Naughty or Nice

"You better watch out

You better not cry

You better not pout 

I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town.

He sees you when you're sleeping

He knows when you're awake

He knows when you've been bad or good

So be good for goodness sake."

I can't tell you how awful it felt inside when I used to tell my kids this. Like as if I was actually going to take the presents I had already bought back to the store. As if, for a few acts of defiance or rudeness, they were no longer worthy of the gifts despite all the good they did all year. I understand that kids aren't always on their best behavior. And maybe they are actually worse around Christmas time. Maybe they aren't but seem worse because of the price of their gifts hanging over our heads. To me it's just sad to hold it over their heads. Because honestly, our kids are good. They were born good. They are bad sometimes because they are learning. Life is a learning process. There shouldn't be more pressure at Christmas time. 

Of course we can justify and say that God tells us such things in the scriptures. It is true that we are blessed for obeying God's commandments, but he isn't reminding us publicly in the stores or in front of friends and family and repeating himself over and over to get us to stop our bad actions in the midst of doing them. 

To me, the idea of presents and Santa makes a kid crazy! They get high on the expectation as if they have been binging on candy. Even more it's like giving a kid candy before dinner. There is no way they are going to sit still now and eat their peas. And like most parents know, there is no rationalizing with a kid who is high on sugar. Their brains just can't calm down. In fact, with all the treats around at Christmas they are probably, in fact, high on sugar;) Haha.

I guess my point is that holding Santa over their heads to get them to be better around Christmas time is on my Naughty List;) I totally understand why we use it sometimes but I hate it! Just remember that your kids are good. Think of all the good and sweet things they do all year and all the times they are angels. Reward them for that!

God Bless and Merry Christmas!