Santa

[Iowa Roo Mom]

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What a great story. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Whispering Winds]

Iowa Roo Mom, what a wonderful story. I am passing it around to everyone on my email!

 

[AK Michelle]

Santa must be real, why else would there be reindeer?

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I had planned on including Santa in the Christmas celebrations with my children but doing it in a very tongue-in-cheek kind of way. I couldn't intentionally lie to my child and try to get him to believe all the fly-around-the-world dropping-into-every-chimney stories. It seems you have to continue to tell more lies and do more sneaking around to keep up the pretense, and then eventually they learn the truth anyway. And that *can* lead to hurt feelings & mistrust about other things you've said. But I was going to teach him about the real St Nicholas, and about being generous, compassionate, and considerate especially at Christmas-time. I planned on including a gift for him "from Santa" the same way I prepared little gifts that were supposed to be "from the dogs". All in fun, wink-wink, everyone knows the truth but enjoys pretending anyway.

I have no problems with other folks doing Santa however they wish with their children and I've instructed my boys to never ever tell their little friends Santa isn't real. I think it can bring a lot of joy & wonderful childhood memories. Who knows, perhaps my boys were secretly disappointed in not having Santa to believe in, although they say they don't miss it. Maybe I'll learn how they really feel the day they drop me off in front of some grim nursing home and drive away shouting "Ho ho ho!"

What I wonder (and this was one of the reasons I didn't do Santa) is what do when your child's friends tell him that Santa brought them some expensive hard-to-find toys that your child also wanted, maybe even told Santa about it, but didn't receive? Is this what fuels the shopping frenzy in the toy depts? How can you explain the discrepency? Children are told to write to Santa, to see him in the store and tell him what they want, and then they see other children getting the very things they wanted most but didn't receive. I did not think I could keep up with the reputation Santa is supposed to have.

Merry Christmas, whatever & however you believe!

 

[dntd]

When my boys were little we borrowed a book about St.Nickolas . My kids also aren't supposed to tell thier friends even though my 13 and 10 year old's friends are sure to know by now. I think present giving has gotten way out of hand, people are killing people over really lame toys like tickle me elmo! my husband was raised w/o santa ( mennonite) and I was raised with santa. My husband and I took santa out, still giving gifts, took the easter bunny out and still give treats, oddly enough it doesn't effect them. My kids don't ask for gifts and are always happy with what they get.

 

[mamaKate]

My parents had 4 kids and little money. They told us that Santa brought the toys but parents had to pay for them. Sort of like a UPS guy in a weird uniform. I told my kids the truth: Santa is a fun character like Pooh and Bugs Bunny. They knew the joy and generosity of Christmas came from God.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

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Thanks for my laugh for the day!

 

[ebwy]

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you assume that I celebrate christmas :-s
quite a large assumption there.
and quite rude of you to call me, and the millions of others who have other religions or none or the knowledge that they are celebrating the birth of christ, not santa, "cruel" for not continuing to teach something we do not believe in.

To some/most people, the lie (about santa) is worth it. On the other hand, I would want my child (were I ever to be so blessed) to be truthful, and I believe in leading by example so I wouldn't lie to them.
If I was ever to be so lucky I would explain that it's a nice story that some people tell their children and that they mustn't tell someone their beliefs are wrong.

I happen to think the world is full of enough wonders and mysteries and joy (and the opposite, unfortunately) that they wouldn't be missing out from me not lying to them on this one thing