Yesterday we took the children to a garden centre to see Santa, they stood in line and then went to see him and explained how good they had been and that they deserved and wanted various presents!!

Ironically looking at their lists the night before had scared me rigid enough, and we had managed to ease them down to a more reasonable figure, still excessive to me, but in lieu of before and looking at costs I am honest enough to say not a child's often ridiculous wishlist.When Santa was asked no sudden surprises came out of the woodwork, such as "I want a drum kit!!" and we all went home happy, but the event left me wondering about two scenarios, one more a piece of advice and one a quandary...............

I offer this advice to all parents, it is a very important piece of advice and I urge you all to tell everyone you know, I am sorry to all stores I am upsetting on the way but Christmas magic and children are more important.

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, ALLOW CHILDREN TO GO AND VISIT SANTA IN HIS GROTTO AFTER ABOUT THE 21ST DECEMBER!!! ABSOLUTELY DO NOT EVEN THINK OF CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!!!

I realise a lot of Santa's and Elves might also be bored here, but as parents we need to see a bigger picture and see a longer game. When a child sits on Santa's knee that close to Christmas Day, safe in the knowledge that only Santa can deliver, forget Amazon, Hamleys or any other trick we may know, a switch in their brain cuts in and suddenly then they ask for something we have never heard about before. It will be an item that was so common a few weeks ago that shops could not give it away, but now, with no time left, the child is going to find out that Santa cannot deliver everything, and in the worst possible way. I appreciate that let downs happen, but in my eyes they should not happen to a child at Christmas!!

So do not let a child down and don't see Santa, and don't let helpful Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts or Friends try to help either, I implore you!!

Now the quandary..............

If you are a store Santa what are you to do when all the children are asking for such inappropriate gifts. This is not a silly question of morality but a real one of conscience over wages??!!

Here is the scenario..............

Little Johnny or Mary is sat in the grotto telling Santa they expect an X-Box and a game which is totally not for their age group. Santa knows this is wrong, what does he say? he glances at Mum or Dad and they are talking on their phone and have no idea of the conversation. Or he glances over and the single parent is shaking their head and very obviously cannot afford this?? Santa has suddenly become a social worker as well as a child's eagerly awaited visit. Then add the pressure the stroe is piling on that says "get the answer so we can sell it!!"

So what does Santa do??

Is it for Santa to say whether a child should be encouraged to play war games or hire hookers? Surely Santa is the one person that can get away with this? If a nine year old thinks this is a good idea now, what will they be like at 18? As a parent it is a question I ask daily, but can Santa influence things.

Santa sees the rich and the poor, but to him a child is a child, is this a small chance to be able to gently put it to the child that the expensive toy may not be right at the moment, it may be later, but now would be a good time to cut back. Again Santa has that ability without causing a panic.

However, and here is the quandary, is this a store Santa's problem, is it their issue? What it comes down to is a scenario based on personal conscience and belief. Is the Santa here  to work 9-5 and get his wages every week, end of story, or is he here to conjure up some magic for the children, listen to their want's and reply to their questions. Leave the children safe in their belief.

If the Santa works 9-5 and takes home his salary, well the children are on their own and so are the parents. If the Santa conjures up magic, he is really working for the actual Big Man, he will report back, and he will ease the children into the right frame of mind.

The way I see things was made clear a few years ago, I always believed I just couldn't verbalise things in later years, and then............

Their is a Santa for everyone, he may not be seen as the big man in a red suit, as Coca-Cola, want us to believe, but we all have a visit of sorts, and, as long as the Santa that is seen is the second type it will be all right on the night, and if it is the first, never forget, the real Santa will find out somehow, and in time..............