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Do you tell your kids Santa is real?
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Anonymous
Me too! |
Anonymous
| For those thinking about how to make this decision for your kids, I want to say that I don't think pretending to believe in Santa with your kid is the same as lying to them. I know parents who say they don't want to lie to their children and neither do I. But children are pretty sophisticated about this stuff. I recall figuring out that Santa wasn't real and I didn't feel like my parents had deceived me. I knew they hadn't made him up. I knew they pretended about him for MY benefit, not theirs. (They didn't use him to make me be good, he was just a source of fun and toys.) It certainly didn't make me think they were lying about other important things and it didn't' make me think I was now allowed to lie. When I became sure that Santa wasn't real, I pretended to believe in him for one more year to protect my parents, who seemed to take delight in having me enjoy my gifts from Santa. |
Anonymous
Yup! Thinking the same thing. Not really sure what the big deal is to have some imagination and fun these days. |
zumbamama
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I've never actually said, "Santa is real," but when he asks, I say, "some people think so, and some people don't." He replies, "Well, I believe!" I don't think I could tell him any different...he doesn't believe me when I tell him Transformers aren't real.
Although, once when we were shopping and he wouldn't behave, I pointed out the surveillance cameras and said Santa might see you misbehaving. |
Anonymous
| I'm 38 and there is a little part of me that still hopes I hear hooves on the roof on December 24th. So yes, Santa is real in our house! |
Anonymous
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Don't you just love adults who are so convinced that their kids are so smart/ brilliant that they couldn't possibly believe in something as silly as Santa Claus (or want to believe in something like Santa Claus), that they just go ahead and ruin it for them?
I'm not sure where this comes from... people who really think their kids are on adult level, or people who want to equalize their relationship with their child, thus keeping no "secrets" from them. Pathetic, in either case. |
Anonymous
Very good point... |
Anonymous
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I agree with all the sentiments previously expressed, and want to point out some additional things to the OP:
“So when I told her this - that most kids think Santa is real - she said, "I am going to pretend he's real, too." She is such a good girl, I really don't think she will ruin it for other kids. I'm just glad that she's made her own choice.” She’s three, for cryin’ out loud! Of COURSE she’s going to slip and spill the beans – it won’t be malicious, and she’ll feel bad, but no 3.5 year old has the presence of mind to keep up that kind of façade, especially when she’s inundated with Santa this time of year. You can stop patting yourself on the back right now. There’s nothing you can do about it now, but don’t delude yourself – you (not your daughter, you) have prematurely told some other kids that there is no Santa. Nice. Hope your kid doesn’t go to my daughter’s preschool. “However, I just feel silly telling DD (3.5) that a fat, elderly man will enter our house and leave gifts for her and ALL of the billions of children in the world, in just one night. I also feel silly telling her to behave because Santa is watching.” Not doing something for your kids because you would “feel silly” has to be one of the worst reasons I’ve ever heard for a parenting decision. I, and ALL of the parents I know, routinely do all sorts of things that make us feel ridiculous because our kids will like them, or better yet, laugh hysterically. I dance around, make up silly songs, make up silly voices, get down on all fours and pretend to be a pony, or a bear, or a whatever she wants, just to name a few things. Seriously, how self-centered can you get? You took away several years of magic and wonder from your daughter because you would feel silly? Get over yourself. There were a series of commercials on TV about 6 months ago featuring very serious young children who exhibited no characteristics of a typical child – for example, a little boy dressed in a tie, sitting at the dinner table and telling his parents in a monotone what he learned in math that day. He was like a little mini adult, and a particularly lame one at that. The last line of the ad was something like, “This is what happens when you take away art and music from schools.” Your post reminded me of that – as others have pointed out, a toddler isn’t a mini adult, and she should be using her imagination and creativity, not being force fed reality and feeling compelled to keep her superior knowledge from her friends. (Again, she’s THREE!!) Really got on a roll there – rant over. Sheesh. |
Anonymous
| I feel a little bad for OP but not that bad for her child. If you tell a kid that age that mermaids aren't real, they won't believe you. She probably does believe in Santa but knows not to debate it with her mom. |
Anonymous
And to PP's comments, I would add: OP go back and read your own words. I feel silly telling DD... I also feel silly telling her... Guess what, OP... parenting is not all about YOU! What do YOUR "FEELINGS" have to do with anything? |
Anonymous
Good point. If the DC is that brilliant, she's probably already figured out what a self-absorbed, stick-in-the-mud her mom (or dad) is. |
Anonymous
| I know Santa is real - I've seen his bones. St. Nicholas' bones, that is. I tell my kids - I want to believe in Santa, I want to believe that his spirit is still alive, the spirit of giving and caring for each other, and I hope they believe too. How does Santa get down the chimney, live at the north pole, get to everyone's house in one night, etc? Magic - the magic created by those that believe in Santa and what he represents. And if they don't want to believe it, they can just see whether Santa keeps bringing them presents. |
Anonymous
You do realize that this diverse, cosmopolitan area is home to a large number of non-Christians, right? I mean, come ON. Your kid is going to go to preschool with kids from Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, etc families. Some may celebrate Christmas but many (most?) won't believe in Santa. Time to move back to the boondocks if this is what scares you. |
Anonymous
| I have kids and I still believe in Santa. |
Anonymous
I think OP's post is annoying because, as a pp said, she's tooting her own horn. SHe didn't need advice or anything, just wanted to say how great she and her kid are. BUT, do not worry about non-believers ruining it for your kids. You just have to work harder. Growing up, my best friend was Jewish and we had the Santa argument almost daily (year round!) but I kept right on believing. My mom used to tell me that Santa doesn't go to their house because they don't celebrate and that was all I needed. Now, my parents went ALL OUT but if you do that, kids are eager to believe in magic! |
