Anonymous wrote:I'm usually careful about this with my kid, but it's an over-reaction to say that you'd be ruining someone's holiday.

Honestly, don't most kids know there's no Santa?

I know a lot of 8-10 yr olds who still believe. Yes op you need to be more careful.

That other person was completely out of line.

Guess what? My Christian child has Jewish friends who tell her that Santa is not real. I tell her if you believe in Santa then he is real to you.

People need to get over themselves, if their children are that fragile that they can't hear a contrary opinion and you as a parent can't talk to your child, then a stocking full of coal for you!

You people are nuts. Not OP, but no way am I going to pretend about Santa. Anywhere.

You were being an ass, OP. A smug ass. Thinking of nothing but yourself.

I'd lower my voice if little kids were around.

Anonymous wrote:Are you people crazy? You can't have a discussion in a public place for fear of "ruining" other people's holidays? Unless you are in the line to see Santa at the mall, you should say whatever you please. If you are in that line, yeah, probably not a good place to say Santa isn't real.

I wouldn't say anything if I saw kids nearby, but I agree with this.

Anonymous wrote:If the woman could hear you, then a kid walking nearby could hear you. So yes, you were speaking too loud. Don't be a jerk and ruin somebody's Christmas.

This.

Anonymous wrote:Are you people crazy? You can't have a discussion in a public place for fear of "ruining" other people's holidays? Unless you are in the line to see Santa at the mall, you should say whatever you please. If you are in that line, yeah, probably not a good place to say Santa isn't real.

Well, sure I *can*, I just think it would be nice of me to *not*. If I can be reasonably sure that a specific topic of conversation is likely to make at least some people who overhear it uncomfortable or distressed, I will tend to save the discussion for a private moment or reasonably out of the way corner unless the topic is urgent and my location can't easily be changed. It's not difficult to do so in most circumstances, so why wouldn't I pay passersby the courtesy of not forcing them to unexpectedly confront potentially controversial or less than happy topics?

Anonymous wrote:Nah, you don't need to whisper. Kids aren't going to believe you as some random adult the overhear on the street. They will ask their parents and their parents will assure them Santa is real and the whole charade will start over.

I agree. In my experience kids believe what they want to believe, and if they are in the mood to believe in Santa then they will gloss right over what random strangers say on the street. At the most they will ask their parents "Is what she said true?"

I never lied to my children but I told them, "I've never seen Santa myself so I don't know for sure.... but this is what I was told when I was a child...."

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm trying to imagine what I would have done had I been out with my kids and we had all overheard you.

I probably would have looked at my kids, slowly shook my head , and said (just as loudly as you were obviously speaking) "That poor woman. She sounds really mixed up, doesn't she?"

When mine were little, they had a few friends whose parents seemed determined to ruin Santa for everyone. I told them that when families don't believe in Santa, the grown ups have to buy the gifts. Or I just let them assume the entire family was on the naughty list. Most of the time they were.

I'm usually careful about this with my kid, but it's an over-reaction to say that you'd be ruining someone's holiday.

Honestly, don't most kids know there's no Santa?

Eh, sounds like she overreacted. At the same time, it would be nice if you didn't loudly proclaim that Santa isn't real if there are kids around.

OP, I'm trying to imagine what I would have done had I been out with my kids and we had all overheard you.

I probably would have looked at my kids, slowly shook my head , and said (just as loudly as you were obviously speaking) "That poor woman. She sounds really mixed up, doesn't she?"

Nah, you don't need to whisper. Kids aren't going to believe you as some random adult the overhear on the street. They will ask their parents and their parents will assure them Santa is real and the whole charade will start over.

Anonymous wrote:Are you people crazy? You can't have a discussion in a public place for fear of "ruining" other people's holidays? Unless you are in the line to see Santa at the mall, you should say whatever you please. If you are in that line, yeah, probably not a good place to say Santa isn't real.

No, we aren't crazy. Generally, we expect others to not say the tooth fairy is made up or that Santa is. They are kids...let them live like that as long as they can. I wouldn't want you to talk about the mechanics of sex either to your kid when mine is nearby if he isn't at an age where he's asking questions.