Taking our toddler to meet Father Christmas?

[@tejaswoman]

6:30 I love that they provide a little ottoman for the kids to sit on. It's high time we got past the whole sitting-on-a-stranger's-lap thing. Not to mention that nobody's lap should be _mandatory_ , family included, only an option.

[@tejaswoman]

P.S. to Jessica - in case you weren't aware, Christmas crackers are the thing over here, so anybody who hasn't watched a Britcom or otherwise been exposed to specifically British holiday culture may have no idea what those are and might even think you're talking about crackers as in table-water crackers or saltines!

[@jennifers5560]

Yes, the ottoman is the way to go and it was great that Santa asked Rupert if he wanted to sit down.

[@jwb52z9]

That hasn't really changed in the more rural parts of the US about Santa.

[@jwb52z9]

@@tejaswoman They are available in the US, but they are regional and more common in places with larger populations with British ancestry.

[@ingridc0ld]

I remember there being an ottoman when I was a kid. Especially when I went to see Santa with my cousin, and she was too afraid to sit on his lap, so she sat on the ottoman instead.

[@kannakanina6552]

15:25 “He cries in the middle of the night. He’s a bit unpredictable I’m afraid.” This was the cutest take on baby Jesus ever, Rupert is so articulate!

[@yosoysoya7944]

He's such a beautiful British gentleman, it's crazy!

[@Cassiejayne_creations]

My favourite part

[@logo9470]

Rupert never fails to impress me!

[@katrinadarwin]

Rupert’s tiny voice saying his own name is so precious and special. I love seeing these glimpses into his life while being private and respectful.

[@macalauresmuse]

Agreed, it's so lovely of Jessica and Claudia to let us have a little glimpse of the wonderful person that Rupert is but still keeping his personal information private.

[@calzonexiv]

I was torn on the Santa thing too with my daughter. I wanted her to experience the magic but I also didn’t want to lie to her and have her get heartbroken when she got older and learned the truth. So what I did is I would tell her that Santa is the essence of Christmas, and that the mall Santas work together to bring that essence to everyone. She still talked about the North Pole and we did the Elf on a Shelf stuff, but by explaining over the years that Santa in and of itself may not be real but it’s symbolic of what makes Christmas so special and that’s what’s important sort of created a good middle ground. She’s 12 now and she jokingly tells me to “let Santa know” that she wants this and that 😂 Maybe something like this could also be a good compromise for you both? Give him the magic without creating a false narrative.

[@ohdarling6657]

That's a cute idea! A great middle ground

[@neurospicyrainbow]

I think if I was a mom I would call it a game. I love the fact that you explained it was a symbol, and that is a teachable moment on what a symbol is! when I discovered the whole thing was in fact not real, I treated it like a game we played every year.

[@macalauresmuse]

I think that is a good way to go! My 6 year old niece told me on Christmas Day (in a whisper) that Santa isn't real because she saw Mummy and Daddy wrapping presents for the stockings but she didn't really seem upset and we agreed that it's a nice game - for similar reasons as you've outlined (mostly because her little brother still thinks Santa is the source haha).

[@jennifers5560]

“Wife, stop wrapping presents, Jessica’s video just dropped, time to take a break!”

[@lynnwales2937]

That was weirdly one of my favorite bits about Montessori- naming the letters by the sound they make. It just seemed so much more logical when trying to teach a child to read.

