I have mixed feelings about Santa. On the one hand, I love the magical aspect of this benevolent guy arriving who brings stuff like socks and underwear and who makes kids love it (kidding. He brings one smallish-but-cool thing usually), but on the other hand, I totally agree with some of what our own Kelly spouts about over at The Poop: Santa is a hypocritical stalker.

But Kelly takes it a step farther than I do. Crosses a line, really. Because she tells her kid that the parents are Santa.

(Sacrilege!)

So the stalker thing I get. I was never comfortable with the idea of "naughty or nice" and "if you're not good Santa won't come." Making the receipt of gifts contingent upon behavior is wrong unless the adults are going to treat one another that way as well. How does that feel? "Sorry, honey, but the sex was kind of meh this year so I didn't get you anything." Holding a year's worth of behavior over a kid's head during December just creates bitter adults. Which probably explains a lot if you ask me.

So the hypocritical thing I totally get. Santa doesn't come for poor kids? How do you explain that? Kids know this stuff. They know who has an iPod Nano, who has Wii, who has a plasma TV. Believe me. They know this stuff. And I know too that I for one can't come up with a plausible explanation as to why Santa treats some kids better than others.

But the parents-as-Santa thing makes me suck in my breath and cringe a little. I like the fact that there is magic in our house once a year. I like that there are surprises.

I'm actually in a bit of a quandary about this. My older son is 11; wouldn't he likely know what adults know about Santa by now? But what if he doesn't? I can't exactly wink and hope he knows what I know without actually saying anything can I? My older daughter found out at about 7 from some other kids but never made te connection between Santa and, say, the Tooth Fairy, and when I assumed she had it was distastrous. I'm not going through that again.

Damn. The more I write the more I think Kelly's path is the way to go: start young and come clean from the beginning.

What's the story on Santa at your house?