Today was a Red Letter Day in our household for adult and child alike.
It was my daughter's end of year group family picnic and Husband reprised his role as Santa Claus. He tried on his suit last night while I kept sharp watch for unwelcome intruders in the form of very small children.
Today while the children gaily ran round and the adults chatted an interesting thing came up. One of the mother's said to me very loudly, in front of my highly excited, unsuspecting daughter: "So is your husband playing Santa then?"
I gave her a horrified "Shhhhh!" and thankfully my daughter was so focused in her pursuit of food (takes after mum) that she didn't notice.
It led to a chat about where we were with Santa and believing in him. Or not.
In our household we've gone with believing in Santa. The caveat is that Santa brings them the one thing they want most and mum and dad supply the rest.
We've looked at the original stories of St Nicholas, each year we donate to the Wishing Tree, and the kids and I collect up toys to donate to the St Vinnies. I want them to grow up knowing that Christmas is about giving, more so in fact than receiving.
But it was clear other people do it differently.
One mum said her kids don't believe in Santa and never have. She and her husband give gifts to the kids but they don't bother wrapping them or anything.
Another mum said she told the kids early on Santa wasn't real and really Christmas is just a crass exercise in commercialism.
I'm not sure how much a five year old can process in terms of the words "crass commercialism" but I get what she was trying to say.
The thing is it's a fine line for me.
I adhere to the original notion of it being about Baby Jesus and the stable all forlorn. The Santa stuff is a fun extra.
But I also grew up believing in the wonder of fairies and having a vivid imagination that was encouraged to run riot.
I think what I do with my own kids is my way of fostering that in them as well. From driving round late at night to marvel at the beautiful Christmas lights to getting the offspring to hand-make Christmas cards to give to our neighbours.
I love all that. I love the baking with them and the family time.
The madness of the shops and the ramp up of junk mail you can keep.
So it got me thinking, where are you on Santa?
I know that Mr. Large is highly suspicious of the notion but I suspect is keeping his views to himself to avoid spoiling it for his younger siblings, or the knowledge that Santa will cease his visits otherwise!
Do your kids believe or not?
When's the cut-off?
Is there one?
PS I should add the offspring guessed it was dad dressed up as Santa today, which served only to heighten rather than diminish their enthusiasm about Christmas. Go figure!
