Belief in Santa?

[coco2]

Once again, Christmas is here and we have divided people in our family about the children believing in Santa. It is hard at gatherings when some of the children present believe and some don’t. Most kids who aren’t allowed to believe, want to make certain every other child also knows the truth about Santa. ( I also was a teacher, and the most miserable kids in school in December were the ones who didn’t believe in Santa, and they told everyone.) We have to be careful not to wrap any of the kids who aren’t allowed to believe due to religious reasons, with paper that has Santa on it. It is a pain!

My children are all grown, but we spent every day during Advent, lighting the wreath, saying prayers and doing something to prepare for Jesus (Like add a prayer to a prayer chain we put on the tree). We had a nativity, read books about Christ’s birth, and of course went to church on Christmas Eve. They also believed in Santa, and we had a lot of fun with that.

How do you all handle this in your families?

 

[AnastasiaRomano]

My parents never taught us about Santa. They did share the real story of St. Nicholas. By the time we were old enough (kindergarten) that we heard about Santa in other places, they just talked to us about how Santa is a story based on the real St. Nicholas and some people believe in Santa. They told us not to talk about Santa to other kids, and if someone asked us “what did Santa bring you?” we should say “my mom and dad gave me ____.” I did tell my best friend in 1st grade that Santa wasn’t real, but St. Nicholas was. (In my defense, she started the conversation because she already had doubts about Santa.)

I wasn’t ever miserable… Christmas was still magical and all that as a child.

 

[heidi_storage]

My three-year-old was scared stiff at the thought of Santa, so I told her that the story we tell about the man in the red suit isn’t real; the presents come from relatives who love her. She was very relieved to hear it. I also gave her a little sketch of St. Nicholas and explained that the character of “Santa” is based on this very good man who loved God; finally, I told her that the “Santa” thing is a game we like to play to make each other happy, and she shouldn’t tell other kids that Santa isn’t real. My 22-month-old isn’t really capable of figuring out distinctions between “real” and “fictional,” so it isn’t a worry one way or the other.

I hope my three-year-old won’t be a killjoy who goes about debunking Santa. That would be sad. I loved leaving cookies out for Santa as a child! But since the whole idea of Santa sneaking into her house freaked her out, I didn’t see what purpose it would serve to insist on bolstering the legend.

 

[Vico]

My three-year-old was scared stiff at the thought of Santa, so I told her that the story we tell about the man in the red suit isn’t real; the presents come from relatives who love her. She was very relieved to hear it. I also gave her a little sketch of St. Nicholas and explained that the character of “Santa” is based on this very good man who loved God; finally, I told her that the “Santa” thing is a game we like to play to make each other happy, and she shouldn’t tell other kids that Santa isn’t real. My 22-month-old isn’t really capable of figuring out distinctions between “real” and “fictional,” so it isn’t a worry one way or the other.

I hope my three-year-old won’t be a killjoy who goes about debunking Santa. That would be sad. I loved leaving cookies out for Santa as a child! But since the whole idea of Santa sneaking into her house freaked her out, I didn’t see what purpose it would serve to insist on bolstering the legend.

The real Santa is St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (now it is Demre Turkey), who helped the poor and sick. He was at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.

 

[Viki63]

My dad hung out the upstairs window one Christmas ringing sleighbells, so we’d think Santa was coming. It was fun. I don’t remember when I realized Santa wasn’t real.

My daughter, when she was about four or five, asked about Santa, and I gave her an ambiguous answer. She sat there puzzling over the question of Santa for a few minutes, and I could see the wheels turning. At last she said, “I see! You and dad are Santa – you bring us the presents!”
It was amazing. She’s a smart kid.

.

 

[ShrodingersCat]

Kids who spoil Santa for other kids suck. I don’t blame the kids though: I blame parents who think that their way of parenting is the only way and who don’t mind if their kids spoil other kids’ happiness.