[@wolfgirl5636]

Your toddler is the most intelligent little boy I've ever seen for his age. Ye are such amazing mams

[@gypsydonovan]

First, this place is beautiful! My mother believed in Santa until the day she died. He was symbolic but more- a literal essence of the Christmas spirit that was capable of having real world impact on believers. Especially neglected children. It was difficult to argue against. You cannot fight faith with logic. In her case, there was a lot of abuse and trauma throughout her childhood, but she had good Christmas memories. She went all out for us. When I started to doubt, around 7-8, she made a wooden mold of reindeer hooves & put prints in the snow. She had my dad crawl out on an icy roof to ring jingle bells and stomp around above my bed. It worked. For a while. I never thought of it as her lying to me. I think that matters. Most kids grow up, figure it out & never have a trust conflict towards their parents. It’s tradition, it’s culture. It’s secular Christmas magic. And, if you tell a child there’s no Santa, they will tell other kids. Angering other parents/“ruining” magic for other children isn’t a reason to compromise your beliefs but it deserves to be in the weighing process. Sure, you could tell your child not to tell their friends the truth about Santa but then you’re worse off than you started, encouraging your child to be deceptive and lie to people who trust them- if he feels like he has a good reason. You want to avoid confusion, build an understanding of reality and foster a trusting relationship. I honestly think the least damaging path is to accept Santa as a real cultural figure & symbol of Christmas. You don’t have to bring him up or decorate with a Santa theme. Just tell him exist in the zeitgeist, interact with joy when necessary and when your child is old enough to ask, you tell the truth. I’d even explain that you were waiting for them to ask, that kids need to be ready at their own time & that they shouldn’t spoil the fun of Santa for others. You can even have the discussion about whether you should or shouldn’t have let them believe & make sure to listen to their opinions. I can see that helping future parents.

[@macalauresmuse]

Also need to say that for years my Dad was 'Santa' for the kids in his village and he loved playing the part - he even did videos for the kids during the covid lockdown years. He passed away at Christmas two years ago which is still really sad but sort of fitting - this video made me smile and shed a couple of happy tears to know all the lovely Santas are out there making kids happy.

[@fairynerdy]

At Rupert's age, if I had gone through that little door and a giant owl had started talking to me, I would have come right back out screaming. 🤣 I have a small animatronic phobia. Never trust something if you can't see where it keeps its brain.

[@yosoysoya7944]

I don't know how Santas and Fathers Christmas usually are, but this one seemed very nice and non-overwhelming

[@Tiawia]

the enchanted forest looks so pretty! i'm not even super into christmas but i love the forest theme. looked like a blast :)

[@kellyrowe4075]

Ok so you guys bringing up the polar express made me remember an amazing thing my elementary school did when I was in first grade! So on the last day of school before break my school had each classes teacher set up their rooms to showcase Christmas and winter holiday traditions around the world and had each class go around and visit each one. Then we all went to the gym where they had decorated it all nice and cozy and the principal read the polar express out loud to everyone. An extra clever bit was that they projected pictures from the book up on the screen so everyone could see them while he read. Then when we went back to our classrooms one everyone’s desk was a candy cane a big jingle bell tied with a red ribbon and a warm cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows with a note that said from Santa. Absolutely mind blowing as a kid and as an adult I can really appreciate how much effort the school staff put into an event like that!

[@ingridc0ld]

That reminds me of when went on a field trip to go see the Polar Express in the theater when I was in first or second grade.

[@irasgoldfishsstuff]

ah yes, 2000s-2010s elementary school holiday celebrations, where some of the best memories r made

[@macalauresmuse]

I do admire Ruperts negotiating and reasoning skills when it comes to what gifts to buy!

[@AA-hy6nb]

Your toddler is so precious! How he is brushing the Nutcracker's hair!

[@cindabearr]

How could you think people would drop off and not watch this video? It's positively CHARMING! Thank you for sharing such intimate glimpses of your life and including sweet little Rupert. That's something you don't have to do, and it's just lovely to see your proud little family doing Christmassy things. But also - THAT FOREST! Omg how amazing is that? I want to go through it just for myself! 🤭

[@RebelwheelsNYCShow]

The family videos are just adorable and it's really impressive how articulate and expressive that Rupert is. I was wondering how the whole Father Christmas thing fit into the Montessori philosophy but it's nice that you and your wife who come to a nice compromise Sending much goodness to the family

[@sallyjordan4869]

I’m really looking forward to what may be revealed in the next video. 🎀💖🎀

[@jcatsjcats6896]

👀👀👀

[@kpwxx]

I burst out laughing in my kitchen over Claudias "bleeding from its mouth" comment 😂😂 Also, those mini build kits don't need to be built - they can be bought to sit in a pile of "future crafts I will do one day"!! I personally think that's completely reasonable.... 😅😅 I have several that I absolutely am definitely going to do very soon.

