9 Moms You Meet Waiting in Line For Santa

Her kids are in coordinated, Christmas-themed outfits, complete with the perfect patent shoes and bright-red accessories, and her camera is ready to go. You'll see her smoothing her kids' hair on repeat while whisper-yelling at them to stop asking for snacks until after her photo op, um, their Santa visit, is over.

Her kid hasn't quite learned that Santa isn't a terrifying stranger and spent last year's lap session screaming. She's ready, if not fully confident that this year won't be a repeat. Her kid has his favorite toy, a sucker, and has been drilled on how awesome Santa is for the last week. Fingers crossed.

This mom has been waiting for the magical time she'll introduce her child to the wonders of Christmas for years, which is why she's decided to bring her weeks-old baby to meet Santa. It's all about the photo, of course, but as an experienced mama, you can't help but wonder, is it really worth it?

Her kids figured out the truth about Santa years ago, but she can't quite concede the loss. They're busy texting and Snapchatting in line while rolling their eyes at their mom's enthusiasm; she's hoping for one last sweet Santa photo to add to her collection.

She was in the mall for something else entirely, but hey, they're here, Santa's here, why not get this thing done? You'll recognize her because her kids have obviously dressed themselves in a mix of pajamas, ripped t-shirts, and dirty shoes.

Sure, she's here for her kids, but you can tell by her body language that she's just itching to get on Santa's lap. Also recognizable by her family's custom elf hats and Santa sweaters.

She's come with a mission, and it's to get Santa to do her Christmas bidding. Maybe her kid has been acting like a real a-hole, and she wants him to remind her that the naughty list is a real possibility; maybe she wants Santa to talk her kid out of the air rifle he's put on the top of his wish list. Whatever it is, she's decided that the North Pole's most famous resident is the only one that can help.

She thinks Christmas is totally commercial, wouldn't consider buying an Elf on the Shelf or even an advent calendar, and is determined to eventually impart her beliefs on her kids. It hasn't worked yet, so here she is, subtly rolling her eyes while putting a happy face on for her kids' sake.

She forgot to book a family photo shoot, so this Santa shot is her last hope for a Christmas card, and she's determined to make it work. The kids have been bribed with post-Santa candy/ice cream/toys in an effort to get them to leave the bows in their hair, stop fidgeting, and put on their best smiles. The stakes are high, as is her anxiety level.