It is hard to think of one moment, or even one Christmas, that is more treasured than the others. But I always think of the first Christmas on Plum Creek, when Laura and Mary find out about Santa Claus.
When I got pregnant with my daughter, I made a commitment that I would never lie to my child. Then along came Christmas, and I was challenged… how to have the fun of Santa, but still be truthful? Then I remembered how Ma explained Santa to Laura and Mary, and decided to use the same approach. So we had Santa, but it was always explained (in a way a young child could understand, of course) as being representative of generosity. It worked beautifully, and my daughter, who is now 20, agrees.
That Christmas is also a beautiful example of how there really is more happiness in giving than receiving…remember how, as soon as Laura told Pa she wanted Santa to bring only horses, it became true for her?
Teresa Lynn