Sandra Heska King

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I’m a Liar

December 22, 2010 By Sandra Heska King

I’m a liar.

I said it would be a quiet week. That I wouldn’t post much.

But I’m a liar.

And I have to confess.

Get it off my chest.

I’m a liar.

And worse.

I’m a liar mom.

I perpetuated the Santa myth.

I overspent and hid gifts and piled them under the tree after the kids went to sleep.

I dipped the soles of my husband’s boots in the fireplace ashes and made footprints on the carpet.

I scattered wet pine straw in the family room when we lived in Georgia.

Inspired by Ruth Graham, I tucked cotton wisps in the brick.

I chewed on unpeeled carrots and tossed them on the floor.

I left thank you notes for cookies and apologized for the reindeers’ bad manners.

And one year Abby was sick. Chickenpox, I think.

She could not go to the mall to sit on Santa’s lap.

She was heartbroken.

And so, this liar mom bought a nightgown. I don’t remember what it looked like, but it probably was covered in Santas.

When I came home from shopping, I told her Santa was disappointed that she couldn’t come and sad that she was sick and that he left his station to buy her the nightie and asked me to give it to her that night.

She. Was. Thrilled.

It was one of our most memorable Christmases.

I’m so ashamed.

She believed that for years.

I mean years.

Maybe even into her twenties.

She tells me she is devastated.

She is scarred.

That she will never forgive me.

Maybe that’s where the our tradition of new Christmas Eve jammies started.

I tried to break that tradition a couple years ago.

There was an uprising.

So I rushed to the store. Nothing I bought fit anyone. Although Abby made her own mismatched set from someone’s top and someone else’s bottoms.

It was hysterical.

Last year I gave up and bought Snuggies for everyone. We took pictures. And then almost everyone returned their gifts.

Memories.

This year I suggested bypassing jammies again.

I just can’t top last year.

So to speak.

But grown daughter put her foot down.

We can’t mess with tradition.

So I’m off to the mall to carry on.

And pay my annual penance.

Because I’m a liar.

Note: Although we played up Santa on Christmas Eve, my children knew the real reason for the season. The nativity set was kid friendly, and sometimes the camels made it up to the loft. They each opened one gift (besides the jammies and new tree ornaments) on Christmas Eve and then were sent off to make up and dress up (often in their bathrobes) and present an impromptu play of the Christmas story. We had a birthday cake for Jesus and talked about that night and what it means today and every day.

And I don’t regret the memories. After Christmas Eve service and Silent Night and the candlelighting, we come home and reminisce and laugh until we cry and just enjoy each other.

And I like to think Jesus laughs with us.

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Filed Under: stories and reflections

Comments

  1. Tami Heim says

    December 22, 2010 at 9:27 am

    I know you embrace the reason for the season. / Never underestimate the power in all the memories you’ve made. When each memory comes rushing back, it will always be saturated with love and wrapped in joy…just like Jesus.
    Merry Christmas – LYI

    • Sandra says

      December 22, 2010 at 10:53 pm

      LYI more! Grateful for the gift of you.

  2. Michael says

    December 22, 2010 at 9:31 am

    I think he laughs too.

    And I had to admit, when I saw the title I thought of a Henry Rollins song.

    • Sandra says

      December 22, 2010 at 10:58 pm

      I have to admit, I have no idea who Henry Rollins is. Is that good or bad?

      • Michael says

        December 23, 2010 at 2:45 pm

        Probably not so good.

  3. Louise says

    December 22, 2010 at 9:38 am

    I think he laughs too!

    What a delightful story. What a beautiful photo. What wonderful memories.

    Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful spirit… lies and all 🙂

    Not a liar. Just a mother wanting to give her children memories to hold onto!

    • Sandra says

      December 22, 2010 at 10:59 pm

      😀

  4. V.V. Denman says

    December 22, 2010 at 10:47 am

    I love this post. Your family sounds so much like mine. Thank you for sharing your memories. Have a great week as you make some more!

    • V.V. Denman says

      December 22, 2010 at 10:48 am

      And I love the pic of the Snuggies!

      • Sandra says

        December 22, 2010 at 11:01 pm

        Those Snuggies were a riot. Thanks. Hope you have a blessed Christmas.

  5. seekingpastor says

    December 22, 2010 at 11:35 am

    I believed in Santa. My wife believed in Santa. My kids believe in Santa. But we all know what Christmas is all about—FOOD! Just kidding, of course.

    • Sandra says

      December 22, 2010 at 11:02 pm

      Funny! Thanks for coming by. Merry Christmas!

  6. David@Red Letter Believers says

    December 22, 2010 at 12:13 pm

    Delightful post! You are creative, inspirational and motivational. A rare gift

    • Sandra says

      December 22, 2010 at 11:02 pm

      Awww. Thanks, David!

  7. Brock S. Henning says

    December 22, 2010 at 12:17 pm

    “I dipped the soles of my husband’s boots in the fireplace ashes and made footprints on the carpet.”

    Now THAT’s impressive! And I thought I was doing good by jingling reindeer bells, stomping on the floor, then scurrying up to bed before the kids ran into the room. 😉

    • Sandra says

      December 22, 2010 at 11:03 pm

      I never thought of that! Good job!

  8. kelybreez says

    December 22, 2010 at 1:19 pm

    You could drop our big ol’ family into your house and we’d think we were at home. This post so matches our traditions, etc., it’s uncanny! But it makes me love it all!

    Thanks! Kids are smart. They pick up pretty quickly that Mom & Dad might have let me believe in Santa, but it was for fun and because they loved me…

    Now I’m going to go kill puppies because they lied to me.

    • Sandra says

      December 22, 2010 at 11:06 pm

      My husband and I played Scattergories with our 8-year-old granddaughter tonight. We had to explain what an historical figure was. Somebody famous that’s dead. So she couldn’t put down Santa because he’s not dead, she said. And not God, either, because He’s not dead and never will be.

      I’m a little concerned about the puppies.

  9. Keli Gwyn says

    December 22, 2010 at 3:10 pm

    Traditions are such fun. I wish you a blessed celebration of Christmas, complete with more jammies-inspired joy.

    • Sandra says

      December 22, 2010 at 11:08 pm

      Jammies-inspired joy. Love it. Merry Christmas, Keli. Less than a year to St. Louis. You’ll be there, right?

  10. S. Etole says

    December 22, 2010 at 6:44 pm

    Wondering if there were traces of coal in your stocking come Christmas morning for such wild imaginings?! You do hang stockings for Santa, right?!

    • Sandra says

      December 22, 2010 at 11:09 pm

      No, but there was a year when all my husband got me were two smoke alarms. Same as coal. 😉

  11. S. Etole says

    December 22, 2010 at 6:46 pm

    P.S. – I’ll have to confess I thought those Snuggies were choir robes when I first saw your photo … no wonder you could pull all of this off so well.

    • Sandra says

      December 22, 2010 at 11:09 pm

      😀 😀

  12. Kelly Sauer says

    December 22, 2010 at 8:24 pm

    I love this post. Love it. You’re not a liar – you’re a terrific mom. I hope your “traditional” Christmas is wonderful this year!

    • Sandra says

      December 22, 2010 at 11:10 pm

      Thanks, sweet friend. Praying over your sweet picture for a blessed Christmas

  13. laura says

    December 22, 2010 at 10:05 pm

    You. I. Love. You. You rock and glow in the dark like Rudolph’s red nose.

    • Sandra says

      December 22, 2010 at 11:12 pm

      LOL! You. Made. My. Day. Now where are my antlers?

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