[@hopegold883]

Wwwwaaaiiitttt That whole Santa Setup was at your Garden Center??? I guess jolly old England really is an enchanted land.

[@HannahAbout]

The Santa's Enchanted Forest looked like so much fun. It was so detailed and full of life. Sometimes these kind of sets can look so empty and unfished, so I'm glad you've found a great one! Happy Holidays! ☃🎄✨

[@HeatherRose23]

The first time I saw animatronic figures moving around, I was absolutely terrified. I'm so glad to see Rupert seemed handle them so well!

[@MystearicaClaws]

"Come here my love," in Ruperts little voice is just the SWEETEST 💚

[@moordt]

Hahaha, now I definitely don't want to miss the next video! Very excited 😊. Loved this one, Rupert is so gentle and cute. That was a wonderful experience, seeing father Christmas through the enchanted forest.

[@mama456100]

Very excited for the next video! Side note would love a video of you trying to build one of those dollhouse style rooms because they look so cool.

[@jennifers5560]

Yes! If she makes a video of it, she will have time to do it…

[@elspethfougere9683]

So sweet 🥰 mum was just saying how disconcerted she was as a five year old being taken to a santa whos beard was some lambs fleece and wouldnt stay in place.. she made sure to tell us our visits were to someone who was dressed up like in a play, to tell the story, not the real guy, so we wouldnt feel spooked as well, so I think your winning on that one, it worked for me, and then it was also fun helping my dad dress up when i was a bit older and helping with the young ones too.. I love the way you and claudia say no to each other, (you said something about the miniature kit) its such a healthy thing in a relationship, to keep each other in check or know how to safeguard each others limits even when that person doesnt want to, and I love seeing the way you guys still rib each other as well as express kindness as well as limits. Its so nice to see, in a world that often just shows happy happy or dramatic dysfunction, there is healthy in between of everyday life that is kinder and more honest than that ❤

[@annabelyates5219]

Ooh my aunt as an outdoor mirror, it's used to give the illusion that the garden is bigger than it is! Hers looks like a gate opening onto more garden

[@Enbysoupcan]

omg don't worry Claudia, two years ago I bought my grandmother a poinsettia and it lived for so long! It lasted for roughly seven months, and it lived indoors in my grandmother's foyer. Dunno how she made it last that long but they stay so lovely if done right! Good luck and happy holidays!

[@jennifers5560]

I’m happy if they last 2 weeks!

[@KB-cs9tu]

My mum had one that lasted almost two years once

[@LifesNeverHumDrum]

You’re raising such a lovely little lad. And this Enchanted Forest is so neat, I’m kind of jealous even as a grown adult 😂

[@lilboo288]

Hoping the next video is your yearly recap and goals for the next year! I have no idea how you and Claudia kept your composure playing cracker nativity, I'm over here laughing so hard I'm tearing up! Thanks for sharing that bit of family time with the world ❤

[@LMFuqua]

Something for the future since father Christmas is a part of your life. A good choice might be for you to emphasize father Christmas as a spirit of Christmas and that as kids get older they get to engage in being part of both sides of giving and receiving.

[@megdelaney3677]

❤Love hearing Rupert speak, so cute!!!

[@scilines]

I remember you guys’ first Christmas visit to the Garden Center with Rupert in a stroller. 🥰

[@calliea9064]

What a whimsical and calm childhood

[@jennifers5560]

What a wonderful family Christmas outing! Rupert is such a sweet child. ❤ (I can’t wait for the next video!)

