Petrified of Santa!
By Diana Bauder
@BloggerDi (3113)
United States
December 19, 2019 8:34pm CST
This morning, I saw two photos of friend's small children with Santa. One post showed a toddler who was crying on Santa's lap. The other pic was a little girl who was standing in front of Santa's chair, with her back to him, covering her face with her hands. Her mother said that she absolutely refused to look at the strange man in red, even though her two siblings were smiling happily, reciting their wish lists to him.
Those photos reminded me of my son when he was little. He was utterly terrified of Santa, or any other traditional costumed character, until he was about four years old. He literally screamed and trembled with fear when we were near the Easter Bunny, a clown, etc.
Young children can't distinguish between fantasy and reality. They have no real life experience with mascots and holiday characters, which usually look huge and not human! Who can blame some of the poor little tots for being traumatized by them?
6 people like this
6 responses
@Nakitakona (56302)
• Philippines
20 Dec 19
But if they're used to listening good stories about Santa. I don't think they'll afraid of Santa.
1 person likes this
@BloggerDi (3113)
• United States
20 Dec 19
That makes sense, but we never understood why our son was so afraid. We didn't let him watch scary tv shows or movies and he never heard anything negative about Santa or other characters. Our daughter didn't have the same fear.
Thanks for your comment. :)
1 person likes this
@BloggerDi (3113)
• United States
21 Dec 19
@Nakitakona I can't remember if he ever gave a reason. He's 32 years old now and I doubt if he knows why he was so scared then.
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@Nakitakona (56302)
• Philippines
21 Dec 19
@BloggerDi Oh I see. That's strange my friend. Did you ask your son of his reason why he's afraid of Santa?
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@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
21 Dec 19
My children were never afraid of Santa but I can understand those that are. A big figure dressed in loud clothes with a deep booming voice. My son was fine with him but terrified of the Incredible Hulk. I guess we all have our demons!
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@sprite1950 (30453)
• Corsham, England
21 Dec 19
@BloggerDi Yes very few parents get away with an easy teenager. One of my children was good but the other was a nightmare!
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@BloggerDi (3113)
• United States
21 Dec 19
Thank you @sprite1950. Well said! I started thinking more about my son when he was little and actually, he was quite timid about many things. When he was age 17, he went through a rebellious stage. I wished that he had regained some of that cautious nature then! 
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@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
21 Dec 19
ya couldn't get within 2 city blocks 'f someone dressed 's santa with my daughter. she'd no troubles with giant easter bunnies, but that fella scared the poor dear quite badly. 'til she 'twas 'bout 5ish, then she'd seek him out.
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@BloggerDi (3113)
• United States
21 Dec 19
It's hard to know what triggers certain fears in little ones, especially because they don't have the words to explain why, or they simply don't understand it themselves. Thanks for your comment @crazyhorseladycx.
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@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
21 Dec 19
@BloggerDi yer welcome, hon. 'tis true, one jest ne'er knows. we jest steered clear 'f ol' st. nick.
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@BloggerDi (3113)
• United States
24 Dec 19
Thanks for your comments @sallypup. I wouldn't have forced it either! But I wonder if she was trying to prove to them that Santa was okay and wouldn't harm them. What do you think her reasons were?
@Genipher (5405)
• United States
20 Dec 19
I've never understood the idea of plopping children onto a strange man's lap and then taking photos.
I was pretty creeped out earlier this year when I went to the mall and the "Easter Bunny" was doing photo ops with kids. I walked past and the bunny's head slowly turned to follow me, like some kind of possessed doll!
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@BloggerDi (3113)
• United States
20 Dec 19
Thanks for your comment @Genipher. Oh, that would creep me out too!
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@ExplorewtMe (6333)
• Nairobi, Kenya
20 Dec 19
Yes, you are correct children can't differentiate between statue and real world character. I too remind that when I was achild I used to fear about a statue of Bhim ( Character from Mahabharat).
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