Ho Ho Ho

Mia met Santa for the first time today.  This is the first year we've even mentioned Santa to her and also the first year I thought there was a small chance that she could sit on his lap for 30 seconds without totally losing it.  When I told her where we were going, she lit up like a firecracker.  She spent the entire car ride delivering a monologue of all the relevant facts she has collected thus far about Santa: North Pole, reindeer, big white beard, etc.  She then announced that Santa might be wearing pants.  I told her that Santa had better be wearing pants or we were turning right around and coming home.

When we were in line, she spent half an hour detailing her plan to ask Santa for a bumblebee toy.  (This is consistently her answer for what she wants from Santa, we have no idea what she's talking about, kid is in for a real disappointment.)  The only catch was that she told me in no uncertain terms that she was not going to sit on Santa's lap.  She was willing to sit on my lap or willing for me to sit on Santa's lap while she watched from the sidelines, but had no interest in doing it herself.

When the time came, I plopped her down and ran as fast as I could out of camera range, cooing comforting words at her the entire time.  Santa gave her a lollipop, which I thought would win her love and affection forever, but not so much.  She didn't cry, and she didn't scream, but she did spend the entire (very brief) interlude yelling "I want my mommy!" at the top of her lungs.

Once I had rescued her she was fine, and she's madly in love with the picture, so I think the experience was worth securing proof that Mia has met Santa Claus in the flesh.  Also, I let her eat the lollipop, so that helped.

If you are inclined to make visits to Santa yourself, how did your kids react the first time?

Comments

[ckirby50]

Screaming. More screaming. Tears.

But Santa in theory is better than chocolate cake. Go figure.

[Edge]

They cried. It would have been funnier if they said his breath smelled like whisky, but no such luck. Just a few looks and tears.

~Jef

[Michelle]

Steadfast refusal.

The result? We have a family picture with Santa.

They wouldn't give me my money back, so I was getting some picture, dammit.

[SarraJK]

Santa visit #1 was at 6 months. He was happy to sit on the old man's lap. No problem.

Santa visit #2 was unmitigated disaster. He had no desire to even get near Santa, so we rode the train and called it a day.

This year was awesome. We were at the mall pre-Thanksgiving and noticed that Santa was already there (and no line!). So we went to Macy's and let little boy pick out a fancy outfit and told him he could ask Santa for more trains. He let me dress him in the fancy outfit and happily sat on Santa's lap for a photo and a chat. No lollipop required.

[Christina]

First visit - Matthew was like 9 months old so he sat there and looked around. That was it.

Last year, I think he screamed so loud not once but twice (yes we stupidly attempted this venture TWO times...) I think both men who were "playing" are now permanently deaf...

We are going to try again this year but only once and if he hates it we leave but like Mia Matthew is pretty geeked about seeing the big man so he can make sure he gets that train set!

[Tina]

DD has never met "Santa", as we don't celebrate Christmas with her, but my DS (previous relationship) did. ONCE. I never liked meeting Santa, myself, so I never pushed it just to get a photo. I think it's a weird experience for kids, kind of stressful and scary, and maybe depending on the Santa, he won't match their expectations. If my daughter had said to me that she didn't want to sit on his lap, I wouldn't have put her there. JMO.

[ann adams]

Rebecca was a little wary the first time but then decided to spend a half hour telling Santa her life story. Typical Rebecca.

The other two were fine but I think Rochelle may have been almost 3 the first time around (Rebecca was a little over two and even then chattered (unintelligbly) like a magpie).

The pictures are lovely. Far better than when we wore those awful maternity tops to "conceal" what was obvious to everyone.

[Joanne]

I'm not inclined to put my boy on Santa's lap. EVER. I just ... it's so weird, to me, I know he wouldn't like it and the whole Santa thing freaks me out anyway. It's some guy? Who knows when you've been sleeping? Ugh.

[donna]

Bridget was NOT impressed. Check out my site for photographic proof.

[jodifur]

what, we don't get to see the picture?

And this is what you do when you blow me off, nice.

[Mandie]

No santa. Just no. :)

[Meredith]

Princess P, nearly 3, has announced that she does not like Santa (and is consistent with this response). If asked what Santa should bring her, she replies, "Nothing." Again, it's a consistent response.

