So, we've been struggling lately as the Little Ballerina keeps asking more and more about Christmas. Most of the time, I just say something like "yes, that's a Christmas tree. Some people celebrate Christmas, but we don't." But it gets tough. I'm never sure how to handle it. I generally like all the Christmas froufrou, the carols and the decorations, and the TV specials, but then, I'm an adult, and confident in myself and my religion, and not concerned with missing out. How do you explain "we're different than everyone else" without making either you or everyone else sound bad?

There was a week where every day I would hear, "I love Christmas, I love Santa," on and on, and I eventually just said something to the effect of "we don't do Christmas! Enough already!" Silence from the back seat of the car. A few days later, a friend was driving her home from a playdate, and the Ballerina spots a decorated house.

Ballerina: Oh look, lights! They do Christmas!
Friend: Yes, they do.
Ballerina: I'm not supposed to say Christmas. My Mommy hates Christmas.

Oy. So now I'm the Grinch.

So then, I revert the other way (which is really more my natural state anyway). I listen to the Christmas carols in the car, point out the pretty decorations (which are actually pretty rare in my neighborhood). The we have this scene.

(Driving along, singing to "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" on the radio)
Ballerina: Mommy! You said Santa!

Me: Yes honey. Look, it's ok to say Santa. We don't celebrate Christmas, but it's ok to like Christmas songs, and say Santa.

Ballerina: I like Santa. I like his red hair.

Me: No sweetie, Santa has a red coat, and white hair.

Ballerina: No, he has red hair. And he likes hamburgers.

Me: what?

Ballerina: You know, Mommy, we go there. He has red hair, and the hamburgers. Remember?

Me: (realization dawning) No sweetie, that's Ronald McDonald.

Frank Rich kicks ass.