Is there a Santa Claus

As the Christmas season comes closer, I once again find myself considering the role of the elusive, yet very likable St. Nick for my kids.

For the past years, my wife and I have kept the idea and presence of Santa alive and well with our kids. They have received their gifts - being the nice children that they are, and as always - Santa would just "come... leave the gifts, maybe have a bite of a cookie and some milk - then go", after all he still has to go around the world to deliver his other gifts, and he's on a tight schedule.

I wonder how long we can keep this idea alive before our kids get to suspect that we are portraying the role of Santa... how long should we keep this up?

I would like to say that I would keep it up for as long as it takes - letting my kids think and believe in Santa is important to me, since it links to their child-like innocence. Even as an adult, I secretly hope that there is a Santa Clause - even if I've yet to see him - and no, I've not seen him yet - but having watched some Hollywood films of Santa, more specifically the 'Santa Clause', I could not help but feel my inner-child delight at the rendition - if not the story - of said movie.

I hope my kids look at Santa, and remember his propensity to reward good, while serving a not so harsh lesson to the 'naughty' ones. Santa represents one aspect of Christmas - perhaps not the basic Christian or Catholic reason, but a seemingly more popular one, mainly because of his seemingly religious-neutral leanings.

Did I ever stop believing in Santa? I guess not - maybe as a teen I believed less, considering the fact that I received less gifts and none at all from Santa... but as I became a father, I took on the task of Santa, and I will continue to do this - for the sake of my kids.

Its a tradition I would like them to pass on to their own kids - should that time come.