No Harm in Believing in Santa Claus

* Christmas is just around the corner, and every year there’s always a new crop of young parents who struggle with questions about how they should handle the subject of Santa Claus.

In all of my 30 years in education as a teacher and principal, I never met a troubled youth who said, “I am the way I am because my parents told me there was a Santa Claus and it warped my mind from that day forth.”

I remember a father at my school who was adamant about telling his little boy that there wasn’t a Santa. He said he didn’t want his child to be disappointed later when he discovered the truth. How sad.

I find it difficult to understand that some people feel it’s dishonest to tell their children about Santa Claus because he isn’t real. But on the other hand, they think nothing of telling them about a mouse (Mickey) that talks, an elephant (Dumbo) who flies and a cricket (Jiminy) who is smarter than most human beings.

With all the trouble in the world, unless it is against your religious beliefs, let your children enjoy the story of Santa Claus for the few, precious, short years of their youth. Don’t deny them the excitement of their dreams, the exhilaration of a Christmas morning and memories that will live in their hearts for the rest of their lives.

Your children are smarter than you think. They’ll put it all into perspective a few years down line and appreciate the effort you put forth in creating pleasant and lasting childhood memories.

And who are you and I, to say there isn’t a Santa Claus? I know that during that magical holiday season, “I always brake for Santa.”

GUY CARROZZO

Fountain Valley