by Cynthia Springsteen

Created on: December 27, 2009

Christmas past was a wonderful time for parents of little children. Playing Santa Claus was a challenge. Making sure you hide the gifts well, use different wrapping paper and tags so that they don't notice. The magic that ensues was something parents and children will remember their whole life. Waking up Christmas day to see the tree filled with presents from Santa and stockings all filled with treasures, and children's faces as brightly glowing as the lights on your tree. In newer times listening as they track Santa on NORAD and anxiously awaiting his arrival close to home. These days are filled with excitement and many sleepless nights preparing. Waiting Christmas Eve for them to fall asleep so you can actually set it all up and pray that they don't wake up until your done. Yet, when this time is gone you would give nothing more than to be able to go back in time to when they still believed.

Christmas present is filled with a different type of feeling. Now that your children are teenagers the magic and belief in Santa is gone. They know he doesn't exist and that their parents have done everything for this day, is there any greater appreciation for all that hard work done in the past? In some cases maybe yes and in some cases they are teenagers, who can tend to be selfish and not realize all the hard work and money that goes into making this one-day of the year so memorable. The best part about this is that it makes things easier not having to worry so much about being caught.

Christmas future what will things continue to be like? If you lose that magic completely things will never quite be the same. Christmas needs to continue to be magical even though Santa in a sense is gone. It is a beautiful, exciting time of the year and even as grown-ups there is no better time to be with the ones you love. Make sure to have family traditions that continue throughout the years, such as tree trimming, house decorating, parties and visiting loved ones. As much as they may fight you on the visiting part now, years down the road they will learn to appreciate their family and remember these days. See article on "Surviving Christmas with teens," for tips to make this easier and less stressful on your family and yourself.

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