Sitting on Santa’s lap and sharing your wish list is a time-honored holiday tradition for kids. It’s also one that often leads to tears and chaos.
Considering that parents spend the rest of the year talking about stranger danger and bodily autonomy, it’s understandably a bit confusing for kids to be asked to sit on a strange man’s lap come December. Thus, cue the screaming, crying, running away, silly faces and more.
We asked the HuffPost Parents community to share photos of their children’s less-than-picture-perfect moments with Santa.
Courtesy of Amber Sharp
“This is as close as she’d get … despite the fact that this Santa is her grandpa.”
Courtesy of Shawn L Battmer
“She ran up to every stranger to pick her up, so we figured Santa would be a cakewalk … yep nope.”
Courtesy of Maureen Jo Errichetti
Courtesy of Olivia Carmela
Courtesy of Emmalee Plotner
“My son ready to swing on Mrs. Claus.”
Courtesy of Rachel Leszczynski
Courtesy of Katie Gervais
Courtesy of Amanda Jackson Tolman
“A sneezer, a crier, and the scariest Santa I’ve ever seen.”
Courtesy of Jamie Barnes
Courtesy of Sara Porter
Courtesy of Kara Conliss
“Ever met a Santa with a black eye?”
Courtesy of Stephanie Gendron
Courtesy of Becky Kronemann
Courtesy of Kathie Hilliard
Courtesy of Marie Norman
Courtesy of Alyssa Condit
“My 7-year-old off to the side: ‘I’ll stand by him but I won’t touch him.'”
Courtesy of Cara Holloway Skinner
Courtesy of Jennifer Lynn
“Not going to force her so we both met in the middle lol.”
Courtesy of Jennifer Miktus Dillard
Courtesy of Stephanie Hoyt
Courtesy of Shereen Langrana Kalathil
Courtesy of Katie Greer
Courtesy of Heather Fishburne
Courtesy of Alyson Prevost
Courtesy of June Kim Wilson
Courtesy of Jessica Frazo McManus
Courtesy of Jodie Fisher
Courtesy of Katie Grandgeorge
Courtesy of Rachel Douglas
Courtesy of Alison Barnes
Courtesy of Hollie McGregor
Courtesy of Jacki Henderson
Courtesy of Kaitlyn Fazio
Courtesy of Julie M. Walter
Courtesy of Jackie Giusti
Courtesy of Anna Brys
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