Recently, a friend of mine shared a charming photo of her son perched on Santa’s lap during his early childhood. It was the kind of image that many parents dream of capturing, radiating joy and warmth. However, we don’t possess a similar keepsake because we never even attempted to take our son to visit Santa.
Before our son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, I had an instinct that such an outing would be fraught with challenges. Loading him into the car and disrupting his usual routine would likely lead to tension. If we had planned a visit at night, it would have added an extra layer of discomfort to what was already a day filled with sensory stimuli.
The bustling mall, with its cacophony of sounds, unfamiliar scents, blaring fluorescent lights, vibrant colors, and throngs of people, could easily overwhelm him. Waiting in a potentially endless line surrounded by other upset children would likely heighten his anxiety. And the prospect of being placed in the arms of a stranger disguised by a fake beard could be downright terrifying. It was a recipe for a meltdown, and I was unwilling to put us all through that ordeal.
Nonetheless, seeing my friend’s delightful photo made me reflect on the cultural significance of that tradition and the lovely memories it creates. For a brief moment, I wondered if we were missing out on something special. But even then, I understood that the traditional memory of a Santa photo wasn’t worth the distress it could cause our son.
I made a conscious decision early in my parenting journey to prioritize my son’s comfort over conforming to conventional expectations. Sure, we may have missed out on some typical experiences, but what truly matters is whether we are enjoying the moments we do create together. Participating in traditions shouldn’t come at the cost of our well-being or happiness.
In the end, we chose not to force a photo with Santa, but instead fostered our son’s trust in us to protect him from uncomfortable situations for the sake of tradition. That feeling of trust is far more valuable to me than a holiday snapshot.
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Conclusion
In summary, while many families cherish the tradition of photos with Santa, our choice was to prioritize our son’s comfort and well-being. The memories we create together, free from stress and anxiety, are what truly matter.