[@jennifers5560]

10:08 never underestimate the negotiation skills of a 3 year old!

[@ellao3055]

Would love a video on how you tackle Father Christmas in your Montessori Quaker home! Rupert is such a gentle soul ❤

[@Nik00p5]

Oh my goodness! Where has the time gone? Rupert is so big! His little voice 🥹 Looks like such a lovely family day! Happy Holidays ❤

[@agness6766]

Rupert is so lovely little gentleman! Omg🥰

[@flyingpigfarm1]

You ladies just have so much fun with your little guy! Happy Holidays! Looking forward to the next one!

[@katie-vq4op]

This video was so lovely! I love seeing your sweet family and that enchanted forest set up was incredible!!

[@arika6]

Thank you so much for sharing and protecting your baby. (I mean big kid) 😅 I used to work with kids and nanny, it's so heartwarming to see the holiday fun. 🥰

[@barbaralamoreaux328]

Thank you for sharing your sweet boy’s voice. Makes those of us whose babies are adults very nostalgic.❤

[@MothproofKT]

This is such a wonderful vlog. Rupert saying the “baby Jesus crying at night was a big unpredictable, I’m afraid” made me laugh out loud. Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas. Can’t wait to see the year long video in the making! I have a theory! (It could be bunnies… sorry being a Buffy fan means no one can ever say “I have a theory” without that being the ending anymore!)

[@gidgetgetscrafty]

That enchanted forest with Santa at the garden center looks amazing. What wonderful Christmas memories for your family. ❤️💚

[@maggiemacha5552]

Really lovely family outing! I too really love how moneys collected go to a charity for those in need! That’s the real spirit of Christmas 🎄 May your holiday season be merry and bright 🎄♥️

[@TheDopekitty]

He's such a precious little guy

[@jochakram2363]

I love the fact that you call him Father Christmas rather than Santa. He's not the same person, though they have merged nowadays.

[@ixchelkali]

As much as I enjoyed the whole video, Rupert's sending the 3 kings to the shop to buy gifts for the baby was worth the price of admission. 😂

[@PhoebeFayRuthLouise]

Love tagging along on your day! I ordered your merch as a Christmas present for myself!

[@MystearicaClaws]

Working on for over a year? Ooooo!!!!!! I'm excited!!!

[@juls_krsslr7908]

I hope the next video is what I think it is!

[@DistressedMushroom]

Same here! I have a guess and I'm so hoping I'm right!

[@nadyarek]

I guess we all have the same thought as we are not saying it out loud 😅 fingers crossed!

[@DistressedMushroom]

WE WERE RIGHT, YESS, COGRATULATIONS JESSIE AND CLAUD!!!!!!!

[@nadyarek]

@ OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD

[@abilevitt3334]

Your family style videos are just so lovely. It's just a wonder to watch Rupert enjoying things, always brightens my day! ❤

[@nicole-corine4121]

What a wonderful Father Christmas!

[@HydraCoffee42-wj5ir]

My mom and dad had the same argument, my dad thought lying to kids was bad my mom said every year for hundreds of years millions of people set out to commit kindness and blame it all on this little elf (Santa clause) and that was something beautiful that shouldn't be taken out of the world. My mom won lol. Merry Christmas!!!!!❤🌈

[@cynhanrahan4012]

The garden center enchanted forest was amazing! My guess is all the lovely things used to create the enchanted forest are for sale at the garden center to inspire the parents to buy and decorate with all the things!

[@denisepiekarski4159]

Your family is delightful! Merry Christmas! ❤

[@claudiaelodie]

I'm so excited about the next video 👀!!!

