Why I believe in Santa

I see so many posts about people who feel telling kids Sants exists is too much of a lie. It makes me sad. It makes it seem nefarious. It isn't about lying to kids. It is about letting them believe in magic while they can. I want to explain why I believe in Santa.I believe in Santa because he was good to me. Every year he showed up to sing with us. He encouraged my sister and cousin and I to sing and play our instruments. He didn't just hand out presents. He filled us all with the Christmas spirit by virtue of his mirth and good will.Santa was my grandpa. He was kind and jolly and everything a Santa should be. He did good deeds for people in need, not just at Christmas, but all year long. He was always there to listen. He wanted to help people. There is nothing he wouldn't do to help someone in need. When I learned "the truth," it didn't crush my soul or break my heart. Santa was alive and well. He was the spirit of Christmas that my grandpa helped to inspire every year. The spirit of kindness is real. It is tangable. It connects all of us no matter how different we are. Santa may not be a person, but he is real and my grandpa made sure to pass that knowledge down to us.My kids never got a chance to meet my grandpa. They will never sit on his lap and rattle the jingle bells on the old leather strap as he sang jingle bells with them. They won't hear his laugh that could melt any Grinch's heart. They won't get to share the excitement of Christmas with him.They will be surrounded by the Christmas spirit. They will spend the holidays with family and friends. They will sing and laugh and have hopes and dreams for the New Year. They will get presents and learn the joy of giving. They will know what Christmas means because my family knows what Christmas means. We know that the lessons and memories live on in us. Santa lives because we pass down the wisdom that was passed on to us. Santa may not be a person, but he is very real.So the next time you wonder if it is worth letting your kids believe in Santa, remember Christmas is bigger than just one man. Even a mythical one. Christmas is about love and family and generosity and joy. Santa is real because that spirit lives in us. We never lose it, not if we hold it in our hearts every year. via /r/Parenting http://ift.tt/2hVEj4Q