SO, tis the seasona nd all that business, and I was approached by my fiend/bandmate concerning the whole "Santa" thing. We have always promoted the "idea" of Santa, and all that Xmas spirit stuff. We have always met the question "is Santa real, or are you guys Santa" with..."Well, what do you think?" Our son, 10yrs, I'm sure has just figured out to "play along" and doesn't really talk about it anymore. We plan on always having gifts from Santa under the tree, just as my mom always seems to have gifts for me from Santa, that he must have mistakenly delivered to her house.....weird right? I know. My bandmate plans on blowing the whole thing up and telling his daughters its all a lie. How have others dealt with this situation? He seems all distraught and panicked about how they're gonna feel about being deceived for so long. Kinda funny to me, be I'm odd like that.
Santa: real or make believe?
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Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
Most people tend to look at it differently. However, I still remember my childhood and the idea of Santa Claus. I believed but then found it to be a fairy tale but my little mind took it perhaps wrong but to me it gave the impression that adults could not be trusted because they all lied to me. It also reminds me of that one day we were out looking for Easter eggs that the bunny supposedly left. I had the same experience. I suddenly thought, "It is not rabbits that lay eggs you fools! Chickens lay eggs." So, another lie. So, my little mind may have been warped but I surely remember being both disappointed and mad. Still everyone must approach the situation as they see fit.
Are you saying Santa Claus isn't real? 
Me and my sister didn't buy it from the get go. But had fun with it letting Mom and Dad do the deed. Unless the kids have never been to school or on the internet in their life, they know.
Stax
Minister of Fire
daveswoodhauler
Minister of Fire
My oldest is 11, and he swears that he saw the easter bunny shadow a few weeks ago. Santa lives lol
firebroad
Minister of Fire
When mine was little, it occurred to us that other children, and grownups (especially grownups) were going to insist on the myth. Our approach was to have fun with the Santa Claus notion, never insisting that this was a real person, but the spirit of giving. Thus, "Santa" showed up on the appropriate night, but it was understood that "Santa" was make believe, and the gifts were from loved ones. Thus, even a child could be "Santa".
It worked for us; our daughter told me once that she sort of believed for a while, even though she knew it was all in fun. I think I believe a lot of things like that today, and I am 60.
It worked for us; our daughter told me once that she sort of believed for a while, even though she knew it was all in fun. I think I believe a lot of things like that today, and I am 60.
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This past Easter, my wife and I woke up to find that the Easter Bunny had also left us a basket! 
Our youngest (10yo) told us a story of catching a glimpse of the Big Bunny while she was taking a potty break that evening.
I used to be a skeptic about all this, now I'm a believer!
Our youngest (10yo) told us a story of catching a glimpse of the Big Bunny while she was taking a potty break that evening.
I used to be a skeptic about all this, now I'm a believer!
briansol
Minister of Fire
Part of having a good memory is that I rarely forget things that I remember. lol
I remember when I was a boy and figured it out. I was about 8 (and for the record, I've always been ahead of the curve, so 9 or 10 is probably the average age point where you are right now). It was close to midnight and I was awoken by a noise... I wandered out into the hallway and saw the attic stairs were pulled down. Turns out the parents where going in the attic (the secret hiding place for all things santa) to get the stuff down for under the tree. I had my suspicions for a few years at this point in time already but couldn't prove it. The handwriting on the to/from tags were the first tip. "Santa writes just like dad!" (another downfall- ocd-like powers of observation). Catching them in the act kind of sucked for them looking back at it. I was a bit of a punk about it and was all excited that I solved the mystery. It probably hurt them to see me rejoice that I figured it out a little bit. We had a little talk and they tried to dumb it down for me saying about how Santa can't possibly visit everyone in one night and that 'he' asks parents to help spread his message.
Maybe that's the best approach. Don't kill the IDEA of what Santa is/about. Kill the fiction that there's a guy who pilots flying reindeer. I think 10 is more than old enough to understand that Christmas is about a message and family, not gifts and make-believe icons.
I talked about this with my ex gf when we were considering a full run of it and kids/etc... (that's a whole other website.. lol) and she was very against lying to her kids and didn't want to even introduce them to the idea of Santa at all. I struggle with it. I understand the point of view and that it's basically lying to your kids. But it's also something that kids like. You don't want your kid to be the only one in school who got nothing from Santa that year.... I think for my kids should I have them some day, I think I will introduce the idea of santa, but explain to them that it is one big metaphor.
