunny will leave you chocolate. It’s a time where the dragons in the forest, and even the Pokemon, are still alive, just hiding. My daughter, who is a bit younger and hasn’t asked about myths, has been encouraged to look up for flying dragons. I’ll let those dragons hide. Let’s allow them to be real.

The truth about Santa will come out and the magic will fade, as it always does. That doesn’t give the magic any less worth.

Photo: © deagreez / Adobe Stock.