Warning - Husbands don't read!

[Panache]

...Just because it would be difficult on the parent to tell the fact to a little one, doesn’t mean that the parent should shirk his or her duties. Does belief in Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny really make a child’s life easier?

Mod Hat Off


James,

My daughter is well aware that people hunt. I use deer antlers in several different woodworking projects and we have discussed this. I have told her that people hunt to keep the deer populations in check and that the hunters use the meat and other parts so that the animal's life is not wasted.

There is one heck of a big difference between that and having to explain to a small little girl why a lighted gutted Rudolph hanging up as a joke is funny.

I, as adult can see the black humor there . I don't think it is very amusing to a little girl who carries around her Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer stuffed animal about with her and sings the songs from the old Ranklin Bass special.

I think it would be upsetting. If someone did this in their front lawn I think that the majority of the 8 or so preschoolers on our street would find it equally disturbing.

Gutting deer, gutting fish, putting down a sick pet, cleaning the toliet, and a host of other of Life's messy realities shouldn't be glossed over. But they don't have to be focused on.

Children grow up fast enough without having to delibrately try to strip away childhood notions of the wonder of the season.

I would find such a display, if done publicy, in very poor taste.

Respectfully

Jamie