Rule #88: Santa is Real
As Christmas approaches, I remind my kids of a long-standing Hill household rule: once you stop believing in Santa, he stops visiting you. This rule has worked wonders in keeping my teenagers from spoiling the magic for any younger cousins or impressionable toddlers.
But this year, I may be the last true believer under our roof. Even Abby, at 13, seems to be quietly slipping into the camp of skeptics. Still, I stand firm in my belief—and my rule—that Santa exists.
Yes, I’ve heard all the counterarguments: that he’d be hundreds of years old, that reindeer don’t fly, that delivering to the entire world in one night is impossible. And yet, I hold on—because I think there are three very good reasons not to give up.
First, life is hard, and true happiness is rare. If I meet someone who is joyful, generous, and harms no one, I don’t interrogate them—I encourage them. If a fat old man in red showed up at my door with a gift, I wouldn’t question how he got there. I’d just smile and take it. By all accounts, Santa is that kind of person.
Second, the older I get, the less certain I am about what’s true and what isn’t. In my 20s, I was convinced a person loses 40% of body heat through their head—turns out it’s closer to 10%. I was also convinced Aerosmith was the greatest band ever, and well… I’ve softened on that too. If I can be wrong about those things, maybe I can be wrong about Santa. Certainty isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Finally, our world desperately needs people with grateful hearts—people who give more than they take. I think of Pope Francis, whose visit to the U.S. moved millions. He’s beloved because his message is simple: give, care for the poor, be kind. I’ve never met him in person, only on television—and yet I believe in him. If I can believe in a man like that, why not Santa, whose very mission is generosity?
We live in a cynical world full of negative people doing harm. I choose instead to believe in the most positive, kind, and generous figure we’ve ever imagined. I hope Santa lives on for a thousand more years, spreading joy and hope.
And, as tradition dictates, when I hand out the gifts this Christmas, each of my children will be expected to reaffirm their belief. Because in our house, the rule holds true: no Santa, no gifts.
Love, Dad