Santa Pictures (this time with no link) - Page 2

[limabean]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

Cuddles your child? Seriously? That sounds really strange. I've never seen a mall Santa cuddle a kid.

None of this applies to us. I don't tell my children not to talk to strangers. Since I'm frequently telling them to talk to strangers (wait staff, cashiers, mail carriers, counter people of various kinds, etc.), that would just be confusing.

Yeah, I have to say the conversations I have with my kids about safety aren't just "don't talk to strangers." We talk about inappropriate touching, feeling uncomfortable, personal information, private body areas, etc. Willingly sitting with a well-known and beloved holiday character while I and a whole mall full of other people are staring directly at them doesn't fall into the "stranger danger" category for my kids -- they're easily able to separate that situation from one that may arise with the creepy guy down the block or whatever.

[liberal_chick]

We have pictures of me crying on Santa's lap (or with a red face that makes it seem that I'd recently been crying) and I don't remember the actual events at all. We also have tons of pics of me crying during family pictures (that we take every year, to this day, at Christmas with my father's family, and we were with our own parents and siblings). I DO remember crying during those and being upset at being made to take the pictures.

Now, I'm SO glad we have them. It is such a great progression of seeing me and my sisters growing up (and eventually, when my parents divorced, seeing my mother out and my step-mother in).

My boys take pictures with Santa. There have been years that they cried (ds1 cried the year that he was 2, ds2 cried last year), but it is literally so fast that they barely know what hit them afterwards. I always tell the photographer that they might cry and that's ok, don't waste time trying to make them happy just take the pic and be done. They are in and out of the lap in under a minute (well, not ds1 anymore, he sits and tells Santa what he wants now).

It isn't that I don't care about their feelings. I just know how I feel about all those pics of me now, and being glad that I have them, I guess I'm hoping my boys will feel the same way when they're adults. Of course, I may be breeding some mass Christmas hatred too. We'll see, I guess.

[vbactivist]

Originally Posted by mamazee

I would never force a child to sit on Santa's lap, but I see no problem if they want to do it. I don't immediately think "potential molester" when I see a mall Santa, and I'm right there while my kid is on his lap. My sister is like this, every year she tells me not to get my kids' photos taken on Santa's lap because "you never know" but I really think that's just silly.

I doubt most mall santa's are pedophiles, too. I am referring more to people who's kids are obviously not interested in it, yet the parents force them to sit on the guy's lap. Or laugh when the child is shrieking to get off. I don't think it's likely the child is going to be molested, just that their feelings are being completely disregarded by the people they should be able to trust. But then I wondered, maybe once a year being forced to do that isn't really a big deal?

[MaterPrimaePuellae]

I haven't read all the replies, but:
a) I remember being terrified of Santa. I still really, really dislike Santa, Easter Bunny, etc. Clowns, to me, are some of the creepiest things on earth.

b) I think pictures with Santa-- the whole idea-- is just bizarre. We celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, but even if we did not, there's no way I would pursue or desire a picture of my child sitting on the lap of a stranger in a costume.

[philomom]

Originally Posted by vbactivist

I doubt most mall santa's are pedophiles, too.

I never said they were. However, they are older men, in costume, that you do not know personally, ie; strangers.

[cocoanib]

We won't be doing these types of holiday pictures.
We celebrate those holidays, but without mascots like santa and the easter bunny.

To each their own, but if the child is not happy about it, I think parents shouldn't force it. I truly hate seeing those holiday pictures with the crying kid on it. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of having them meet the mascot anyways.

[2cutiekitties]

Originally Posted by philomom

Actually, I have a good rant about this...... here goes.

All year long you watch out for strangers paying too much attention to your child or strangers touching your child and wham, bam, Xmas comes and you drop your kid on a stranger's lap! A male stranger's lap. Are you freaking kidding me? And he talks to and cuddles your child... who may be told any other time of the year "not talk to strangers". Talk about your mixed messages!.

And the folks who take crying child Santa picture? There's a special spot in Hades for them.. I'm sure of it.

Have you actually ever stopped to watch what happens? Because you act like Santa takes your child into a private room and sweet talks and tickles them with no one watching. I think you are letting your imagination go wild.

There are about a gazillion people watching. Most parents in line are watching, usually with their hand on their hip, because they are in a hurry because their kids are ready to lose it, because guess what, kids have no patience. Santa barely acknowledges the kid. It is just a quick hello and what do you want. But it is fast because they try and get the picture fast because kids dont have any patience. They take the pic no matter what your kid does because they are required to try and sell you something. I have never ever seen an inapporpriate Santa or anyone forcing their kids on his lap. In fact, half the kids I see sit on the bench or stand or on the floor.

[vbactivist]

Originally Posted by 2cutiekitties

Have you actually ever stopped to watch what happens? Because you act like Santa takes your child into a private room and sweet talks and tickles them with no one watching. I think you are letting your imagination go wild.

