This year again, I think it's time Daughter is on to the Santa ruse. She's now eight. I shouldn't be able to fool her any longer. I'm not even trying to fool her. But I have found her self-sustained Santa myths too amusing to want to bust her bubble. This evening, Christmas eve, she might have caught me red-handed, scissors, gift wrap and tape strewn all over the floor as I wrapped gifts. But no. Instead, she never lowered her gaze to the floor to see what I was doing. She didn't glance at the dining table to see if Santa had indeed stopped by and consumed the cookies she left out for him. She didn't check to see if I kept my word and put out the cup of milk I said I would. She didn't take a peek at the tree to see if gifts had been delivered. She simply delivered her message, with chin up. Her brother had fallen asleep on the floor and she needed me to move him. Quick about-turn, she went back up the stairs.
It struck me as very unusual for a child who is giddy with anticipation about Santa's arrival to show no curiousity whatsoever about the status of his arrival. Then it struck me. She doesn't want the truth. The myth is too much fun and she's going to hold on to it for as long as she can. If it means experiencing selective blindness when she runs into me wrapping gifts, then so be it.
Scientists have shown that one of the major functions of our brain is to rationalize our actions. Research also shows that ability to rationalize is directly correlated with happiness. Which totally makes sense when you consider that the child who ignores evidence to the contrary and takes pure delight in gifts from the north pole will likely be happier than the one who is grappling with the lies told by society and experiencing irritation with those who continue to hold on to the lies.
So I'm happy that my daughter chooses to be happy instead of right this Christmas.
Merry Christmas!!!
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