Cutie Pie: Mom, is Santa and his reindeers real?
Me: Sure, why?
Cutie Pie: My friend told me he wasn't real.
Me: (surprised because it happened so young this time round) We believe that he is real, some people don't believe in him and that is ok too. Right? (addressed to the other kids)
Mr. Hockey: Oh yeah, he is real! I believe in him.
Princess: (sarcastically) Yeah, he is real alright!
Me: Do you believe in him Cutie Pie?
Cutie Pie: Of course I do!!
When I was growing up we believed in Santa. He came every year and we got gifts from him, in our stockings and under the tree. One year, when I was 7, I thought I was smart and peeked downstairs when I heard some noise. There were my parents, putting all the presents under the tree. I snuck back to my room and never spoke of that evening until now, as an adult! We just had this 'understanding' growing up that there was never a question about the reality.
How do you approach this with your kids? or how was it when you were a kid? I know this has been asked before, on different blogs, but I am curious too!!
I remember as a kid believing in Santa, I loved the idea.... but when I was about 7 or 8 finding out that he was not REAL. I was devistated. I was so angry with my parents, for lying to me. Even up until the year my mom always haD A present labled from Santa. (I did still like that part) J and I have always told the kids the truth when they have asked us. I think being honest with them is good. They also know that many people do believe in Santa and is ok, and they will play along with those whom still believe. I also put something under the tree from Santa to the kids... though I may stop that part of it. I/they can never remember what was from us and what was from Santa anyway.
ReplyDeleteI was never allowed to believe in Santa....I always felt that I was somehow missing out on some magical part of Christmas...so we let our children believe....they did/do but only Faith has taken it so far as to want to sleep in the living room so she can welcome him when he comes to bring the presents....but...I have to say that she is going to bed so much easier right now so she stays off the naughty list! :)
ReplyDeleteI believed in Santa as a child. When I got old enough to start to doubt, my mom explained that Santa isn't a real person, but a representation of the spirit of giving. She told me that we have Santa so that even the smallest children can understand it.
ReplyDeleteI felt good about that explanation. It didn't leave me feeling hurt or disappointed.
Julia believes in Santa. And when she begins to doubt, I'll probably explain it to her like my mom explained it to me.
I was also raised in the same house as Lala but don't feel like I missed out on anything.
ReplyDeleteMy older sister was adamant that santa was real to her son (and only child). When he was around 6 or so and found out that he wasn't real he was MAD, I mean really extremely P.O.'d at his mom. He called her a lier and all. I was in my early teens and remember telling myself that I'd never do that to my kids.
My kids know that people believe in Santa and not to ruin it for others. We talk about the man behind the suit, the real St. Nick that left quite the legend behind. We aren't "anti-Santa" in this house but we do not put any major emphasis on it. (The man in the red and white suit was re-invented by the Coca-Cola company back in the 30's as part of an add compaign to boost their sales.)
My kids get their photo taken in the mall every year and I have ornaments that hang on the tree and around the house and we even talk about being naughty or nice but it is part of this time of year, like a character. My kids get money for their teeth from the "tooth fairy" whom they know is mom and dad. My kids hunt for Easter eggs too but they don't believe that the bunny is real nor do I feel a necessity to tell them it is.
The magic in this time of year is that God sent His Son to be born - so that He could die - so that we could be saved. That's the magic to remember and admire and lift up. I don't think it hurts to have fun with the different characters like Santa, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman, the Easter Bunny, etc. What's the saying, "No harm no foul".
I know I'm going to sound like a real grump or fun stealer by some but this is my personal belief; I have trouble with allowing our kids to put their faith/belief in something that was created to replace and hence remove the focus of the real reason why we celebrate.
That and the image of my nephews face and the way he looked at his mom after that day...