Growing up, my parents played the Santa Claus card. That is, until I realized that we lived in a home without a chimney Santa and all of his reindeer wouldn’t be able to fit on our roof. I wasn’t disappointed about knowing there wasn’t a Santa and was thankful to my parents for buying me all of my gifts.
When my son was born in 1994 and began to get older, I didn’t tell him there was a Santa. And to my chagrin, he began telling other kids in his pre-school that there wasn’t a Santa, which made me not so well- liked by the parents. I didn’t want to spin a web of lies to my son about a fictitious person. Plus as a single parent, I struggled ALOT. I wanted him to know how hard I worked to get him gifts, but didn’t want to spoil it for the other kids in his pre-school either.
My 6 year old currently thinks there is a Santa. We never discussed this at all, she just thinks it is so. And I haven’t burst her bubble—yet. My son has been tempted to tell her but hasn’t, and we do the whole cat and mouse thing when it comes to Santa Claus—leaving cookies and milk out, sending a Christmas list to the North Pole, the whole nine. And because we do have a chimney and a fireplace that could fit a big guy like Santa, I guess it is feasible in her head that yes, there is a Santa Claus.
I have mixed feelings about not telling my daughter. A part of me wants her to live in the real world and know that there isn’t a fat man visiting homes late at night breaking in and eating their food. Modern day, a fella like this would be arrested for such activities. But in the joy that is Christmas season, I don’t want to burst her bubble. Which is why I am appealing to you, my readers. Do you tell your children there is a Santa Claus?
Are we spinning a web of lies to our kids about Santa, or just keeping in with the holiday spirit? I am anxious to read your answers/comments!
My mom told me before that there’s Santa, but I don’t believe them for a reason I can’t remember. All I know is that I kept on insisting that they are the one who put the present inside my sock. Then from there on, they will just give their presents personally.
Thats a good question!! I have debated with myself on that for a while. I guess I would up to a certain age but would not let it linger on for too long. So i can explain to them the realism of X-mas
Diggame- I think it is okay when they are really young. But as they get older, it is important to tell them so they understand the real reason for the season.
My parents told me and my younger sister that there was no Santa, and I was fine with it. However, they also told us that other kids DO believe in Santa, and not to ruin the surprise for them. Neither one of us did.
When I have kids, I’m not going to tell them that there is a Santa Claus. Personally, I think the whole thing is silly. I’m not a religious person, but Christmas isn’t about Santa Claus; it’s about Christ. As a kid, I still got VERY excited about Christmas without believing in a fictional character!
Stephanie, Very well written. I believe honesty is the best policy. Children should know the real reason about the holiday.
Grew up in Virgin Islands = knew there was no Santa. Plus I picked my own gifts out the catalog every year, my mother was gangsta! LOL!
Speaking of which, Glamazini, do you remember those JC Penney Wish Book catalogs that would come out each year? I would spend hours looking through them and picking out my gifts.
Hello, What a wonderful question! We have told our children the story of Santa keeping in the holiday spirit. When they’ve all reached their individual ages of maturity, we turn our focus on Jesus’ birth. With each child, the time has varied. You better believe they know the real “Reason for the Season!” When they start to question the logic of the santa story seriously, it’s time to come clean. By-the-way, my husband and I make our living endulging adults and children in their fantasies i.e Santa, Easter Bunny, Princess Tiana, Elmo, Spiderman and so on. Seeing a character is nothing new to them.