Washington Post writer equates sitting on Santa’s lap to MeToo, offers up horrible parenting advice
The Washington Post published an article Sunday attacking the notion of children sitting on Santa Claus’ lap, asserting that this is inappropriate in the #MeToo era.
“Many parents don’t see a problem with participating in what they view as an innocent tradition. But some have begun questioning the way the culture approaches photos with Santa amid the #MeToo movement and a national conversation over how to teach young children about consent and physical boundaries.”
The writer notes “You might think I’m overreacting here, but I really don’t think I am.”
In the article, Angela Chang, a Pittsburgh mother of two daughters, said she is not necessarily concerned about her children’s safety while taking photos with Santa. However, she argues, the entire premise of the tradition is problematic because it places a child in a potentially uncomfortable situation with the expectation that they will get a reward for putting up with it — in this case, Christmas presents.
“I don’t ever want my kids to feel like they have to do something to get something,” she said.
Some parents indicated that the #MeToo comparison is an “overreaction.”
“For many parents, merely putting Santa in the same sentence as #MeToo is an absurd overreaction and an attempt to politicize an innocent, beloved holiday ritual,” WaPo conceded.
COMPARING SANTA PHOTOS TO METOO ALLEGATIONS IS DISGUSTING
The entire premise is just horrible and offensive.
It’s offensive to the countless Santas and is shockingly offensive to actual RAPE and SEXUAL VICTIMS to have their trauma trivialized in this manner.
CHANG’S WORDS ARE AWFUL WORDS TO LIVE BY
If you wondered how the Snowflake generation came to be read her remark again: “I don’t ever want my kids to feel like they have to do something to get something.”
So her premise is that kids SHOULD FEE LIKE THEY DON’T HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO GET SOMETHING.
The entire entitlement generation lives by this misguided and false narrative. EVERYTHING is about WHAT you DO to GET something.
NOTHING IS FOR FREE!
We need to teach children about boundries, the reality of sexual predation and abusers, but this is Santa Claus. Elements of holiday tradition being equated to sexual misconduct is liberal hysteria at its worst.
The article concludes with quotes from experts, none of which tells parents to teach their children to NOT ACT OUT and POSE FOR THE PHOTO, before glorifying the child who ticks their tongue out at Santa for their Christmas pic.
Harlyn waved at the camera and then giggled as she looked back at the big man in red.
“She’s sticking her tongue out at me!” Santa said.
“This is priceless,” the photographer said, laughing.
The photo was both charming and stress-free — a less intimidating option for both Harlyn and her mother, “especially in today’s world,” Testerman said.
Disrespect is priceless in 2018 to these people.
My parenting advice:
- Talk to your kids and expose them to Santa gradually as they are young.
- Explain the photo session expectations, which include being respectful.
- Correct your child after calming them down, offering other solutions (photos with parents, sitting on parents’ lap etc…)
- Keep this positive. Equating everything to sexual misconduct lessens the true crime and abuse.
