Poll: do you take the kids to see Santa?

sooosie

I have taken them to see Santa and gotten a pic ever since Ian was 9 months old (his first Christmas).  Last year, our pic includes Max wailing and trying to get away. On the one hand I think it's hilarious, but on the other I really don't want to scare the bajeezus out of him again.  Anytime we are somewhere there's a santa, they aren't interested in talking to him or getting near him.  Not scared, just not interested.   So I'm thinking I'll skip it, but I really kind of wanted to keep up this yearly tradition.

You?

DandelionMom

We go every year. 

ETA: but the kids really don't sit on his lap.  They just go and talk to him at a museum in the area.  It is always the same Santa and they love him.  

MHalka41

I have a Max as well!  Almost the same age.  I know for a fact that he will freak out if I try to get him to sit on Santa's lap.  However, it's the 1st Christmas for my DD and I would love a picture with both of them.  Don't think I'll get it!  We are going to a Christmas party for my dad's work on Sunday.  I will try to get one there.  Wish me luck!! 

Melett

Yes, we take them every year. They would be really sad if we didn't-they love him!

shopgirl78

We see a Santa every year but not necessarily the mall Santa.  I do think we are going while visiting my mom at the Bass Pro Shop though.  

jettagurl

We go every year, and I'll make Ben go until he's like 13, since the twins will be like 9 that year.  bwahaha! 

 

jnicks19

We go every year but we did have one year where my daughter is crying and trying to get off his lap.  After seeing the pic and her arms held up for me, I felt awful and decided not to do it to her again.  The next year, just my younger one went and after getting the pic, my older one wanted to go!  So I have 2 for that year.  

I do like the tradition but wouldn't force my kids to do it again if they didn't want to.  I used to think those crying pics were cute or funny until it was my baby and I felt bad! 

tslmom87

We went when DD was 8 days old and we went this year too. This year she wasn't a fan as you can see in my siggy, she's seen him twice since and has gotten better! It will be a yearly tradition.

The first couple years I was scared to when I was little but around 4 I wasn't scared and LOVED santa!

Mominator

Absolutely. Every Christmas and Easter since 2007 I've had a holiday picture with at least one kid crying. This year they are both actually smiling, they love Santa and both are really into the whole Christmas/Santa thing this year.

KatieLG04

Last year at Thanksgiving, DS wasn't all that into Santa.  We got a picture but I had to be right next to him.  We started bringing him around Santa a lot because DH and DS often go to the mall at this time of year to walk around since there isn't much to do.  So basically we did some exposure therapy and he now loves Santa and was so upset when he left last year.  He talked about it, wore his Santa hat in the summer and had been asking when he was back. 

Littlejen22

Every year, DD only cried her first year (just at 1 year, I did not take either their first year since they were only days old), DS never cried.  Last year and this year we went to Macy's in NYC with our BFFs and their girls and we LOVE it, I will do it every year probably until they are too old to sit on his lap.

cokt

We have 2 events we go to every year with Santa. Santa brunch at the country club and a Santa Party one of our best friends has for all our friends with kids. I take the boys picture with Santa at both events. I really don't think I would take them to the mall or anywhere else we had to wait in line or pay for photos. Both the events we go to Santa is walking around and the kids can talk to him for as long as they want. 

Zenya

We haven't before b/c I know they would have been scared.  Then this year I thought it would be fun but DH thinks they are mostly alcoholic pedophiles so no mall santa for us.

MrsCali_Bride

Yes, we've taken C each year and we're taking all three kids tomorrow. I'm planning to take them each year until they decide they no longer want to go see him.

surprise3rd

Nope, we did for a few years when DS was younger....his 3 and 4 year old years were terrible and the 4 year old christmas year ended with him so upset as he was walking away from Santa he threw up all over himself.  I will not put my child through that kind of torture.  Now at 6.5 he still has no interest in going to talk to santa and either does my 4 year old dd.  So we don't have those pictures....oh well.

AggieCouple

No.  I think they're creepy.

I watched a child protection video when I taught for the Catholic Church, and one of the guys interviewed admitted he became Santa to get kids to sit on his lap. That, and one episode of x-files ruined Santas for me forever.

Zenya

surprise3rd:

Nope, we did for a few years when DS was younger....his 3 and 4 year old years were terrible and the 4 year old christmas year ended with him so upset as he was walking away from Santa he threw up all over himself.  I will not put my child through that kind of torture.  Now at 6.5 he still has no interest in going to talk to santa and either does my 4 year old dd.  So we don't have those pictures....oh well.

oh that is so sad.  I totally CRINGE when people post pictures of their kids sobbing on santa's lap.  I think it's so mean to laugh at it (when people are like 'aw!  how cute!'.  um that is not cute).

Zenya

AggieCouple:

No.  I think they're creepy.

I watched a child protection video when I taught for the Catholic Church, and one of the guys interviewed admitted he became Santa to get kids to sit on his lap.

I will have to share that with DH. 

CleoKitty

Always. My kids would be devastated if they didn't see him. They've never been afraid of him and usually literally go running to him with open arms and hugs.

We don't do the mall Santa, though. Total rip-off. No way in hell am I paying $20 for a photo! We go to another Santa in a little downtown mall that just has small, local shops where you get a lovely photo for $5 (and it all goes to charity.) 

peekaboo716

I have taken the kids each year. DS's second Christmas, we did have the crying kid picture. Oh well... Ever since, I have been in the picture with Santa. I am hoping this year, that I will be able to not be in the photo. We shall see.

Interesting side note... my SIL recently told me that her last Santa picture was when she was 21 years old! It was because her mom insisted, for the sake of the youngest child (then 7 or 8 years old). So all the kids, ages 7-21 were in the picture.

AnnapolisLari

No.

DH is the Santa person in this house. Every year he says "we need to take the kids to see Santa and get a picture" and every year it doesn't happen. What he means is that he wants ME to do it, but I don't do Santa or elves on shelves. I let him do the cookies out for Santa and whatnot, but that's his show.