Overcoming Fear

Summer has always been scared of Santa.  When she was a baby, she held it together long enough to get a cute photo...but that was it!  By the time Christmas rolled around the following year, she absolutely REFUSED to go anywhere near him!  Even when her cousin Eric walked right up to Santa, Summer stayed far away. 

Now that Summer is 5 and 1/2, I thought I could reason with her a little and possibly get a picture with Santa for my collection.  Since bribery has been successful in the past, I thought I'd start there.  I knew Santa was going to be at our Ward Christmas Party, so I told Summer if she got a picture with him she could get a prize from my closet.  She agreed right away, and I thought "that was easy."  

At the party, we ate and sang and some kids acted out the nativity.  Summer talked very excitedly about the prize she was going to earn...but the second the stage curtains parted and there sat Santa Clause she said: "no, I can't do it!"   It was sad to watch her struggle between wanting a prize and her fear of Santa.  I told her it was ok and she could maybe earn the prize another time for doing something else that might be hard.  But she really wanted it then.  I also thought it might help to tell her who was dressed up as Santa for the party (she knows that all Santas at the mall etc.  are just people dressed up).  Finally, she said she wanted to do it...she was the very last child in line, but she DID IT!  So proud of my little girl for facing her fear:)