Continuing magic

So despite the knowledge about the truth of Santa, Christmas marches on at our house with our usual traditions--cutting the tree, stockings out, wreath on the door.

Before the weather started to get colder, my youngest had as many lights and outdoor decorations in the front yard as he could manage. It's like he's been waiting all year for this. After negotiating with both mom and dad about the amount of lights, location and color (mostly white for mom, and in the bushes but not in the really big trees for dad), he wrangled it all into place with some help from dad.

Once the outdoors was decorated, it was time to dive into the indoor decorations. i'm a fan of snowmen. And after being out for an evening, I came home to a snowman filled house. My kid managed to find even those that were no longer among my favorites--that I'd hidden away in the basement.

Earlier this week it was St. Nick's Day. As my youngest hung the stockings by the first place, he asked "What about St. Nick, is he real?" I'd already felt bad about the Santa revelation, so I simply said, "He's as real as you want him to be." He simply nodded with a small smile, almost like he was reassured that there would be treats from St. Nick. And in the morning, just a satisfied smile as he sat among his goodies. "This is great," he exclaimed.

Tonight, it was tree decorating night. And my youngest worked so hard to get every ornament into just the right place--even telling me I wasn't putting things in just the right spot. Now in the afterglow of the bright lights--he's done a stupendous job making it look just right.

Now as we sit in the dark and look at the tree, I marvel at how the magic in our holiday seems to continue to come from my youngest. How the roles have been reversed.

A little Christmas magic

So we've now officially moved into the Christmas season. But this year we don't have that mystical extra spirit of Santa Claus. Both kids are "in the know" about Santa.

But does it mean the end of the magic of Christmas? Does it mean our holiday has lost that extra something?

We still put our stockings by the fireside with care. All set for St. Nick's Day. And my hubs and I will still sneak down to fill those stockings after the kids are sleeping--or at least when we think they're asleep.

And we're still planning on gifts coming from Santa. There will be some labeled from mom and dad and others from Santa. The kids won't get their presents until Christmas morning.

My youngest has seemed a bit sad at the idea of knowing that the Santa part was really mom and dad. But I've told him repeatedly that Santa and St. Nick are as real as he wants them to be.

And the fun part is that said youngest is determined to spring the Santa surprise on our dog, Lola. He wants to bring out the magic for her. I think that will help him see how Christmas really is about the spirit of giving and doing for others. And that by doing for others, it brings a satisfaction that is as fulfilling as giving yourself a great gift. Just heard him tell her "Lola, this is going to be our best Christmas ever!"

This year he's even asked about doing some volunteer work during the holiday season. I think inside he still wants to live up to his original career aspirations he expressed a few years ago--"Mom when I grow up, I want to be Santa Claus."

I think this is the year he starts to make good on that wish and play out the Santa magic for others. Well played, my son, well played.