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36 Santa Photos That Did Not Go As Planned

Understandably, asking your kids to sit on a strange man's lap does not always go well...

Sitting on Santa’s lap and sharing your wish list is a time-honoured holiday tradition for kids. It’s also one that often leads to tears and chaos.

Considering that parents spend the rest of the year talking about stranger danger and bodily autonomy, it’s understandably a bit confusing for kids to be asked to sit on a strange man’s lap come December. Thus, cue the screaming, crying, running away, silly faces and more.

We asked the HuffPost Parents community to share photos of their children’s less-than-picture-perfect moments with Santa.

1
Courtesy of Amber Sharp
"This is as close as she’d get ... despite the fact that this Santa is her grandpa."
2
Courtesy of Shawn L Battmer
"She ran up to every stranger to pick her up, so we figured Santa would be a cakewalk ... yep nope."
3
Courtesy of Maureen Jo Errichetti
4
Courtesy of Olivia Carmela
5
Courtesy of Emmalee Plotner
"My son ready to swing on Mrs. Claus."
6
Courtesy of Rachel Leszczynski
7
Courtesy of Katie Gervais
8
Courtesy of Amanda Jackson Tolman
"A sneezer, a crier, and the scariest Santa I’ve ever seen."
9
Courtesy of Jamie Barnes
10
Courtesy of Sara Porter
11
Courtesy of Kara Conliss
"Ever met a Santa with a black eye?"
12
Courtesy of Stephanie Gendron
13
Courtesy of Becky Kronemann
14
Courtesy of Kathie Hilliard
15
Courtesy of Marie Norman
16
Courtesy of Alyssa Condit
"My 7-year-old off to the side: 'I’ll stand by him but I won’t touch him.'"
17
Courtesy of Cara Holloway Skinner
18
Courtesy of Jennifer Lynn
"Not going to force her so we both met in the middle lol."
19
Courtesy of Jennifer Miktus Dillard
20
Courtesy of Stephanie Hoyt
21
Courtesy of Shereen Langrana Kalathil
22
Courtesy of Katie Greer
23
Courtesy of Heather Fishburne
24
Courtesy of Alyson Prevost
25
Courtesy of June Kim Wilson
26
Courtesy of Jessica Frazo McManus
27
Courtesy of Jodie Fisher
28
Courtesy of Katie Grandgeorge
29
Courtesy of Rachel Douglas
30
Courtesy of Alison Barnes
31
Courtesy of Hollie McGregor
32
Courtesy of Jacki Henderson
33
Courtesy of Kaitlyn Fazio
34
Courtesy of Julie M. Walter
35
Courtesy of Jackie Giusti
36
Courtesy of Anna Brys

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