And then I have to try to explain what a methaphor is without using like/as
lol
I remember when I was a boy and figured it out. I was about 8 (and for the record, I've always been ahead of the curve, so 9 or 10 is probably the average age point where you are right now). It was close to midnight and I was awoken by a noise... I wandered out into the hallway and saw the attic stairs were pulled down. Turns out the parents where going in the attic (the secret hiding place for all things santa) to get the stuff down for under the tree. I had my suspicions for a few years at this point in time already but couldn't prove it. The handwriting on the to/from tags were the first tip. "Santa writes just like dad!" (another downfall- ocd-like powers of observation). Catching them in the act kind of sucked for them looking back at it. I was a bit of a punk about it and was all excited that I solved the mystery. It probably hurt them to see me rejoice that I figured it out a little bit. We had a little talk and they tried to dumb it down for me saying about how Santa can't possibly visit everyone in one night and that 'he' asks parents to help spread his message.
Maybe that's the best approach. Don't kill the IDEA of what Santa is/about. Kill the fiction that there's a guy who pilots flying reindeer. I think 10 is more than old enough to understand that Christmas is about a message and family, not gifts and make-believe icons.
I talked about this with my ex gf when we were considering a full run of it and kids/etc... (that's a whole other website.. lol) and she was very against lying to her kids and didn't want to even introduce them to the idea of Santa at all. I struggle with it. I understand the point of view and that it's basically lying to your kids. But it's also something that kids like. You don't want your kid to be the only one in school who got nothing from Santa that year.... I think for my kids should I have them some day, I think I will introduce the idea of santa, but explain to them that it is one big metaphor.
And then I have to try to explain what a methaphor is without using like/as
lol
Paulywalnut
Minister of Fire
Why tell the kids Santa is not real. The whole spirit of giving to others should be the focus. It gives little guys something to look forward to. They figure it out pretty quick. There's always plenty of talk about it in first and second grade I'll bet.
Gunny
Member
Well my 7 yr old asked me the same question last year. I, of course, responded with "what do you think"? This way I was not responsible for letting the cat out of the bag. Also gave her something to think about. No harm in letting the story play out. Kids now a days grow up too fast anyway so if I can keep it going, so be it. I just can't seem to tell her that there is no magical extra large being in the Marine Corps that keeps sending her play buddy off to some far away place. I guess that is part of the reason I am retiring. Pull down attic steps to hide presents for Christmas. Classic Brian, Classic!
Mrs. Krabappel
Minister of Fire
When I told my kiddo there were tears. He cried a bit too.
Santa rules.But then again my wife calls me Clark W Griswald.Let the decorating begin
Adios Pantalones
Minister of Fire
I would fuse Santa and Satan. That way you can keep the "better be good" sentiment, and reduce the number of mythical beings by 1.
(Next, fuse that being with Peyton Manning, producing Satan Manning. The world is a complicated place, consolidation will make life easier for a kid)
(Next, fuse that being with Peyton Manning, producing Satan Manning. The world is a complicated place, consolidation will make life easier for a kid)
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Pfc.Satan Manning, and his lovely wife Carol Channing Manning
Swedishchef
Minister of Fire
My oldest is 3 and as long as he believes, it's game on for me!
I personally have not seen anyone seeking counseling because for the first 6-9 years of the lives they thought jolly old St Nick was coming down a chimney and leaving presents....
I personally have not seen anyone seeking counseling because for the first 6-9 years of the lives they thought jolly old St Nick was coming down a chimney and leaving presents....
We were pretty suspicious that Santa wanted buttermilk and cornbread under the tree. Dad's favorite.
Swedishchef
Minister of Fire
It amazes me: at my grandmother's house we would be 14-16 people during the Holidays. The Manger (which was quite a piece) was put together in the fireplace. And every year, Santa slammed down on it breaking it to pieces. Christmas day we spent about 1 hour using a glue gun and putting everything together. One year in my letter to Santa I wrote " please don't break baby Jesus' home".
firebroad
Minister of Fire
Busting up the creche--that's kind of a an irreverent way of reinforcing a belief in Santa Claus.
all I know is Santa has always brought me everything I've ever needed. or for that fact, wanted. anyone of you here would be hard pressed to convince me that i'm not already in heaven. have a day and Happy Thanksgiving
Swedishchef
Minister of Fire
Busting up the creche--that's kind of a an irreverent way of reinforcing a belief in Santa Claus.
Don't worry, we also went to mass 3 times over the Holidays.
As they get older, tell them some people don't believe, some do believe in the spirit of Santa. Not unlike religion, we believe what we can justify. Santa is only good. There are no santa terrorists.
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