Matthew

"Mummy. Does Santa really exist?" Matthew asked me on the way to school yesterday morning. "Just some older kids say that it's not Santa that brings presemts but mums and dads."

Faced with 2 choices I debate whether to tell the truth. He is nearly 7, he's heard it in the playground, I won't be killing the magic of christmas as he heard it elsewhere, I'd just be the one who confirmed his fears.

"Forget what the other kids say Matthew, what do you believe? Do you believe in Santa?"

"Of course I do mummy, those big kids just want to upset us smaller ones!" he explains "And  I believe in the tooth fairy, God, Jesus, Mary and Joseph and all the desciples even Judas who got Jesus murdered."

My son is a great believer it appears.

"I believe in ghosts and aliens and UFO's too you know."

Matthew has moved into a rather religious school. Though none of us in the household are religious in any form Matthew will often talk about God, creation and so forth and offer prayers at the most random of times. The other day he wanted to pray before he put his socks on. He sits in the back of the car and wants to pray. He's a very thoughtful little thing.

I don't want Matthew to grow out of Santa just yet. He's still only 6. (7 next month but thats not the point) I want the magic to remain in christmas for all 3 of my boys as long as possible.

Yesterday I saw him in his nativity play. At LAST! It's his third year of doing them and the first year I have been able to see it since he was ill for the past two performances. He did really well, singing loud and clear, he did his dance, he did fantastic. I could have a real little star in the making. His role was as a wise man and part of his act was to ride a camel through the desert, he did very well on his pretend camel and danced as he was shown. My great little fella.