If you don’t celebrate Christmas...

[Anonymous]

In my Jewish home we just don’t mention Santa at all. The kids have never asked. If they did ask, I would tell them
it’s what some other people believe, but not something we believe or participate in, and leave it at that. Exactly what I would do regarding any other non-Jewish holiday or belief. I don’t agree with going beyond that. My children and I have the same right to state our beliefs as you do yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell your jerky kids not to go up to kids and say Santa isn’t real. Problem solved.

Tell your disillusioned brats not to go around proselytizing about imaginary characters. Problem solved.

Is it okay if they go around proselytizing about religious figures?

Funny you mention that, because parents like OP would be a lot less angry about their kid getting invited to a church youth group or Seder dinner than they are about families who don’t lie about Santa.

It truly is a secular religion, complete with psychos and nut jobs who take it way too far...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not a big fan of the Santa story. It puts a lot of pressure on lower SES families to overspend in order to get their kids the things on the Santa list. It is very biased towards higher SES. The whole watching you 24/7 to know if you are bad or good and then giving presents based on this assessment doesn't sit well with me. Makes poorer kids and marginalized kids look 'bad' compared to their richer more privileged 'good' peers.

I don't care if families do it, we don't. My kids know there is no such thing and they know that some families tell their kids there is a Santa or an Easter Bunny or a tooth fairy etc. They know better than to go up to someone and say there is no Santa but they might be overheard in conversation or asked directly and they wouldn't lie. For example, when one of my mine was about 4, he recognized the Santa as his friend's dad and excitedly commented on how that was his friend's dad in the Santa costume. A lady with a kid sitting near us got really angry at him. I completely supported him in that. She can tell her kids whatever she wants but he was just being an excited innocent 4 year old and didn't do anything wrong.

You are my people!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a big fan of the Santa story. It puts a lot of pressure on lower SES families to overspend in order to get their kids the things on the Santa list. It is very biased towards higher SES. The whole watching you 24/7 to know if you are bad or good and then giving presents based on this assessment doesn't sit well with me. Makes poorer kids and marginalized kids look 'bad' compared to their richer more privileged 'good' peers.

I don't care if families do it, we don't. My kids know there is no such thing and they know that some families tell their kids there is a Santa or an Easter Bunny or a tooth fairy etc. They know better than to go up to someone and say there is no Santa but they might be overheard in conversation or asked directly and they wouldn't lie. For example, when one of my mine was about 4, he recognized the Santa as his friend's dad and excitedly commented on how that was his friend's dad in the Santa costume. A lady with a kid sitting near us got really angry at him. I completely supported him in that. She can tell her kids whatever she wants but he was just being an excited innocent 4 year old and didn't do anything wrong.

You are my people!!

You do realize a 4 year old talking about someone he recognizes in a costume is completely different than a bratty 10 year old going up to kids and sharing out of the blue , “You know Santa isn’t real, it’s just your parents?”

[Anonymous]

Here’s a thought OP- how about telling your kid to stop talking about Santa at school?

Tell them not to say things like:
-I’m asking Santa for x,y,z. What are you asking for?
-Have you been a good boy/girl this year? Is Santa getting you anything?
-I’m making cookies for Santa, are you?
Or after Christmas-
-Santa got me a,b,c,d,e....what did he bring you?

If they keep their mouth shut about your little fairy tale, then they’re less likely to be called out about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a thought OP- how about telling your kid to stop talking about Santa at school?

Tell them not to say things like:
-I’m asking Santa for x,y,z. What are you asking for?
-Have you been a good boy/girl this year? Is Santa getting you anything?
-I’m making cookies for Santa, are you?
Or after Christmas-
-Santa got me a,b,c,d,e....what did he bring you?

If they keep their mouth shut about your little fairy tale, then they’re less likely to be called out about it.

My kid doesn’t talk about it. Other kids bring it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a thought OP- how about telling your kid to stop talking about Santa at school?

Tell them not to say things like:
-I’m asking Santa for x,y,z. What are you asking for?
-Have you been a good boy/girl this year? Is Santa getting you anything?
-I’m making cookies for Santa, are you?
Or after Christmas-
-Santa got me a,b,c,d,e....what did he bring you?

If they keep their mouth shut about your little fairy tale, then they’re less likely to be called out about it.

My kid doesn’t talk about it. Other kids bring it up.

Sure.

[Anonymous]

It was awesome to see my 3 year old run through the holiday market yelling, "Santa isn't real!" just as we instructed him. Brought a tear to my non-Christian eye.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Santa isn't real. Stop lying to your kids.

Exactly. We're Jewish and my kids know Santa isn't real, because he's not. This isn't an issue of "different people believe different things" but rather "some people tell their children a story they know is not true." I have no problem with people telling their children that story but why would anyone expect my Jewish 4 year old to participate in your charade. He knows Santa is not real but is not yet old enough to understand to keep it to himself. What is it that I should do that won't leave my children felling badly

Bravo! Great response x 100!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a big fan of the Santa story. It puts a lot of pressure on lower SES families to overspend in order to get their kids the things on the Santa list. It is very biased towards higher SES. The whole watching you 24/7 to know if you are bad or good and then giving presents based on this assessment doesn't sit well with me. Makes poorer kids and marginalized kids look 'bad' compared to their richer more privileged 'good' peers.

