Terror on Santa’s Lap
December 1 was a joyful day when every Santa came out from hiding and headed to the local shopping centers, malls, and department stores. While covering a story, I got the opportunity to watch countless children wait in line to sit on the big-man’s lap, only to cry throughout the entire experience.
“She looks so cute crying” and “Take the picture, it’s the best it’s going to get” were two of the many phrases I heard during my time watching the parent-Santa-child dance.
I came to the realization that Santa may not be so much for the children as for the parents. My mom still makes me take a photo every year with St. Nick no matter what I say or how hard I try to get out of it. And, similar to the scene I witnessed Saturday, the more I cry, the cuter the picture.
I took my 10-year-old daughter to the Galleria Saturday and we witnessed the emotional trauma that is sitting on Santa’s lap. She was horrified and asked, “Did you ever make me sit on Santa’s lap?” I was as afraid to answer that question as I was to answer my 12-year-old son’s “Have you ever smoked cigaretts?” question. Um. No?