Santa Claus: Friend...or Torture Device?

Took Zozo to see Santa Claus tonight. Or rather, took Zozo to be completely terrified by an old guy in a funny red suit. Now, this is the very same Santa who held her while she slept last year, and when she woke up drowsily and looked at him she drooled and smiled and went back to sleep.

This year...not so much.

We got smiles on the way up to Santa, but I knew there were going to be issues as the closer we got the tighter her grip on my sweater got. Her little legs started clenching around my torso. Uh oh. This isn't good. After a moment or two of elated exclamations by both of us, trying to convince her that Yay! Santa is FUN! we finally decided to drop her and run for it. We warned the photographer, "This isn't going to be pretty."

Santa, bless his heart, tried his best and was jolly through it all.

Zoe, bless her heart, screamed like he was pulling her arms and legs off.

They took three, and we chose the best of the bunch. At least her little dress looks cute.

Zoe & Santa Claus, Christmas 2006

This is one of those rights of passage for parents with small children, isn't it? Do we pass? Do we get to move on to the next one? Test 2: The Easter Bunny from Hell.