nice

Yeah, but what fun is that? :lol:

I know! I'm all proud at my self-growth :)
Should I add it to my list of New Year Resolutions?
1) Cast more aspersions.

Oh yes, like bread crumbs among the pigeon shit, or something like that. :haha:

Well, you see, the thing is that that's totally what I think -spend your money more wisely, silly santa-visiting woman- but I've been jumped on so many times for saying that, that this time I didn't..... so I was a little surprised when you did! :lol:

Instead of chastising SG, you could have explained that across the pond, visiting Santa is an expensive indulgence, but nooooooo... :rolleyes:

I was a young, poor single mom many years ago... and I would always take my kids to see Santa in November. 2 reasons : Santa would tell me what they wanted, and I had 6ish weeks to come up with something close, and if I could not afford it... I had 6wks to change their minds on what they wanted :)

Santa is free in Canada too, but if you want a picture it would cost $3 to $10.

Something I learned from living paycheque to paycheque was to purchase one to two gifts per pay. As the kids got older, I would get gift certificates from Walmart. I would put $5 down on each card in Jan and then $10 per month... in the end it gave me $125 per child to spend, or give the certificate.

Gave them something at least, without stressing me out in Nov/Dec.

...so are the days of our lives.

My partner and I were at the mall last weekend with our 4 yr old. We spotted Santa and got in line. After waiting quite a while, and the 4 yr old watching intently as the other children sat on his lap and pictures were taken, she announced firmly, "I don't want to do this. I want to go home". We looked at each other with raised eyebrows and asked her, "Are you SURE? This will probably be the only time you will get to talk to him". She said while shaking her head, "Nope. I don't want to talk to him, lets go home!" And ducked under the rope and walked away...

We didn't argue, just shrugged and said..OK. Our daughter has a mind of her own and obviously saw something she didn't like. We're fine with that.

I think she likes seeing him from a distance, but has zero desire to get up close and personal with him. She'll shriek excitedly and point one out if she sees one (like standing in front of the drugstore waving), but no...not too keen on touching some stranger. I kinda like that.


And I never pay for the pictures. I take my own with my cell phone :)

Someone told me that in their town or group used to have a Santa until the one they were using failed a background check. Maybe your daughter has good instincts.

"Go ahead and sit in the fat strangers lap. He's wearing a red suit so it's safe."

That reasoning didn't work for priests, so why should it work for Santas.:(

To be fair, my brother was 'Santa Paws' at a Petco last year as a fundraiser. He was supposed to have pictures taken with pets, but since it was for charity, I paid for Jeff to have his picture taken standing next to his uncle in a Santa suit. So we have the picture in the frame they gave us with little doggie bones on it.

My brother-in-law was a Santa years ago.

Funny, Santa doesn't look Jewish... [/nyuck nyuck nyuck]

Well, you're not going to be able to tell by looking at his nose.;)