[@our3geckos]

Hope you & your Ohana had a wonderful Christmas this year 🎄🎁❣️ I cannot believe how big Rupert has gotten 😮❣️ Jessica, you are ALWAYS so beautifully put together 💗🥰❣️ You are absolutely gorgeous❣️ Inside and out❣️ Watching from Hawai'i, I absolutely love your accent! It's very soothing. Beautiful Christmas Village? I absolutely love your sense of humor 😂. You & Claudia are a perfect couple 💕❣️ You compliment each other very well💕🥰🥰❣️ I have not watch as much of your videos as I USED to, and I NEED to start again. You inspire me to be a BETTER person and mother to our kids, even though they are GROWN. I am lucky that they ALL still live with us 🥰🥰🥰❣️ We have 3 MIRACLE children. Our oldest son is my primary care giver. Our daughter is a middle child, as my husband was. (It's probably WHY she gets away with everything she does... Aside from being Daddy's Princess 😅. Our youngest son is our easiest child as he was NEVER a problem child or anything. Each child is 2 years & 8 months apart from each other. We didn't plan it, it just happened that way. There is a 5 year difference between our oldest son and our youngest son. The best thing I love about being from Hawai'i is FAMILY ALWAYS COMES FIRST🥰❣️ Our kids fight like any normal siblings, but whenever there is something that happens they immediately come to each other's side🫂🥰‼️ Have a wonderful New Year (Hau'oli Makahiki Hou) (Sparkling Apple Cider 🍾🥂)🎉🎍❣️ Just re-joined your channel 👍🏼❣️ I have a lot to catch up on‼️ 💞 ALOHA FROM HAWAI'I 💞🌹 LYSSA 🌹

[@jesslikescoffee24]

I’ve built a couple of those Rolife sets and they are VERY time consuming. I think I’ve spent 40 hours on one before. But they’re very fun for my detail-oriented brain!

[@hufflepuffwannabe]

This magical forest is so fun!

[@Picklescape]

Loved this video! Though did you upload it with the title as the file name? Really excited for the next video too 🤞🏻 😊😍

[@mindybrown-haugen3115]

well i hope you have wonderful news to share!

[@eleanor4759]

this is in the top 10 comfort channels ❤

[@-streaminadream-5356]

zoe and mark looove going to the garden center omg, feels crazy as a viewer of both of you!! haha good fun

[@megdelaney3677]

I ❤ the miniatures!!!

[@CaityLouise85]

I’m curious, if Montessori is against introducing magic until they know it’s not real, how would that interact with religion? Would miracles etc be included in ‘magic’?

[@fedeweasley7132]

that's a grown human, I remember when he was born omg, I feel so old 😂

[@kt4600]

Thank you for sharing your lovely christmas family vlog :)

[@LittleEmm1979]

This was such a sweet video. I think I know what your next video is and can't wait to see if I'm right. Have a lovely Christmas ⛄🎄

[@Cove_Blue]

Omg I got my best friend the greenhouse for Christmas! I just discovered those recently and got my sister a book nook too! I'm obsessed with them and can't wait to gift them!

[@emmastraub6842]

Merry Christmas 🎄🎁

[@susanpolastaples9688]

Rupert's sense of imagination is so refreshing and shows his intelligence

[@losronjos]

loved the vlog - looking forward to your next video!

[@Peg06]

There are not enough superlatives to describe your adorable child! I was always from the "Let the children experience the magic while they can" camp as pertains to Santa. Please reassure your wife that no one knows how to properly care for a poinsettia... it's all guesswork.

[@lisaelizabeth9169]

This was such a lovely video!

[@sofiaivarsson3482]

oh! cliff hanger!

