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How Do Reindeer Fly?
Answering Those Magical Questions
By Lynne Ticknor
"Mommy, how do reindeer fly?" my daughter asked as I kissed her goodnight one Christmas Eve.
I pondered my answer carefully, knowing this was an important question to an inquisitive 3-year-old. "Well ... they run very, very fast and leap into the air," I said in an animated voice.
It was clear that she didn't buy it. "But Mommy, they don't have any wings," she said. "How do they stay up there?"
"Hmm ... good question," I thought to myself. How do they stay up in the air? I struggled, not knowing quite what to say. "They don't need wings, sweetie," I said. "Santa's reindeer are magical."
There, that ought to do it. Whenever in doubt, attribute the unexplainable to magic. I tucked her in and dashed out of the room before she could ask me another question.
It never fails. Every time I think I have the whole parenting thing figured out, something occurs that humbles me. I can't believe I resorted to the old "magical" response. Certainly other parents have better answers than that.
My mom was visiting for the holidays. Surely she would have a much better answer. "Hey, Mom," I said. "How do reindeer fly?"
"Well," she responded. "I used to say Santa's reindeer were magical. That's how I explain the unexplainable."