I don't care if families do it, we don't. My kids know there is no such thing and they know that some families tell their kids there is a Santa or an Easter Bunny or a tooth fairy etc. They know better than to go up to someone and say there is no Santa but they might be overheard in conversation or asked directly and they wouldn't lie. For example, when one of my mine was about 4, he recognized the Santa as his friend's dad and excitedly commented on how that was his friend's dad in the Santa costume. A lady with a kid sitting near us got really angry at him. I completely supported him in that. She can tell her kids whatever she wants but he was just being an excited innocent 4 year old and didn't do anything wrong.

You are my people!!

You do realize a 4 year old talking about someone he recognizes in a costume is completely different than a bratty 10 year old going up to kids and sharing out of the blue , “You know Santa isn’t real, it’s just your parents?”

By age 10 most kids know its not real. They are in 4/5th grade. Your kid is a brat if they believe and you failed as a parent. You really think 10 year olds should think its real? Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our 4 year old knows Santa is pretend and still looks forward to getting presents from Santa (via mom and dad) and to Christmas. He knows some kids don't know that Santa is pretend and will play along with the story but I can't guarantee where kids' conversations will go. *shrug*

What is the big deal?

The big deal is that parents like OP promote Santa religiously. It like a secular religion.

It is not a secular religion. Other religions do not celebrate Christmas and Santa. Individual families may choose to but that is not part of their religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a big fan of the Santa story. It puts a lot of pressure on lower SES families to overspend in order to get their kids the things on the Santa list. It is very biased towards higher SES. The whole watching you 24/7 to know if you are bad or good and then giving presents based on this assessment doesn't sit well with me. Makes poorer kids and marginalized kids look 'bad' compared to their richer more privileged 'good' peers.

I don't care if families do it, we don't. My kids know there is no such thing and they know that some families tell their kids there is a Santa or an Easter Bunny or a tooth fairy etc. They know better than to go up to someone and say there is no Santa but they might be overheard in conversation or asked directly and they wouldn't lie. For example, when one of my mine was about 4, he recognized the Santa as his friend's dad and excitedly commented on how that was his friend's dad in the Santa costume. A lady with a kid sitting near us got really angry at him. I completely supported him in that. She can tell her kids whatever she wants but he was just being an excited innocent 4 year old and didn't do anything wrong.

You are my people!!

You do realize a 4 year old talking about someone he recognizes in a costume is completely different than a bratty 10 year old going up to kids and sharing out of the blue , “You know Santa isn’t real, it’s just your parents?”

By age 10 most kids know its not real. They are in 4/5th grade. Your kid is a brat if they believe and you failed as a parent. You really think 10 year olds should think its real? Wow.

Are you stupid or something? I’m talking about a 10 year old ruining Santa for a younger child. Not a 10 year old who still believes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a big fan of the Santa story. It puts a lot of pressure on lower SES families to overspend in order to get their kids the things on the Santa list. It is very biased towards higher SES. The whole watching you 24/7 to know if you are bad or good and then giving presents based on this assessment doesn't sit well with me. Makes poorer kids and marginalized kids look 'bad' compared to their richer more privileged 'good' peers.

I don't care if families do it, we don't. My kids know there is no such thing and they know that some families tell their kids there is a Santa or an Easter Bunny or a tooth fairy etc. They know better than to go up to someone and say there is no Santa but they might be overheard in conversation or asked directly and they wouldn't lie. For example, when one of my mine was about 4, he recognized the Santa as his friend's dad and excitedly commented on how that was his friend's dad in the Santa costume. A lady with a kid sitting near us got really angry at him. I completely supported him in that. She can tell her kids whatever she wants but he was just being an excited innocent 4 year old and didn't do anything wrong.

You are my people!!

You do realize a 4 year old talking about someone he recognizes in a costume is completely different than a bratty 10 year old going up to kids and sharing out of the blue , “You know Santa isn’t real, it’s just your parents?”

By age 10 most kids know its not real. They are in 4/5th grade. Your kid is a brat if they believe and you failed as a parent. You really think 10 year olds should think its real? Wow.

Are you stupid or something? I’m talking about a 10 year old ruining Santa for a younger child. Not a 10 year old who still believes.

+1

[Anonymous]

Why don’t you just tell your kid from the get-go that some people don’t believe in Santa and that’s okay? We do Santa but the majority of the S.Asian community we are part of does not. I accept that I can’t control other people or their children. I can only prepare my child for the inevitable, “Santa isn’t real.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a big fan of the Santa story. It puts a lot of pressure on lower SES families to overspend in order to get their kids the things on the Santa list. It is very biased towards higher SES. The whole watching you 24/7 to know if you are bad or good and then giving presents based on this assessment doesn't sit well with me. Makes poorer kids and marginalized kids look 'bad' compared to their richer more privileged 'good' peers.

I don't care if families do it, we don't. My kids know there is no such thing and they know that some families tell their kids there is a Santa or an Easter Bunny or a tooth fairy etc. They know better than to go up to someone and say there is no Santa but they might be overheard in conversation or asked directly and they wouldn't lie. For example, when one of my mine was about 4, he recognized the Santa as his friend's dad and excitedly commented on how that was his friend's dad in the Santa costume. A lady with a kid sitting near us got really angry at him. I completely supported him in that. She can tell her kids whatever she wants but he was just being an excited innocent 4 year old and didn't do anything wrong.

You are my people!!

You do realize a 4 year old talking about someone he recognizes in a costume is completely different than a bratty 10 year old going up to kids and sharing out of the blue , “You know Santa isn’t real, it’s just your parents?”

Come on! 10 year olds all know that Santa isn’t real.