The gig was up by the time each of my kids turned 6. I'm more than a little surprised your 9 and 11 year olds hadn't worked it out or been told by friends.

I lasted until age 10 when my parents decided to tell me themselves. I was GUTTED at the time but in hindsight I think it's sort of funny I was able to suspend disbelief for so long.

I'm a happily adjusted adult now.

That's what happens when you plan Christmas presents in May!

Anonymous wrote:I think the moment to make this okay for your kids was as soon as they found out, you had an opportunity to paint the picture for them about the magiic that they now get to help create. But if you treated it like a tragedy, a loss, it's no wonder they saw it that way.

We just told our DS the other week. He'll be 12 next week, and my DH was Over. It..

He saw the list when I was not nearby and immediately started crying.

How nice for you that you had time to prep your convo.

Anonymous wrote:I get that it’s sad for you. And you’re mourning what you think is ge end of their magical childhood belief. It’s not over for that. It may be done with Christmas but they’re still children. See if you can find magic in something else or shift the focus of that holiday.
FWIW I learned the truth around 6/7 since my parents weren’t super into it and it was kind of a challenge in an apartment anyway. Still loved it and it was all about making presents for my parents and grandparents and thinking and planning for a month before of what to make. We still have one present under the tree from Santa at my parents house with tag and everything and it’s usually silly and very sweet.

You get it. Thank you for snark free, constructive response.

I think the moment to make this okay for your kids was as soon as they found out, you had an opportunity to paint the picture for them about the magiic that they now get to help create. But if you treated it like a tragedy, a loss, it's no wonder they saw it that way.

We just told our DS the other week. He'll be 12 next week, and my DH was Over. It. He said he pretty much knew, and he was happy to be included with the grown ups in knowing a secret that little kids don't know. He was happy to be in the loop now and a magic maker for others.

My children stopped believing at about 6 and the magic has gone on because every Christmas, for a little while, we talk about it as if it were real.

It's called imagination, OP.

I get that it’s sad for you. And you’re mourning what you think is ge end of their magical childhood belief. It’s not over for that. It may be done with Christmas but they’re still children. See if you can find magic in something else or shift the focus of that holiday.
FWIW I learned the truth around 6/7 since my parents weren’t super into it and it was kind of a challenge in an apartment anyway. Still loved it and it was all about making presents for my parents and grandparents and thinking and planning for a month before of what to make. We still have one present under the tree from Santa at my parents house with tag and everything and it’s usually silly and very sweet.

Wow.

Anonymous wrote:Both you and your kids sound unhinged.

+1. Seriously.

This is melodramatic. This is what he gets for looking at things he shouldn’t have been. Kids follow adults leads, OP. Shrug it off, and eventually he will too.

Both you and your kids sound unhinged.

Anonymous wrote:Nine and eleven are old enough to know the truth OP. It was bound to happen, honestly you let it go on too long.

Huh? Too long? My kids believed...or at least pretend to until they were 12. It has had no harmful effects, other than a few extra magical Christmasas.

Nine and eleven are old enough to know the truth OP. It was bound to happen, honestly you let it go on too long.

Title is Not Safe for Kids as Incase your DC is on your device like me nevwas....

So while Caps game was on my 9 yo starts sobbing uncontrollably.
Without me noticing ) he had hopped onto the iPad and tried to add an item to our Amzn cart.
Scrolls through our past purchases and see some items that were to have been from StNick.

He was crushed. Sobbing. Sniffling. It was kind of like a death.
My 11yo overheard (how could he not) and is very sad too - think she wanted it to be real so badly.

Such a crappy way to learn the truth. I am sad for them.

Can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube.

I am sad. I feel like my sweet Polyana will forever be jaded.
He loves (loved?!) St Patty’s leprechaun and a friend’s fairy that was a family tradition.
Now it’s over and it’s a bummer.

Just a sleepless mom looking ton commiserate, but open to advice if you know how I can help make the sting less for my kid.