? about Santa

luvmykids wrote: Do you ever feel guilty about pretending Santa is real? I'm shocked at how strongly the twins still believe in him (at almost 8yo) and for the first time it's really bothering me to think of how let down they might feel when they find out it was all pretend. Of course I like to think they'll just groan and say "I knew it!" but I do worry that they'll be upset we let them believe something untrue for so long.

bluebear replied: I wouldn't say anything as the years go by.

luvmykids replied: I'm not going to say anything, I figure they'll find out or figure it out on their own. I'm just a little worried about what they'll feel when they do.

Nina J replied: I believed in Santa until I was like, 11 or 12 lol. I was never upset about finding out the truth
edited to add: I wouldn't worry about it. I think the longer your kids can just be kids, the better. Kids are growing up way to quick these days, I'd rather them have the innocence and fun for as long as they can.

MommyToAshley replied: A friend of Ashelys found out, and her mother swore her to secrecy. I hope she doesn't tell Ashley. I don't think Ashley would believe her anyways. But, when Ashley's friend found out, she was really upset that her mother had been telling her lies. I worry about this too, but I think it is because she found out so young. She's only 7 like Ashley, and I think they'd be more understanding if they were older. So, yes, I worry about it too.

luvmykids replied: Good point about it maybe being easier for them when they're older...I have no intentions of telling them otherwise but I know for sure if they found out now they'd want to know why I lied all these years when they're not allowed to lie

A friend of Macie's doesn't believe in Santa, her family has never done the Santa thing. But she handles it well, she just tells other kids it's ok to believe or not believe and at that age (Kindy) the other kids just figure the reason she doesn't get presents from him is because she doesn't believe in him so why would he bother

mckayleesmom replied: Mckaylee always hears the Rumers and I don't lie to her...I just tell her that nobody knows for sure, but he is real if you believe he is.

cameragirl21 replied: Actually, as far as I know (and I'm not 100% certain about this) Santa is based on a true story--the story of St. Nicholas who gave presents to children for Christmas, isn't it?
Obviously the flying reindeer and going down the chimney and similar details have been embellished but otherwise, the story is real and therefore not a lie, it's just part of the story of Christmas.
If I celebrated Christmas, I wouldn't feel the least bit guilty about having children who believe in Santa...when they got old enough to know better, I'd just tell them about the real St. Nick and how much joy he brought to kids when he was alive so his spirit of giving continues, even if he was just a mere mortal and couldn't be with here to bring them presents today.

CantWait replied: Robbie wasn't upset at all. I think they older they are when they find out, the less of a shock or surprise it is for them.

I think it's upsetting when they find out when they're still quite young.

You may have another year left before they figure it out.

I think the longer they believe the better. Kids are only innocent for so long.

coasterqueen replied: Yes. Why? Because her grandma told her last year he wasn't real and we convinced her he was. Then this year, several kids in her class know he's not real and keep talking about it and so Kylie keeps saying he's not real and we keep trying to convince her he is. I think this is the last year for my boogabear.

ETA: DH has hated playing Santa from day one because he was so crushed when he found out he wasn't real he's never really gotten over it and is more of a scrooge in a way because of being lied to about it. He plays along because I want him too.

PrairieMom replied: when ben asked me, I turned it around on him and asked him " what do YOU think ?" I told him that he is getting old enough to think really hard about things and to decide for himself. He doesn't have to believe what all the other kids say just because they say it. He needs to think for himself and make up his own mind.

luvmykids replied:
THIS is exactly what I'm afraid of!

moped replied: I still believe!

Our Lil' Family replied: What do you mean??? He isn't real???

~Roo'sMama~ replied: Yes! I worry about the same thing. I never believed in Santa - my parents didn't ever really say anything to us about whether he was real or not and somehow we always just knew he wasn't. We haven't made a huge deal about Santa with our kids, but we have talked about him some. We don't do presents from Santa though - no imaginary guy is going to take the credit for the stuff I bought!

redchief replied: None of our kids hated us when they found out. The boys were amused however to find out the loud noise they heard when they were children in the middle of the night, was not Santa on the roof, but daddy falling down the steps.

luvmykids replied:
LOL!

DH gets all the credit for Colt's belief....when he was four, DH in his RED bathrobe went to check on the kids to make sure they were asleep before we started putting stuff out. When he saw Colt was still awake he darted out, all Colt saw was the flash of red and to this day he SWEARS Santa was in his very room

coasterqueen replied:
That's me.

Boo&BugsMom replied: I think it really depends on the person. I wasn't upset. My brother was furious!

One year Tanner asked me about Santa (he was 3). So, I told him the truth and that mommy and daddy were the ones to put presents under the tree. Well, he didn't believe me and told me I was lying!!! So, I DON'T feel guilty because I told him the truth and he refused to believe me. This was our conversation:

Tanner: Mommy, who really is Santa?
Me: Well, mommies and daddies are actually the ones to put the presents under the tree.
Tanner: No they're not!
Me: Yes we are. After you go to sleep, mommy wraps the presents and I put them under the tree.
Tanner: I don't believe you!
Me: Fine then, when the truth is brought up again I don't want to hear you get upset and tell me that I lied to you!
Tanner: Fine, I WONT!

He hasn't questioned it again, so I am going to continue to let him go on in ignorant bliss.

boyohboyohboy replied: we are almos there with caleb, he doesnt want to believe any more but there is enough of him that still believes that he is afraid if he doesnt he might not get any toys..
we told him that he has to decide for himself what he believes, but that once you stop believing in santa, those presents that come from santa go away too...
so he believes for now.

kimberley replied: the boys know Santa isn't real and they don't care. they still believe in the spirit of the season and would never ruin it for someone else. like the tooth fairy, easter bunny and all other weird things kids believe in... there comes a time when they all see it for what it is... a child's amazing imagination.