My mum had a friend living in france. When her daughter was 4 or 5 her friend who was on a playdate said there was no Santa. The upset little girl ran to the kitchen where she asked her mum if Santa was real. Before she could answer, the other child’s father said ‘of course he isn’t real’. I find such behaviour obnoxious. I would have kicked him out of my house so fast…

 

[Rosebud77]

Kids who spoil Santa for other kids suck. I don’t blame the kids though: I blame parents who think that their way of parenting is the only way and who don’t mind if their kids spoil other kids’ happiness.

My mum had a friend living in france. When her daughter was 4 or 5 her friend who was on a playdate said there was no Santa. The upset little girl ran to the kitchen where she asked her mum if Santa was real. Before she could answer, the other child’s father said ‘of course he isn’t real’. I find such behaviour obnoxious. I would have kicked him out of my house so fast…

Amen to that… I love it when parents take kids who know the truth aside and teach them not to say that to their younger siblings …

 

[heidi_storage]

The real Santa is St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (now it is Demre Turkey), who helped the poor and sick. He was at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.

Yes. I haven’t told her the story about punching Arius, though.

 

[Dorothy]

I remember when I was about five or six years old and my mom and aunt took me on a ride on the train to go to NYC and see Santa Claus. As I remember that, I believe I had a slight fever at that time, because my head felt funny and I was tired.

We got to some department store and waited on a long line to go and tell Santa what we wanted for Christmas. I then remember being handed a wrapped box for a gift. When I opened it I saw it was a wind-up toy of a man and woman dancing. You wound it up and for a few seconds they danced on the table. Very boring to me…and I felt miserable with my head cold.

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Have a Blessed Christmas everyone!

May the Giver of all Good Gifts be with us all in a special way at this time.

 

[Millie123]

Once again, Christmas is here and we have divided people in our family about the children believing in Santa. It is hard at gatherings when some of the children present believe and some don’t. Most kids who aren’t allowed to believe, want to make certain every other child also knows the truth about Santa. ( I also was a teacher, and the most miserable kids in school in December were the ones who didn’t believe in Santa, and they told everyone.) We have to be careful not to wrap any of the kids who aren’t allowed to believe due to religious reasons, with paper that has Santa on it. It is a pain!

My children are all grown, but we spent every day during Advent, lighting the wreath, saying prayers and doing something to prepare for Jesus (Like add a prayer to a prayer chain we put on the tree). We had a nativity, read books about Christ’s birth, and of course went to church on Christmas Eve. They also believed in Santa, and we had a lot of fun with that.

How do you all handle this in your families?

In my family. My son is the only grandchild, so I am free to teach my son whatever Christmas tradition I want. and we don’t do Santa. Yes, we’ve taught him not to “spoil” Santa for other kids.And no he has never been miserable during Christmas

Here is what I am noticing this year with my sons class. They are first graders, 6-7 year olds.I am only speaking of the boys because those are my sons friends. This year especially when you have a large group of 6/7 year old kids who are together 7 hours/day 5 days a week. It is harder especially this year for him to keep his mouth quiet about Santa. Not because he is a malicious kid with nefarious intentions and I am a malicious parent with nefarious intentions. But because when a large group of kids ages 6/7 get together on the playground and talk in conversation about Santa…I think, through the natural flow of the conversation among his friends and peers when they share their thoughts about Santa he’s going to share his thoughts too.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

We tell them the modern idea of Santa is a pretend game, that some kids don’t know about the game so not to spoil it for them. We also have a heavy dose of st Nicholas. Including the shows on the 6th. But thier favorited part is Santa punching arius.

 

[Bonnie]

I also was a teacher, and the most miserable kids in school in December were the ones who didn’t believe in Santa, and they told everyone.

I never believed in Santa, nor did my sisters or any of my cousins. I didn’t teach my children to believe in him either. None of us were miserable, tho my daughter had to be cautioned to let other children hang on to their fantasies. She liked to teach - she was the one who, at age 5 or 6, wanted to tell everyone about the sex life of chickens.

We had plenty of fun at Christmas - one doesn’t have to believe in Santa to enjoy him. Every year we watch Miracle on 34th Street & a few other Santa movies.

I’ve always enjoyed science fiction & fantasy - one doesn’t have to believe it is true to enjoy it.

