magnacarta

Just curious - What are everyone's thoughts about telling your kids about Santa Claus? My wife and I do the traditional, if you will, and tell our son that Santa exists, comes down the chimney, has some reindeer, the whole bit. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law, however, don't believe in telling their kids about Santa and have tried to teach their kids that he doesn't exist.

My wife and I had some discussions about how we are essentially lying to our son, but we decided to do the Santa bit because 1) it's a lot of fun for us and for him, and 2) we don't recall being terribly emotionally scarred by being lied to by our parents.

What does eveyone else think?

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rhaevyn

Personally, I was never taught to believe in Santa Claus; not as in an actual person, anyway. My mother told me from a very early age that Santa was an idea, a spirit of Christmas, in a way.

I don't think I know of anyone who was scarred for life because their parents "lied" to them about Santa Claus. Really, though, I don't know what I'd tell my kids, if I ever have them, about Santa.

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vbuser

Likewise.

As a child, I learned of Santa Claus as a person in a fairy tale, just like Cinderella, and Thomas the Tank Engine.

I wrote to Santa a couple of times, but I knew that it was really a service on behalf of the post office. Still very fun though! They have very lavish reply cards.

Lebell

The modern Santa is a fairy tale, but he has a solid basis in the story of St.Nicholas of Myra.

I will be telling my son about Santa and then when he gets old enough to question, I will relate to him who St. Nicholas was and why we carry on his spirit of generosity and faith during Christmas.

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la petite moi

It's just a bit of fun! Kids shouldn't be forced to be serious all the time, that's why they are told cute little stories!

TheFrogel

I remember finding one of my Christmas letters to Santa on top of the fridge (I loved climbing around in the kitchen) I knew it was something I shouldn't have seen, and I put it back where I had gotten it, and never told my parents. I stopped believing at that point, but didn't tell anyone, in case they still believed. Now that I think about it, that was weird behavior for a kid. So my parents never sat me down and explained things to me, and I don't know if I would've liked it better if they had.

I don't know what I'll tell my kids, should I ever have any. Because I'm very good at lying, but I hate that I am, and I hate pretending things as well. But I do think I'll tell them fairy tales; although I'll tell them as what they are, stories, not things that happened to real people. Stories are something I love. I think I'll be more along the lines of the whole Christmas Spirit thing, and tell the story of the original St Nicholas.

EDIT: heh, and maybe the previous poster is right. They're kids, and they like fun. Maybe I should lighten up.

squirrelyburt

My kids are 8 and 10 and they have figured out that I am Santa. We've talked and decided it is ok to believe in Santa because of what he represents. this past Christmas, after I bought a new plastic yard ornament, the kids discussed hanging Santa in effigy... we need counseling!!

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raeanna74

Well the way both of hubby's and my families celebrate Christmas gift giving there is a lot of preparation in the gifts. The gifts are collected under the tree as we shop and wrap them. I often start my shopping during our big summer main street sale when all the stores sell all the old Christmas stuff and other things at a big discount. I start my wrapping fairly early.

Hubby and I both grew up NOT believing that Santa was real. We weren't really sure how to encourage the myth as truth even. Without thinking I began wrapping all the gifts and putting them all under the tree. Then it occurred to me - what presents are going to be from Santa if they're all already under the tree? I got a few more small ones to be from "Santa" that year but this past Christmas it seemed like it was more work than fun to perpetuate the myth for her. Besides that my mother was very antagonistic about the whole thing and told me that if our daughter talked about Santa she wasn't going to lie to my daughter about it. I just sortof gave up on the idea. I tell her that Santa is fun to pretend about and the cartoons about him are fun. She goes to the store and wants to tell Santa what she wants for Christmas, wants to see the Santa dolls, wants to wear a Santa hat, and really enjoys the game. She does know that he is not real but she knows that he's a fun part of Christmas.

We sortof ended up telling her that he wasn't real and it seems easy that way but for my Nephew who is 8 we still perpetuate the "myth" for his sake since his Mom doesn't want to tell him yet. I even told my daughter not to tell him that Santa was for pretend because he didn't know yet and she went along with the "game". I guess for me it doesn't matter if you tell them Santa is real or not. It seems to me like my daughter enjoys "pretending" it almost more than when I told her Santa was real. (She's only 4 btw) I did find it easier to get her to be a good girl when I was telling her that Santa was real. Eh It doesn't matter to me what you tell your kid. Ours - she knows he's not real and she and we are cool with that.

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wolf

It is rough when they learn it was all a lie. I think I hated my parents for a week. My wife didn't figure it out till middle school!

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billyball2

"I will be telling my son about Santa and then when he gets old enough to question, I will relate to him who St. Nicholas was and why we carry on his spirit of generosity and faith during Christmas"

Sounds like a good plan. My kids are finding out about Santa from stories, friends, and advertising. We'll let them discover on their own that Santa isn't a "real" person. We're going to let them be kids, and enjoy it. When they're old enough to ask for details we'll give them, but we'll still hide the presents and leave out some milk and cookies...just in case.

meembo

I told my kids when they were 8 and 10. They asked the appropriate questions, and I gave them the appropriate answers. I disagree with parents who consider it a lie which must someday be exposed -- Santa is a great metaphor for selfless giving and living the golden rule. Santa is as alive as parents make it. My kids have been told of Santa's metaphysical state, but the belief is as strong as ever. I have been pleasantly surprised for a few years that they clearly know of the myth, but live and enjoy and look forward to the tradition and the story. Come on, parents, use some imagination! Santa doesn't have to be an inevitable letdown!

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