Will I regret not doing "Santa"?

[Anonymous]

You are lazy.

You are also missing out on the magic. Our boys are so full of joy and wonder and it is contagious...the elf, Santa, reindeer, etc.

I have only fabulous Holiday memories because my parents were wonderful with creating excitement and traditions....and NO it's not just about money and presents.

This could be why my brother, sister and I still get together with my parents on the Holidays. The families I know without much tradition have the kids that don't bother coming home for Holidays.

[Anonymous]

My parents never once did Santa with us and we didn't miss a thing. They told us later that they didn't feel right lying to us and they wanted us to always be able to trust them. This made sense to me and we in turn won't do Santa with our kids. If you really think about it, the Santa stuff is pretty weird anyway.

[Anonymous]

Not sure if you will regret it, as you will never know what you missed. Personally I can't even fathom not doing it. Its so magical and the kids just WANT to believe so much. Even at age 2 or 3, my son pointed out all sorts of logistical problems with santa (of course he didn't use the word logistical), but you could just tell he wanted me to come up with something to believe. Luckily magic takes care of most of it.

The real issue I could see you having is friends and how you will handle the questions about Santa. Will you deny the existence. Just tell your child it is something others believe in? Will you feel OK if your child is not invited to Christmas parties because he/she is known as the kid who tells others that Santa doesn't exist?

The only other thing I can think you will miss is the elves. I mean for the next couple of weeks, when my son misbehaves, all I have to do is think I see an elf peeking in the window and seeing if he is being good. Works like a charm.

[Anonymous]

The parents I know who really push the Santa thing are using it as a discipline technique for their otherwise unruly children. Bribing my kids to behave? Scaring them into thinking their every move is being watched? No thanks!

[Anonymous]

I didn't grow up with Santa but I have really enjoyed the magic with my kids. It is just plain fun for them and us so why not! I never lied to my kids. I was honest when they asked and hope they believe (as I do) that we all have the magic of giving in us.

[Anonymous]

We didn't do Santa and have no regrets. There is still massive amounts of excitement and fun without it.

[Anonymous]

You don't have to.

I grew up not believing in Santa and don't really do it with my kids either. Christmas still a very magical and fun time for us full of traditions.

[Anonymous]

We will do Santa because it's important to DH, but I'm on the fence about it. I won't lie and we've agreed to use the "what do you think?" and "some people believe" lines about Santa (just like we do about religion). I definitely don't do the elf thing (I was one of the haters on that thread last year) and I would be more concerned about your kid repeating the f-bomb my kid might drop than her bursting the Santa bubble.

We'll do stockings, cookies (maybe reindeer treats), and one Santa gift.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the responses.

I like the pp who kinda just goes with the flow. I see myself being more like that rather than anti-Santa. It will be more of a conversation, and if I did see that it was really important to him I might play along. I'm just not going to be the driver, if that makes sense. I just want him to know that presents come from people who love him, not some old fat dude, which is just odd.

And to the pp who said I was lazy. Maybe. But also, one of the complications of the Santa thing is that we will likely always travel home for the holidays. My family all sits around and swap presents from each other just as we've always done. And having DS in the mix has made it more fun for everyone. It's the family time that makes Christmas special, ya know. And I want to pass that along to him.

I don't want him to be the downer on the playground, though. Just "Santa doesn't need to come to our house, you have a mom, dad, g-ma, g-pa, aunts, uncles, etc that give presents" or something.

[Anonymous]

I don't think my DH wanted to do it with my son- he claims that they didn't really do the "santa thing" in his family, but the truth is, his (single, depressed, broke) mom was too much of a (mental) wreck to pull it off. I think Christmas was generally pretty disappointing for them on many levels. Now this year he sees how excited my son is about Christmas and how much he loves reading the Night Before Christmas and singing Rudolph. I know it's going ot be short-lived. I think I believed until I was 4 or 5, so I'm going along for the ride because we're all really enjoying it right now (he's 3.5).

I do remember, though, that when I stopped believing, my parents told me they would be incredibly mad at me if I ever ruined it for another child, so for years I remember reporting back yearly to them on who still believed and assuring them that I had NOT spilled the beans. In truth, I think I was a little sad that I did not still believe.

[Anonymous]

Nanny here-

MB and DB did this to DC. I've been with the family 7 years and it's extremely sad every year when he wants to go see Santa and his hipster parents are too cool for Santa. It's actually a little obnoxious and iunfair to the kid. Last year we were in the mall and it broke my heart having to pull this little boy away from the line to go see Santa because he wasn't allowed. I think you are kind of pathetic OP and really hope you can put your kid first and be a hipster second.

[Anonymous]

Am I the only one that's inital response was eww - who would do Santa???

[Anonymous]

Is this a joke? Who are all of these people not "doing Santa"? I can understand if you are not Christian. But wow, I guess I live in a bubble. A happy one.

[Anonymous]

Santa Claus is St. Nicholas for our family.

As the kids get older, we say that the commercialized Santa is a fairy tale, but St. Nicholas is real.

I think you have a wonderful opportunity to reflect on your beliefs, OP. children do that to their parents.

What do we celebrate at Christmas? Why do we yearn for joy, peace, love? Why value generosity and charity? Why believe in things we cannot see?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one that's inital response was eww - who would do Santa???

I am the pp. just got this. A little slow and feeling unironic in reaction to all of this anti Santa stuff.