 

[Lorelei12]

Our son is still too young to really get it, but I plan on doing Santa, the cookies and milk, carrots for reindeer, all of it. I remember it being such fun as a child, and I never felt lied to when I figured out the truth. Christmas always felt magical, and I had fun helping out and keeping it going with my younger siblings.

 

[AClaire11]

Our son is still too young to really get it, but I plan on doing Santa, the cookies and milk, carrots for reindeer, all of it. I remember it being such fun as a child, and I never felt lied to when I figured out the truth. Christmas always felt magical, and I had fun helping out and keeping it going with my younger siblings.

Same here. I figured it out on my own when I noticed the handwriting was the same on all the gift labels. But making rolled sugar cookies and leaving some for Santa along with some carrots is a wonderful childhood memory. We’re not doing anything this year because everything is so cramped and LO is so little, but next year it begins! And if anyone spoils Santa for her, they’ll be getting a piece of my mind for sure.

 

[Millie123]

And if anyone spoils Santa for her, they’ll be getting a piece of my mind for sure.

I think that instead of putting the burden on other small children to keep the santa secret from your daughter. You also need to prepare her for the fact that other children may not believe in Santa, and may also share their thoughts with her. Honestly, as a parent you need to be prepared that when she is around other kids her same age who dont believe in Santa…there is a very strong probability that they are to going to share their differences in beliefs. So just prepare both yourself and your daughter

 

[jlc2k2]

Honestly, with ODD (6), I handle it the same way as when she asks if Jesus is real. I ask what she thinks. So far the answer for Jesus is always yes. For Santa the rape is mixed this year. Sometimes she says she believes. Someone’s she says all the parents come from us.

Eventually, she will settle in the camp of reality. And I’ll explain to her that she isn’t too spoil it for her sisters or anyone else. When that time comes, I’ll involve her in the making of the magic.

 

[pensmama87]

Same here. I figured it out on my own when I noticed the handwriting was the same on all the gift labels. But making rolled sugar cookies and leaving some for Santa along with some carrots is a wonderful childhood memory. We’re not doing anything this year because everything is so cramped and LO is so little, but next year it begins! And if anyone spoils Santa for her, they’ll be getting a piece of my mind for sure.

My mother was brilliant about this. Santa gifts remained unwrapped and unmarked - we knew they were ours because they were next to our stockings in the morning. Less work on her part, plus fewer clues.

(Sometimes she gave us a little help, “Oh, weren’t you the one saying you wanted a Polly Pocket? I think that one is yours, and this one with the teddy bear must be for your sister.”)

My husband can’t abide the thought of unwrapped gifts, even from Santa, so we compromise by using special paper that I keep separately from the rest, but I avoid using tags.

 

[1ke]

We have to be careful not to wrap any of the kids who aren’t allowed to believe due to religious reasons, with paper that has Santa on it. It is a pain!

Yes, a variety of beliefs in a family can be difficult.

This is where I would draw the line. Gifts as just that, gifts. And I wrap my gifts however I see fit. Anyone who has a complaint about the wrapping paper lacks manners and might not get a gift in the future.

Stop tiptoeing around people in that regard.

How do you all handle this in your families?

Even my SIL does santa with my niece, and she’s Jewish.

 

[AClaire11]

I think that instead of putting the burden on other small children to keep the santa secret from your daughter. You also need to prepare her for the fact that other children may not believe in Santa, and may also share their thoughts with her. Honestly, as a parent you need to be prepared that when she is around other kids her same age who dont believe in Santa…there is a very strong probability that they are to going to share their differences in beliefs. So just prepare both yourself and your daughter

I meant adults.

 

[Millie123]

I meant adults.

I see, I think though that there is higher probability of your child receiving this information from other children. Especially once she reaches school age. Kids talk, sometimes its impossible to stop them. As an example I have a close work friend whose nine year old child still believes in Santa. One day the nine year old was asking questions regarding human reproduction, so my friend, with good intentions, had the sex talk with her…imagine to her surprise when her child went to school and also shared “the talk” with all of her other little school friends. Like I said, kids talk…even the best parents sometimes cant stop them.