Santa

this decaf life

So, Christmas gifts are arriving and I'm still not sure what we're doing about Santa. DH wants to do Santa, I don't. 
I don't mind talking about Santa but I'd rather it just be a fun story like any other fairy tale, I don't know why I should make her really believe this guy comes into our house to drop off presents we, her parents, put in the effort to pick out and buy.
https://letslassothemoon.com/2013/12/16/5-tips/ - I liked this article. Seems like a decent approach to the "he isn't real" conversation when the time comes. I think my avoidance isn't so much having to have a difficult conversation with DD but I feel like I'm setting her up for disappointment. I found out when I was young and then was told "you better not ruin this for your sister" and my sister was too old when she figured it out and it was devastating and awkward.

If you do Christmas, what are you doing about Santa?

OhBaby+2013

We do the Santa thing. But Santa doesn't bring scads of stuff. He never did when I was a kid either. Santa fills the stockings and gives each child one gift, and then he also gives the entire family one gift, which is a board game or other family game. I have a lot of fond memories playing our new game on Christmas day after dinner. Christmas has never been about presents but represents a special day for spending with loved ones. We plan to instill that in our boys now.

Mom2anAngel2

We do Santa, sort of like @OhBaby+2013‌. Santa fills stockings and brings 1 or 2 toys. Then again we don't do a crazy big Christmas in general. We really stick to 4 or 5 gifts total. We have a large family and DS gets plenty of gifts from family.

ambmama

So if I'm honest, I knew super early that none of these things existed - Santa, Easter bunny, tooth fairy, etc. I had a brother who was 5 years older so it came out quickly. But my mom loved getting us surprises and loved some being from Santa. And I'm the same way - I love getting surprised myself so I want even more to surprise DS. So yes we will do santa, but agreed, it will be stockings and a few presents and a picture at the mall. When he's old enough to know better but still pretends for my sake (like I did for my mom), then we will refocus.

ConstanceGoodspeed

We are not doing Santa. He will know about Santa in a fairytale sense and we'll take his picture at the mall for fun. Presents for all of us will still be put out Christmas Eve because the surprise is fun.

jobiann

I'm not sure yet. J is the first grandchild on my H's side. When H was little his grandfather played Santa on Christmas Eve to all of H's cousins and gave each child one gift. H really wants to continue that tradition but he's not sure who will do it...if his Dad will take over the tradition being grandpa now. My family did not have a Santa growing up. We just knew he left presents while we slept. 

H and I really need to discuss this as J already seems to recognize Santa in books. 

I know we are doing a Christmas Eve "box" that we'll give J each year. It will basically always include a pair of PJ's, a book and a small toy. Course we do Christmas Eve at H's parents' house so we'll have to figure out timing/logistics. My IL's already have a "story", that Santa visits their house a day early because he has soooo many houses to go to. All H's family are enjoying the whole Santa thing again...so they are having fun with it! It's amazing how children spark the Christmas spirit!!

spainy17

We are doing Santa and the Easter Bunny (gasp) and the tooth fairy (double gasp).  While I think it is very important not to take away from the actual spirit of the year (Christ's birth and the season of giving to celebrate, not the over-indulged-hallmark-holiday version) I remember those years with a sense of magic even after I knew that they weren't real.  I want my DD to have those same memories and to realize that even though they are not real that a little "magic" still remains.  Even before we had DD I waited to fill stockings until Christmas Eve as if "Santa" had come by.  It makes me happy.

ohiodoxiemama08

I like Santa because of the magic behind it. DH is all about Santa because he said he used to make his lists starting around July and the promise of Santa kept him on his best behavior ;-) I like the idea of Santa filling the stockings and bringing one gift though. We've tried hard to keep Christmas under control. We usually do one "big gift" and then stick with books/small things for the rest. Our families love to spoil DD so we don't want to go overboard. 

I think it's every family's choice about what to do with Santa. There is a family at our church that opts out of Santa because they want to focus on the spiritual/religious meaning of Christmas. I would just be careful if not choosing to believe that they don't ruin the magic for other kids.

Now, here's hoping DD won't be terrified of Santa this year!

OakTreeMommy

We will be doing Santa as well. Like pp I loved the magic around Santa when I was a kid. I have such fond memories of laying in bed waiting to hear Santa on the roof and sneaking out into the living room with my brother in the middle of the night to see if Santa had come. 

I also remember finding out Santa wasn't real and how disappointed I felt. But I think that's important for growing up too. I think that make believe and imagination are so important when your a kid. And all the fun and magic of Santa left me with such good memories that have lasted much longer than the short term disappointment I felt finding out he wasn't real.

littleheaven

we'll do santa....i think my niece and nephew are close to finding out he's not real, but i don't think they'll ruin it for soph

part of me still really wants to think that he's real...i love the idea of him and all that...sounds silly i'm sure....

only problem is we don't have a fireplace, so we'll have to get creative with how he gets in and out....

i wasn't disappointed to find out he wasn't real...i figured it out on my own when i realized mom and santa had the same handwriting and i woke up before mom put the presents all out (she kept them in the attic next to my room and i saw them sitting there while she was bringing them down)...she always told me that she hand wrote the gift tags to save santa time, and always left wrapping paper out for him which is why some gifts from them and some from him had the same wrapping paper....

my sister uses different paper for them and for santa...

DCKate

Of course we are doing Santa! Obviously it's just for fun and she won't believe it forever, but it's such a fun and magical part of christmas. When I finally figured it out, I even got to help my parents put presents under the tree on Christmas Eve. It was like I was a little more grown up than my younger siblings and I was in on a cool, big kid secret.

ReeceFamily

We will do Santa, although we won't play it up a lot.  I had a weird dynamic with my older sister growing up where she believed in EVERYTHING - ghosts, Easter bunny, Santa, you name it.  I didn't really believe in any of it, but I played along because she was my big sister and I wanted to be her friend.  I don't remember not believing in it being really all that traumatic, and it didn't lessen the magic of Christmas for me.  I don't think my parents ever had "the talk" with us about Santa, but then my family doesn't discuss anything of substance, so there you go!

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luvindanimals

What do you mean Santa's not real? You know he won't bring you anything if you don't believe! Lol I obviously love the magic of Santa so we will be making Santa apart of our Christmas. I think to each their own though. There is nothing wrong if you decide not make him apart of your Christmas. I say do what works best for you!

gagirl2004

Yes we will be doing Santa, we try to not go overboard and really focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

lulamagoo

We will do Santa. I love Christmas and as a kid believing in Santa was so magical.  I was older when I found out, and quite frankly I was fine with it, although that was when I truly realized how gullible I am.

Santa did not bring all of the gifts and we were also told that santa sent an invoice/bill for the presents from him since elves don't work for free.  We also left a cocktail and cookies for santa.

These are traditions that I wish to continue.

court115

We do Santa. One of my favorite memories of when I was little was waking up early to see what the elves had left outside for us. Our "elves" always left some PJs and our stockings by our bedroom doors. I think it was to buy my parents some time since we used to wake up so early with excitement but either way, it's still one of my favorite memories. I'm excited to do the same with DS.