There are about a gazillion people watching. Most parents in line are watching, usually with their hand on their hip, because they are in a hurry because their kids are ready to lose it, because guess what, kids have no patience. Santa barely acknowledges the kid. It is just a quick hello and what do you want. But it is fast because they try and get the picture fast because kids dont have any patience. They take the pic no matter what your kid does because they are required to try and sell you something. I have never ever seen an inapporpriate Santa or anyone forcing their kids on his lap. In fact, half the kids I see sit on the bench or stand or on the floor.

'


what started my original thread was an entire website devoted to pictures of kids crying on santa's lap - so it does happen, unfortunately. I think a lot of people think it's cute, or funny or soemthing that their kids are terrified.

[2cutiekitties]

Originally Posted by vbactivist

'


what started my original thread was an entire website devoted to pictures of kids crying on santa's lap - so it does happen, unfortunately. I think a lot of people think it's cute, or funny or soemthing that their kids are terrified.

Obviously there are weinie butts out there, but I have only seen one weinie butt situation in person.

I think just because a child is crying doesn't mean they are being forced though. I have seen people walk because their kid changed his mind. And mainly everyone is sympathetic and trying to work it out.

DS, 3 cries. He desperately wants to sit there and talk to Santa and all that, but he cries because it is overwhelming when he gets up there and he has a hard time processing and dealing with it. He is a high stress child. Anyhoo, how I would love to say oh, you are crying we are done, adios. But I cant. I have to take the picture and make sure I have a pic because DS would be livid and be screaming about it for a week if he didnt do the whole experience from beg to end.

He also loves to look at all the Santa pics. The first year he cried and that is his fav. He says, happily oh look at that baby, that baby is sad. But he thinks it is the cutest saddest baby and he loves it. And I wont even get into the EB experience.

[mamazee]

My dd cried one year, not because she didn't want to see Santa because she desperately did, but because she was angry about how long she had to wait in line. I guess she looked angry more than sad in the picture. Still, someone who saw the picture might not have been able to tell how much she wanted to see him and how disappointed she would have been if we'd left without seeing him.

[leighi123]

Our santa is a guy who works with my dad, has kids of his own and is a really nice guy - so not a stranger! Dunno who the easter bunny is though!

Ds cried the 2 yrs ago, so we waved at santa instead and wrote him a letter later, but last year he ran up there and had a full conversation about the bike he wanted with the guy (and was sooo happy when his Skutt showed up for christmas).

I only take him where I know the person in the costume has been checked out (like at the company christmas party or the mall where they do background checks), he just gets to wave at the costumed people that might be questionable (guy outside walmart or at the park party things)

[Owen'nZoe]

I also have a picture of my child crying on Santa's lap. I did not force him one bit - he wanted to go, was talking about it for weeks ahead of time, seemed happy to climb up on Santa's lap, and then started crying just as the picture was snapped. The next year, he tried again, and had a blast. And yes, he laughs about the crying picture now.

I know there are some parents who force the issue, but the picture doesn't always tell the whole story.

[St. Margaret]

We were never forced-- we were totally into it. If we were scared of any dressed up characters (like at the mall or Disneyland) my parents would never force us. I can remember being scared and being allowed to stay far away.

My kid LOVES characters and you have to hold her back for her turn, so we do Santa and the Gingerbread Queen and the Queen of Hearts and all the characters at Disneyland we encounter... they should be scared of HER b/c if they have glittery costumes (fairies) she'll feel up their boobs .

I think forcing a kid to do something that's just for fun, making them cry, is just wrong, no matter what it is. Some mom made her kid cry at the park yesterday, forcing her to climb this huge tricky ladder. The kid was maybe 2-3. The kid said before they started NO, and started crying, and the mom manhandled her halfway up it, the girl crying the whole time. I know I don't know them, maybe she used to love it and had one bad experience and mom thought trying it again would get her over it? But man, I just did not see the point.

[longtallanimal]

I think I would just follow the child's lead, and if it was something he/she was enthusiastic about, great. Otherwise, I don't think I will care one way or the other.

I am pretty ambivalent about Santa because I was TERRIFIED of him when I was a child, to the point when I would freak out when seeing him in the mall, and even when that parody song "Santa Claus is watching you" would come on the radio. So my mom and dad told me that SC wasn't real when I was like 3. It came as a great relief, LOL. Therefore I don't have any attachment to the idea of SC. My mom preferred to stress the spiritual/familial elements of the holidays over the Santa/consumption stuff, anyway.

[crunchy_mommy]

Originally Posted by St. Margaret

I think forcing a kid to do something that's just for fun, making them cry, is just wrong, no matter what it is. Some mom made her kid cry at the park yesterday, forcing her to climb this huge tricky ladder. The kid was maybe 2-3. The kid said before they started NO, and started crying, and the mom manhandled her halfway up it, the girl crying the whole time. I know I don't know them, maybe she used to love it and had one bad experience and mom thought trying it again would get her over it? But man, I just did not see the point.

