As Christmas approaches people inevitably begin asking my kids, “Is Santa coming to see you? Have you seen Santa, yet?” and other related fat man questions. And here’s the thing, my kids know Santa is pretend.

As a Christian, the birth of Jesus is everything to me. It was the fulfillment of prophecies and the foundation of my faith, and I personally don’t want to dilute or confuse it’s importance for my kids. I don’t think that Santa is bad, and when Aubrey asked me again just a few days ago, “Momma is Santa real?” I answered without hesitation, “Yes he is.”

She crawled into my lap as I told her the true story of Kris Kringle and how he embodied the Christmas spirit. I told Aubrey how he had given selflessly and because of this became Father Christmas.

My question is this, children have such vivid and wonderful imaginations , why NOT include them in the charade? My kids know it’s really Mommy and Daddy putting their presents under the tree, but that doesn’t stop us from hanging our stockings and rushing to bed so “Santa” can come, or even going to sit in his lap. They understand Mickey Mouse isn’t real but it didn’t dampen their enthusiasm a bit when we went to Disney World.

Aubrey and Emma pretend they are princesses, puppy dogs and kittens and they aren’t disappointed when I tell them they are really little girls. They understand pretend. Likewise, they have never been upset by Santa being pretend. Because we all play along together there will never be the dreaded conversation and subsequent let down of “letting the cat out of the bag.”

What’s your Santa situation?