Santa Clause vs. First Day of School

Maybe I just don't understand this but it seems to me that placing a child on Santa's lap is the equivalent to sending your child to their first day of school. Can you imagine what is going through the child's mind when mom and dad are looked up to as their protector and safe haven? Save me! Save me! Every fall you see similar photos in the local papers of terrified children being left on the public school's doorstep. It breaks my heart but the sad part is the parents think their doing the right thing, or at least that's what they're being told by the ill informed.