Balancing Christmas

My daughter penned her first letter to Santa this week. Here it is in all of its childlike glory:

“Hi Santa. How are you doing? If you are not doing well, send a message back.

“Can I have a Rapunzel doll and a walk puppy, please? I think I deserve these toys because I’m so nice. And because I treat my toys really well and I share them with my sister. She treats them well, too.

“I love you, Santa. I hope you have a Merry Christmas. If I could, I would kiss and hug you, but I can’t because I have to be in bed.”

Adorable. As a mom, I love watching my daughter light up when she sees Santa or gets swept up in the magic of the Christmas season.

I also try each year to make sure we match the fun, magical Santa side of Christmas with the spiritual, peaceful Christ side. I’m all for having both, but just in their own moments and in somewhat of a balancing act.

We build gingerbread houses, for example, but we also discuss the creche set. We sit on Santa’s lap at the mall and watch “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” but we also read the Christmas story in Luke each year. And we buy fun, totally unnecessary presents for each other, but the first gift under the tree is always a small box representing the gift we have each chosen to give to Jesus Christ that year.

By emphasizing both sides, I never feel guilty about indulging in a little Christmas commercialism and holiday hype. In our house, you’ll be sure to hear us singing “Silent Night” on Christmas Eve, but we’ll be rocking out to some synthesized Mannheim Steamroller on Christmas morning.

How do you balance the spiritual side of Christmas with the commercial side?

Erin Stewart is a regular blogger for Deseret News. From stretch marks to the latest news for moms, Stewart discusses it all while her 4-year-old daughter crams Mr. Potato Head pieces in her little sister’s nose.