The Howler, bless her, still believes in Santa. Don't know how I ended up with children firmly entrenched in the fantasy of Christmas, although, I suppose, it's the way karma works. (The Toad believed well into his 9th or 10th year also, in spite of my snapping out one day and telling him flat out: I AM SANTA, YOU DOLT!)
I think it has to do with the belief that A) their mother despises Christmas-True, btw and B) good gifts disappear and socks and underwear take their place once the "magic" is gone-False, btw.
Anyway, she's been hitting everyone up with questions about their belief in Old Saint Nick, and she is working very hard to convince us that she does still believe. More power to her, I say. Live in that fantasy world, girlfriend! God knows reality will beat you with it's prosthetic leg soon enough.
What that means in Mumpleland is that we have spent the month discussing her belief, and what to do about it. The Little Mister wanted to continue to feed the illusion...I, on the other hand, am bored with the Santa thing and am ready to move on. (We are feeding the illusion, if you were wondering. I'm bored, but I'm not evil. K?)
What that also means is that the Howler, having recently announced a sudden and undying love of baby dolls, is specific in the ugly rubbery plasticky thing she's expecting Santa to provide. When I wanted to buy her dolls and tiny clothes and dishes and bottles with white liquid that disappears she had little to no interest. Now that I've given it up as a bad job and made my peace iwith it, I'm standing in KMart last Sunday afternoon, looking at creepy baby dolls.
The Howler wants a Baby Alive. Back in my day, Baby Alive was like a mutant. Now, they talk. In Spanish. They bounce and giggle and coo. And they look like shaved monkeys.
But, if you stand in that particular aisle and shake the shit out of the bouncing one, it coos just exactly the same as if it were still on the shelf. And while several people will stop, look, and giggle with you, no one will call security.
Not that I know from personal experience or anything.
