For some, Christmas just wouldn't be complete without a visit with Santa. But what happens when your little one doesn't want to sit on Kris Kringle's lap?
A Santa Claus in Florida is going viral for his reaction after a little girl told him she didn't want to sit on his lap.
Katie Love told TODAY that she took her 3-year-old daughter, Adley, for pictures with Santa at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayn in Miami.
When Adley saw Santa, she told him she wanted a new bike. Santa asked if she wanted to sit on his lap and tell him the rest of her list, but Asley responded with a girl "No."
Rather than tiptoe around the situation, Santa praised the toddler for setting boundaries and being able to communicate her wants.
Love was living in the moment, but she was so impressed with Santa's response that she asked him to repeat what he said so she could record it.
"I said, 'This is her body, and she's in control of her body,'" Santa explained in the clip. "I asked if she wanted to sit on my lap, and she said, 'No,' and I said, 'Way to stand up for yourself.'"
"You can't let even Santa Claus — if Santa Claus says, 'Do you want to sit on my lap?' If you don't want to, you say, 'No!'" he added.
The video has been viewed more than 2 million times on TikTok.
Santa, whose real name is Steve Lantz, told TODAY he was impressed by Adley's self awareness.
"My wife and I have a 6-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son, and we started teaching them at a very early age that they are in control of their bodies," he said. "There are times I will ask my daughter, 'Do you want a hug?' And if she says 'No,' I honor that. I don't push. I never ask twice."