So no Santa for her this year. Only one of mine had any interst.

[Michelle]

My daughter is only 15 months - the ensuing meltdown isn't worth the hope of a photo before she realizes she is on some weird guy's lap.

[Amy]

We always take Sweetie to visit Santa on her birthday (Dec. 20th). This is her birthday "thing". She's never been afraid of him.

Oh - and a bumblebee toy? How about this one? http://www.backtobasicstoys.com/ShowItem.aspx?productID=4632. Looks pretty cute.

:)

[Colleen]

We went to see Santa for the 3rd time this year. This was the first year where I couldn't get her near him. She refused. I couldn't even try to get her in range for a photo. I even tried 3 different times (2 times at the mall... 1 time at our town's "tiny Santa House"). I was going to attempt to at least get a shot of her screaming her lungs out on his lap... but I figured Santa might bring more presents if he wasn't kicked to death.

[Michelle]

You should so get her this:
Playskool Honeybee Hop
http://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-34888-Playskool-Honeybee-Hop/dp/B000OVAHLM

[Giillian]

I have a lovely photo of my daughter trying to escape the fiendish clutches of Santa when she was 20 months old. After that she was able to say 'No.' with great clarity. Poor mom. She wouldn't let me kiss owies either. sigh.

[Maggie]

We have a photo with santa that also includes me. Although the 18 month old did stop screaming and crying for the photo op, and instead is simply wearing an expression that clearly states "Santa, I heard that you ate children for dinner and I am NOT going to be next..."

There is also a HoneyBee Game that we have that is fun for toddlers, as long as you aren't into following rules or anything crazy like that.

[Marcia]

Let's see: @ 4-months Griffin was smiling ear-to-ear and had his hand thrown back against the guys beard like Santa was his new best friend; @ 16-months he was big-eyed but smiling, looking like he wasn't quite sure what was going on, but wasn't the least bit worried about it; and finally (on Saturday) @ 2-years and 3-months he ran up and yelled "Hi, Santa.", sat in his lap, and posed for the camera. He gets it from me...in all my childhood pictures with Santa, my twin sister is red & teary-faced and trying desperately to slide off, and I am smiling like I haven't a care in the world. Loved her pic. She has that look on her face (that I know so well from mine) like she's about to go all "Firestarter" on everybody.

[Kate]

Piper posed for her 1st Santa pic last year, at 10 months. She wasn't too psyched about it, but it was over quickly and she didn't really have time to throw a fit. This year, when I told her we were going to sit on Santa's lap, she was definitely excited. She asked if he looked like the Grinch. "Um... sort of, but not exactly," I replied. We got there, and she ran up to him and thrust a copy of "Green Eggs and Ham" into his face. Then she buried her head in my armpit and refused to interact with him. Started screaming when I attempted to deposit her on his lap. Santa was a good sport, made it about 6 pages into the book before I told him not to bother. Now, Piper is telling anyone and everyone how Santa read her a book...

[Eric's Mommy]

Eric's real good with Santa now but the first time he saw him he sat there for a second then did the stiffen up the body thing and slid slowly off his lap trying to get away.

[carey]

first visit- 5 months old, sat on lap, looked at him, grabbed the poor man's beard and gave a hearty tug (it was a real beard so i'm sure it didn't feel good!).
second visit- 17 months old, sat on lap, looked very concerned, said "mommy!" a few times but never cried, did tell santa in the end that she wanted a ball.
third visit- 29 months old, said no to lap and sat on the reindeer instead, picture was taken, then she got on his lap and told him she wanted "basketball and baby stuff."

*our mall has a great older man that plays santa and he looks JUST LIKE you think santa should. i think that helps.

[Katie]

Maybe she's referring to Busy Bee from Best in Show? :)

[Mar]

Katie was about 10 months. It took 3 tries, on the 3rd try I just threw her on his lap and jumped out of the way like you did. She was not a happy girl in the pictures to say the least.

[Mar]

Katie was about 10 months. It took 3 tries, on the 3rd try I just threw her on his lap and jumped out of the way like you did. She was not a happy girl in the pictures to say the least.