Or at least, up until I was about 7, totally true.
I may or may not have mentioned that both of my parents are Lutheran pastors. When they first started preaching at my home town church about 23 years ago, they did 3 Christmas Eve services and 1 Christmas Day service. I would go to one of the Christmas Eve services, then be babysat by the church secretary, Lynn, at her house just a few blocks from the church. My parents would pick me up a little after midnight, after the last service ended, and we would all put baby Jesus into the big crèche set up outside of the church.
Props to my dad for taking this photo!
Christmas day, I would go to church again like the good pastor's kid (PK) that I was, then trot on home (aka next door) with my parents when they were done doing their pastor thing.
Important!!! There was not a hint of present opening yet and no presents under the tree for me at all on Christmas morning.
After Christmas day church, we all took naps. When we woke up, Santa would have magically appeared and there would be copious amounts of presents (for me!) under the tree. Commence ripping and tearing and joyfulness all around.
Well.. me, being the genius that I was, started to realize somewhere along the line that ALL the other kids at school and at church already opened their presents either Christmas Eve night or early Christmas morning before church. So WHY Santa WHY did I have to wait?!
My mom, being the smarty pants that she was (and is), simply informed me that Santa knows how hard pastors have to work around Christmas time, and that he goes to their houses last (and during the day) so that they have time to rest up before it's present time. And I bought it.
I bought it so much that I was excited to take a nap. Bring it on, Santa. I will sleep and you will bring me presents.
However, my parents' good fortune came to an end when I was somewhere around 7 years old, I think. I woke up from my nap early, heard commotion downstairs, and decided to creep on down to see what was going on.
Apparently Santa doesn't exist... my parents had been waking up early from their naps and putting out presents the whole time! The ruse was up. But, I will give mad props to my mom and dad who kept it going for a few years ;)
Anyone else have any amusing childhood Santa stories?!
8 comments:
Great story! When I was little I would always put out milk and cookies, as well as carrots (for the reindeer of course), for Santa Clause. Santa would always write me a handwritten letter, and there would always be cookie crums in the chimney. Christmas was a cherished time at the Monroe house.
We left carrots too!!! =D My mom still did it up until the last Christmas I spent with her.. so.. 3 years ago. Don't laugh.
Bahahaha ok it's ok to laugh ;)
I stopped believing at a young age but this is awesome. Your mom was good, real good!
Oh, your parents were super sneaky. Also, I was way older than 7 when I found out Santa wasn't real. I was 24. You just told me. Thanks. Hahaha
Great story! I think I'm gonna post about my discovery of the non existent Santa soon.
haha awesome story!! I love that you totally bought that! I can't wait until I have my own kiddies and I can make up my own Santa stories
That's such a cute story. :) My uncle is a pastor (Lutheran, too!) so we always end up doing family Christmas on my mom's side the day after, when things have calmed down a bit.
Speaking of which, an older cousin asked me, "you know Santa's not real, right?" when I was five or six. I didn't tell my parents I knew for year or two, though, because I knew I'd get half as many presents then!
Clever parents. Got away with it for years PLUS scored a no-whining nap. ;)
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