I really believe very strongly in teaching my kids to be accountable for their actions and choices. I want them to have their eyes wide open and to know full well that when they make a bad choice, bad things are likely to happen. And when they make good choices, that good things are likely to happen. I've worked really hard to get them to grasp concept that if you treat people badly, they won't like you. Also, don't mess with other people's stuff without asking. Doesn't matter if you are a beautiful child of God. Nobody will want to hang out with you. Simple facts of life, but I don't see it being taught as much as I'd like. They say that we learn our social skills from our siblings and neighborhood kids. We role model what our parents show us, but we practice it on our peers.

One of things I hated most in my own childhood was being forced to apologize for things I didn't do. I also hated being forced to apologize when I was simply defending my person or my property from a known attacker, mainly my younger sister and brother. I have also had too many adults in my life apologize for things they were not sorry for and then later they just repeat same actions over and over again. When people say they're sorry, I often think to myself, "Good then don't do it again." Changing behavior is so much more important to me then just offering up words, "I'm sorry." I wanted to teach my children that you should never offer fake apologies and you should only apologize when you really mean it. However, I also wanted them to take responsibility for environment of anger that they were helping to create. Somehow I had to find perfect peace-making face-saving way to teach all of these concepts.

Some kids, like me, are crushed at school when they hear from a classmate that they found all their presents under their parents' bed, thus, proving there really is no Santa. Then, reasoning sets in, which is about time they begin to wonder why they have been told this fairy tale all this time as it was truth.

So, is there truly a Santa Claus? Well, if you are in this position you will probably be glad to hear that only true answer to this question is...yes, absolutely.

The name "Santa Claus" came from Dutch "Sinter Klass" pronunciation of St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas was a Christian priest, who later became a bishop. He was a wealthy person, and traveled country helping others, giving gifts of money and other presents. St. Nicholas chose to remain hidden while giving these gifts, so children were told to go to sleep quickly or he would not come!

One famous story is about a poor man who had no money to give to his three daughters on their wedding day. St. Nicholas dropped bags of gold into stockings which girls had left to dry by fire. Ever since, children have hung up stockings on Christmas Eve hoping that they will be filled with gifts by Christmas morning.

According to Catholics, a saint is one who lived such a holy life that, after dying and going to heaven, is still able to help people on earth.