[@11z22x33c44v55b66n77]

Jessicaaaa your coat I’m obsessed

[@HeatherJones-jr2pm]

Merry Christmas from me and America. How I have missed you. ❤ Rupert is so tall and lovely! Please, forgive my absence, love to all Heather.🎉

[@EvaMetalhankle]

The thing about Father Christmas and... Christmas all together is that there's nowhere to escape from it! I'm an adult, I'm 38 y.o. and I can't avoid it!! No matter if I cried, if I wished all the loved ones that passed during this holiday were there (it only made it worse)... The school, the hospital, the job, the friends, the family, the (trying to be nice) strangers passing by, the tv, the radio, the shopping centre or the streets... They'll always be singing, talking, screaming, pushing, grabbing, forcing... an individual to face Christmas, the presents, the obligatory Christmas gathering and subsequently, the disappointment because... We are in one way or another, forced to imagine that this year will be the one that will change it all for the better. I try to think of Yule... The Winter celebration... But if I'm trying to make sense of Christmas as a pagan, I can try, but super Christian Portugal don't even imagine it as being a real thing and... don't even want to learn about the history, even If I try to tell it in a very sweet way. If my 94 yo grandma that grew up in "hyper Catholicism" can totally hear me say that I don't believe in a God but I believe in something that is basically the same, only the name changes... To universe and to energy. If my 94yo grandma is capable of getting angry with organised christian church and their several crimes and losing a little faith... I'm sorry, but I'm starting to believe that must people are just caring about their own "salvation" and "efffff" accommodating different points of view, or be reminded that some people, a lot of people, get into a very hard mental state during Christmas and above all... "Efffff" the victims of Christianity (the past and the present victims). And of course... The money has to flow, right?

[@x_peony591]

Trying to spot Claudia's secret babybump lol

[@CherryDreamer96]

I had a dream Jessica was pregnant with twin girls the day before they announced the pregnancy 😮 (I know Jessica isn't the one carrying but still!) ... Even weirder last year on the 1st Jan I had a dream.another smaller KZbinr was pregnant and she announced it shortly afterwards so strange! Sorry I just needed to tell someone lol

[@maybeimacat3183]

This was so cute!

[@kaylin_akaulopez]

1:25 the hair is immaculate

[@melima_]

Love the hair! 😍

[@missnaomi613]

-I'd be VERY interested to hear your views on Santa, Jessica! I have my own Unpopular Opinion about that, but I'm also Jewish, so I acknowledge that there could be some cultural bias there. -I love that Santa invited Rupert to sit on a seat and not in his lap! That's one of my concerns averted! -Rupert is such a clever little guy! Y'all are great mamas!

[@newyorknewyork196]

❤❤❤ so beautiful 🤩 have a very Merry Christmas 🎄🎁

[@asecretcourtofcrowsandcloc4084]

This is so nice to watch. I love your family style videos. the enchanted forest seems really cool. Do you have any Accessibility notes about the experience?

[@PhoebeFayRuthLouise]

As if I wasn’t already living for Vlogmas, now I find out it took a year to make the next one!😊

[@PhoebeFayRuthLouise]

I can’t believe I didn’t guess it was another pregnancy! I’m so excited for you three to be four!

[@CaityLouise85]

@11:22 it is now plain that Claud is pregnant and how did I not see??!

[@sara.1492]

Does the next video will ressemble the first video of 2021? Are you keeping a secret from us? So exciting!

[@kaulie9657]

Congrats

[@billiwright39]

This is the cutest thing i have ever scene😊

[@irispostema]

That magic forrest was more magic than the one in the Efteling :)

[@shannonrolfes5171]

I would have loved that as a child! Rupert is very lucky to have two great Mom's! ❤ Also, Jessica, where can I buy your coat? I've been looking for something similar in black. Merry Christmas!

[@megdelaney3677]

💜Love your curls!!!

[@leahstumm9662]

Happy holidays to you3💜🎄🥂💜

[@na4328]

Soooo cute

[@aprilrichards762]

My mom never had gifts from Santa for me. I knew my Pap played Santa for the Boy Scouts and the Fire Department.

[@jennifers5560]

❤

[@adem6371]

Gorgeous! ❤

[@missivonne]

Those mirrors are lovely! And there's no law that says you can't have those mirrors inside.

[@sunshining_inthe_hebrides4030]

Poinsettias live for ages my last one was 12 years .. just pot on and keep cool