Hello Friends!

Today's post is not about pregnancy, as I don't really have anything new to report (fatigue, nausea, the works) But it is about parenting. Sort of.

So I turned on my car radio yesterday to what used to be my favorite radio station. I hear the beginning of a familiar song. It's a song I loathe and always change the channel when it comes on, even though just a few bars will get it stuck in my head for EVER. Fortunately for me I only have to change the channel during a certain part of the year. Yup you guessed it. It was CHRISTMAS MUSIC! And it was the WORST Christmas song ever! (I apologize for this in advance)

The lyrics go something like this

last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special

OVER AND OVER AND OVER! I HATE THIS SONG! Not only is it expressing a sentiment that I don't want to think about during Christmas but the tune is extremely catchy and it gets stuck in your head.

So here is my problems with my day yesterday. First it was only the 10th of NOVEMBER! There should not be Christmas music playing yet! What about Thanks Giving? Are we skipping it this year? Going straight to Christmas? Second, there are only so many Christmas songs. So when you start playing them six weeks early, inevitably (for you heavy radio listeners) you end up hearing the same song, albeit by different artists 10 or 20 times in one day. UUGGGG...

Now, don't get me wrong. I LOVE Christmas. Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love the holiday spirit of giving and service. I love having a time when we celebrate the coming of Christ to this world. I even love Christmas music. I joined a community choir in the winter time just so I could sing Christmas music. I would love to point out also that out of the twenty or so pieces that we are singing, only 3 or 4 are not about Christ. And of those three or four, one is about the new year, and an another is about caroling.

So I just want to emphasize that I don't have a problem with Christmas or Christmas music. What I do have a problem with is the greed and avarice that has crept into this sacred holiday. I strongly suspect that the radio is playing "Christmas" music (and we may as well call it winter music for as much as it is about Christ) Just to get people thinking about shopping. So they will want to go get their Christmas presents on black Friday.

The whole thing disgusts me. Now, if we decided to have six weeks of celebrating Christ, or service, or love and generosity I would be all for it! But six weeks of "what am I going to get for Christmas" is terrible.

*warning* I am about to jump on the highest soap box and I can find and rant for a bit. Please remember that these are only my opinions and I do not in any way expect you to share them. What you choose for your own family is your right as a parent. I reserve the right to make decisions for my family.

Okay so here is the other thing. I HATE Santa Clause. Yes, you read that right. I HATE Santa Clause. Now before you call me a scrooge and throw coal at me, please let me explain.

First of all, I love my savior Jesus Christ. My life has peace and joy because of his teachings on this earth and because of the loving sacrifice he made on this earth for all man kind. I am deeply offended by a fiction character who has hijacked the celebration of the birth of the most important man to be born anywhere in this universe.

I also hate the term "the true meaning of Christmas". The reason I hate it is because I don't think there should be a "false meaning of Christmas". Why would we teach our children about something that counters the beautiful truth that Jesus Christ was born on the earth, that he atoned for our sins, died for us, and was resurrected. That he LIVES and loves us! Why oh why would we need anything other than that to celebrate?

The whole idea of Santa Clause (at least in America) is very sweet. A man who makes toys for children and brings them around the world in one night. But it pales in comparison to the story of the shepherds in the fields who saw an angel, who heard the host of heaven singing in joy because the Savior had been born. OF kings who journeyed for over a year to bring gifts to a small child, a child told of by prophets, who had been sent here to redeem man from their sins.

It seems to me, we already have a reason to celebrate. Why do we need to make things up? Personally in my home, we will not celebrate Santa Clause. I feel there is no need to lie to my children about a kind and generous man when there is a real one who walked on the earth, and who gave them the greatest gift they can ever recieve.

I do love the idea of exchanging gifts on Christmas, but I don't feel the need to hide behind an a fictional character to remain an anonymous gift giver to my children. I hope to help them understand that we give each other gifts to represent the gift Christ gave to us.

(sorry, rant almost over I promise)

So all that being said, I completely detest the tradition of having Santa Clause at ward parties. Again, before you boo me and throw rotten tomatoes, please let me explain.

I want my children to know and understand that church is a place we go to learn beautiful truths about our Heavenly Father and his plan for us while we are on the earth. I want them to know that they can trust what their teachers tell them to be true testimonies of the gospel. So when Primary teachers talk about Santa Clause being real, or (and I really had this happen once) A member of the BISHOPRIC preaches that Santa Clause is real from the pulpit, I will have some serious damage control to do. I will have to explain to my children that while Jesus is a real person, Santa Clause is not even though they learned about him at church. I am already frustrated about having this conversation and my baby is still in uterine.

I personally believe that if you want to celebrate Santa Clause in your own family then you should do it! Exercise your right as a parent and create what ever traditions you feel are best for your family. Take your kids to the mall, or hire a Santa to come to your family Christmas party. But please don't insist that Santa come to the ward Christmas activity. I will have to choose to not participate in a ward function because something I don't believe in is being taught inside the sacred walls of the church.

My one request to all LDS people, is please don't force your belief in Santa Clause onto others who don't wish to have him in their home. I won't ever force you share my opinion, and I am not even really trying to convince you that I am right, but please let church stay sacred and about Jesus Christ.

*ok. Climbing off of my soap box now.*