Well this is sometimes us at the park... DS loves the slide but has trouble with transitions (like outside to inside, playing to eating, etc.) so often you'll see him saying nonononoooo & whimpering as we go from the platform to sitting down. Once he sits down, he's happy, and loves going down the slide.

So I guess you never know, though I'd probably have the same thoughts you did if I saw what you saw yesterday!

I can totally see the same thing happening with Santa... the kid really wants to see him but she's afraid to sit & once she sits they snap the picture, her still crying? Then she'd happily talk to Santa? Guess we never know the whole story...

[VisionaryMom]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

We do the Santa pictures most years (a couple of times, they've gotten lost in the shuffle). I'd never heard of the Easter Bunny pics until I came here. I'm guessing it hasn't caught on in Canada.

Oh my gosh, where we live now people are obsessed with these pictures. At Halloween, people get their kids pictures with a giant stuffed pumpkin. There are just oodles of holiday pictures. I mean, what's a childhood without a picture with a giant 4-leaf clover?

We don't do Santa. Most years we can find some free pictures with Santa that we'll do if the kids want because my mother seems to enjoy seeing them. I don't pay for them, though. I'm actually shocked at all of the Santa pictures they sell - mousepads, key chains, trading cards. Those get really pricey for something that just seems so fake in the grand scheme of things.

[VisionaryMom]

Originally Posted by 2cutiekitties

Santa barely acknowledges the kid. It is just a quick hello and what do you want. But it is fast because they try and get the picture fast because kids dont have any patience. They take the pic no matter what your kid does because they are required to try and sell you something. I have never ever seen an inapporpriate Santa or anyone forcing their kids on his lap. In fact, half the kids I see sit on the bench or stand or on the floor.

What kind of mean Santas do you have? The ones here seem to talk, talk, talk to the kids. Though we don't do the mall Santa pictures - because I am *not* waiting in that line - they set it up next to the mall play area. The Santa seems to spend a couple of minutes with each kid. It's not "sit, smile, move on" kind of thing. I personally have seen quite a few parents force crying, stiff-as-a-board, infants and toddlers onto Santa's lap. It's as if the parent's desire for a fantasy picture outweighs the reality of the situation. I've even seen people yell at their kids or threaten to spank them for not smiling and enjoying Santa.

[Tigerchild]

If you don't want to do it then don't. But why demonize people who do? I don't think taking pictures with Santa is any more bizarre than any other world cultural/religious custom (for example, shaving girls' heads when they turn two, eating fish soaked in lye and then reconstitutued, baking a cake with tokens in it zOMG CHOKING HAZARD!!!! for people to find for "luck", kissing a wall that millions of other people have kissed and unintentionally drooled on, burning someone in effigy while enjoying fireworks, ect).

Really, parents who get their kids' pictures taken with santa are grooming them for future sexual abuse?

Crying photos don't necessarily mean the kid was crying the whole time. To be honest with you, with three kids very close in age, we have a LOT of crying photos and normally it was because of bad timing--someone decided to poke someone/steal something/look at the other one funny right as the photographer's finger pressed the button. Oh well.

If you don't like Santa, don't get pictures. If you don't like pictures of crying kids (where you have no clue as to what the circumstance was--we are talking about toddlers and preschoolers here for the most part) then for heaven's sake don't look at those websites. There's no need to project your interpretations wholescale though.

That's just as silly as those people who think that there can't be <insert holiday here> WITHOUT <insert inane custom here>.

We've never done holiday photos with character of choice because I am cheap and there's nothing I detest more than having to wrangle three babies/toddlers/preschoolers/some combo thereof in a long line with a bunch of other overstimulated children and cranky parents. My parents were pissy with that decision, how dare I deprive them of that privledge--but...they got over it. (Or more correctly, they stopped wasting their breath complaining to me about it.) If other people want to do that, or if they have great experiences in the adventure of it all, I want them to go for it. Not my biz.

Now, to get back to my own hellish cultural ritual tomorrow nigh of going to an overpriced, fat-laden restaurant on the anniversary of one's birth and not only eating a meal that is not organic or slow food but also partaking in the bizarre ritual of having a bunch of uniformed, minimum waged total strangers sing a song for me and and present me with a corn-syrup heavy frozen dessert with a red "cherry" on top that is so laden with preservatives it could probably survive nuclear fallout. Oh yeah, with a shot of propellant laced "dairy like" product on the top too. Someone may even take my picture. I will not be smiling because I hate having my picture taken. If I'm lucky it will not end up on a website somewhere. ;> I am sure there is someone in the world right now that would think that is the weirdest thing they have ever heard of.