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Readers share sad Santa stories

December 14, 2011 at 10:16PM
Riley Grace Bevan, pictured at 15 months, screamed on Santa's lap.
Riley Grace Bevan, pictured at 15 months, screamed on Santa's lap. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

CONNER PAUL MCCOY

Pictured at: 19 months

Parents: Travis McCoy and Debra Edinger of Savage

Photo taken: 2010 at Ridgedale Center, Minnetonka

"As soon as we placed him on Santa's lap he began to scream. We were sad that he was so upset, but after looking at the photo, we loved it. We thought it was a classic keepsake."

MARI GRACE HANSON

Pictured at: 23 months

Parents: Chad and Andrea Hanson of Goodhue, Minn.

Photo taken: this year at Sister Song Portrait Studio in Red Wing.

"It was clear that Mari was not going to sit with Santa, so he stood behind her in all of the pictures. We took many cute ones with her smiling alone on the chair. At the end of the shoot, the photographer asked Santa to lean around the chair and get Mari's attention to try to get them to look at one another for a photo. Santa said, 'Ho ho ho,' and without even looking behind her, she burst into tears."

RILEY GRACE BEVAN

Pictured at: 15 months

Parents: Patrick and Brenna Bevan of Burnsville

Photo taken: 2009 at Burnsville Center

"Riley and I had waited in line for over an hour for her to meet Santa. When it was finally her turn, I put her on Santa's lap and she instantly started screaming hysterically. Her Santa experiences since have been great, but this is my favorite of the Santa pictures she has. It really captures the age she was and reminds me of when she was a baby. I don't think any photo album is complete without a crying Santa picture."

AUBRYN AND KIERAN SMITH

Pictured at: 15 months

Parents: John and Amanda Smith of Bemidji, Minn.

Photo taken: 2009 at Paul Bunyan Mall, Bemidji

"I felt horrible when I set them on Santa's lap and they immediately screamed. I just wanted a photo and ... we got one. I think they were at the prime age of stranger anxiety. They went to see Santa this year at age 3 and it went much better. Kieran climbed right up in his lap. Aubryn was a little more reluctant but followed her sister and asked Santa for an iPad after Kieran asked for a hamster."

LUCIANA RICHARDSON

Pictured at: 6 months

Parents: Chad and Lisa Richardson of Hastings

Photo taken: 2010 at Gertens in Inver Grove Heights

"She's a very social little girl and never has reservations about being held by new people. For some reason, Santa freaks her out, but we weren't upset about the photos at all. There's something to be said for documenting reality, which is what photos like this can do. We just saw Santa this year, and her reaction was similar."

AIMÉE TJADER

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