Draft Dodger
12-04-2005, 05:03 PM
(aren't kids cute thread #2,341)
thread title is actually misleading, as it doesn't have to do with Christmas, but St Nicholas Day. St Nicholas Day is a tradition my wife's family picked up in Germany - kids there put out their shoes/boots the night before and in the morning, St Nicholas has come and filled them with toys and stuff. We've celebrated it since we've been together, but now is the first time Graham (age 3) is old enough to appreciate it.
so, last night after we put Hannah to bed, we sit Graham down to tell him all about St Nicholas Day, especially the part about putting your shoes out before you go to bed, and St Nicholas filling them with toys for good boys and girls and coal for bad girls and boys.
"What's coal, mommy?"
"Coal is like dirt and rocks and stuff"
"Oh"
"So, are you ready to put your shoes out?"
"No thank you"
my wife and I exchanged rather incredulous looks (he's turning down toys??), but pressed on, pointing out that the rest of us would be putting our shoes out...and don't you want St Nicholas to bring you toys?
"No. I have my own toys."
Can't seem to catch a break here. We shelve the issue for a while, and get him ready for bed. And then we bring it up again, being a little more forceful about putting out the freaking shoes. He still resists, getting visibly upset now. He, in no way, shape or form wanted to have his shoes put out anywhere for St Nicholas. Not at all.
Well, we finally get out of him the reason for the trepidation: he didn't want his shoes to get dirty. He was worried that St Nicholas was going to put rocks and dirt (our definition of coal) in his shoes!
Kids!
:p
thread title is actually misleading, as it doesn't have to do with Christmas, but St Nicholas Day. St Nicholas Day is a tradition my wife's family picked up in Germany - kids there put out their shoes/boots the night before and in the morning, St Nicholas has come and filled them with toys and stuff. We've celebrated it since we've been together, but now is the first time Graham (age 3) is old enough to appreciate it.
so, last night after we put Hannah to bed, we sit Graham down to tell him all about St Nicholas Day, especially the part about putting your shoes out before you go to bed, and St Nicholas filling them with toys for good boys and girls and coal for bad girls and boys.
"What's coal, mommy?"
"Coal is like dirt and rocks and stuff"
"Oh"
"So, are you ready to put your shoes out?"
"No thank you"
my wife and I exchanged rather incredulous looks (he's turning down toys??), but pressed on, pointing out that the rest of us would be putting our shoes out...and don't you want St Nicholas to bring you toys?
"No. I have my own toys."
Can't seem to catch a break here. We shelve the issue for a while, and get him ready for bed. And then we bring it up again, being a little more forceful about putting out the freaking shoes. He still resists, getting visibly upset now. He, in no way, shape or form wanted to have his shoes put out anywhere for St Nicholas. Not at all.
Well, we finally get out of him the reason for the trepidation: he didn't want his shoes to get dirty. He was worried that St Nicholas was going to put rocks and dirt (our definition of coal) in his shoes!
Kids!
:p