Ask Amy: A parent doesn’t feel jolly about Santa
But one aspect of parenting that you might not understand is that lying is baked into the deal. We tell our children, "I loved your recorder solo!" "Tired? I'm not tired; I just need to rest my eyes." "Sure, I'd love to play another round of Candyland!"
The Santa story is a benign part of childhood that children quickly outgrow. Your older child will decode the Santa story first, and might choose to maintain the mystery for the younger child's enjoyment. That's what my elder siblings did, anyway – and I'm grateful.
If you want to walk away from the Santa story, tell your children that this is a "once upon a time" story that many children enjoy, but that you've decided to go ahead and celebrate the winter holiday without it, and it will still contain magic and fun surprises for all of you.
For a still-fresh take on the magic of the “giving season” without Santa, read Charles Dickens’ 1848 classic, “A Christmas Carol” aloud to your children.
Dear Amy: I’m a 51-year-old woman. I never married and don’t have kids.
I’m fine with it, I enjoy my home and freedom very much.
But I’m constantly being asked by friends, family, colleagues, and people I’ve just met why I’m not married, if I’m seeing anyone, and if I’m looking.
I’m so tired of being told some form of: “It’ll happen for you someday.”
How do I get people to mind their own business? I don’t ask married people about the strength of their relationship at any given time, so why are people always so invasive with single people’s love lives?
– Happily Single
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