Akira had his photo taken with Santa today.
I thought, “no problem.” Akira is a very social baby. Always quick to smile he turns on his charms to strangers everywhere we go. But apparently there is something about Santa that makes most children cry. Is it the beard? (can’t read face) Is it the smell? (haven’t aired out the moth ball scent well enough) What is it???
We were maybe second or third in line. They haven’t really figured out how to deal with uncooperative children despite the efforts made by the photographer flailing around Elmo above their heads and Santa bribing with candy canes.
Then they decided I should sit on Santa’s lap with baby in tow. We still did not get a smile out of Akira but a picture was taken sans tears.
As we hanged around waiting for the printouts we watched the Santa/photographer duo technique evolve. First the child will sit on the sleigh with Mommy or Daddy. Then Santa will go behind the sleigh and the picture would be taken.
But then they had kids start crying as soon as they saw the strange man in red pajamas with a white beard. So the next step was to have Santa hide behind the trees in the background before child/parent get in the sleigh. Then he would pop out from behind the sleigh as the photographer shoots his camera.
I can’t wait for next year.
