I wish I could smack my neighbor

dawnc78

The 8 (maybe 9) yo next door told my DD (5) today that Santa isn't real...she said that she knows because she saw her mom and dad putting the presents under the tree from Santa. DD said "I think she was just being silly, mama; because I KNOW that Santa is real!"

so I told DD that the little girl is probably so naughty that the "REAL Santa" doesn't get her presents, so her parents put gifts under the tree from him so she doesn't feel bad.

yes, it was a little bitchy of me...but that kid has a track record of stupid $hi+ like this... She and her parents both drive me crazy!

channelmomma

I would have been Pissed to! i would call her parents and say can u please inform ur child that she shouldn't go around telling people that Santa is Not real!!

dawnc78

If I thought they would do something about it (at least talk to her), I would do that, but they are such jerks that they would probably flag my kid down in the yard to tell her themselves that he isn't real...Real lovely neighbors I have.

Disneygeek77

Honestly, I probably would have said the same thing and told DD not to say anything.  So we can just be flamed together. 

shiloh17

I would say the same thing! I hate when lil brats ruin it for other kids

august06mom

Nice.

This is what I don't get about the Santa craze. Is it really so important to parents that their children believe in Santa that they go around wanting to smack 8 year olds?

Man, it was much easier growing up Jewish. You just didn't have to deal with this crap.

summerbrideDC

august06mom:

Nice.

This is what I don't get about the Santa craze. Is it really so important to parents that their children believe in Santa that they go around wanting to smack 8 year olds?

Man, it was much easier growing up Jewish. You just didn't have to deal with this crap.

Interesting b/c I'm Jewish and my kid believes in Santa.  And I'd want to smack some bratty kid who wanted to ruin it for him, too.   

And honestly, calling someone's family traditions "crap" is really douchy.  

august06mom

I guess we're different then. I can't see wanting to smack a kid for saying that Santa isn't real. Because, um, he's not. If my DS wants to believe in Santa, that's all fine and good, but I"m not going to be crushed the day he comes home and realizes that he's not real.

august06mom

summerbrideDC:

august06mom:

Nice.

This is what I don't get about the Santa craze. Is it really so important to parents that their children believe in Santa that they go around wanting to smack 8 year olds?

Man, it was much easier growing up Jewish. You just didn't have to deal with this crap.

Interesting b/c I'm Jewish and my kid believes in Santa.  And I'd want to smack some bratty kid who wanted to ruin it for him, too.   

And honestly, calling someone's family traditions "crap" is really douchy.  

LOL. So be it.

dawnc78

august06mom:

Nice.

This is what I don't get about the Santa craze. Is it really so important to parents that their children believe in Santa that they go around wanting to smack 8 year olds?

Man, it was much easier growing up Jewish. You just didn't have to deal with this crap.

 

Yes, it is so important...

The wanting to smack my neighbor was actually directed more at her parents for not teaching her that she should not ruin the fun for other children who still believe. Although I did want to put the little girl in her place too.

Why is it important? For me, it is the magic and wonder of Santa that children believe in that makes it important. The more "reality" our children are exposed to the less inocence they possess. There is something perfect about the awe in a child's face when she sees the crumbs on the cookie plate on Christmas morning, and the presents she has been hoping for under the tree, is just inexplicably perfect. I want my children to hold on to their inocence for as long as they possibly can. I want them to believe in magic, in hope, in miracles. And I want them to have the kind of memories that I have of the magic of Santa.

You may not understand it, but that really doesn't mean that you have to scoff at it with such disdain. I don't roll my eyes and call the celebration of eight days of Chanukah "crap"...why should my tradition be any less important or exciting than yours?

august06mom

Ugh. I really wasn't trying to call the Santa tradition crap -- I was directing it more toward the hysteria of parents surrounding it. And I have nothing against wanting your children to hold onto their innocense, but I do roll my eyes when people get frantic at something like the idea of Santa being exposed.

Stellasmom

I feel like 8 holiday specials just exploded in here, and then the Polar Express ran through.

That being said. The Santa thing is fun. I'd be mad if a kid ruined it for my kid too.

veloelle

Wanting to preserve your child's innocence isn't hysteria.

lsufan

Stellasmom:

I feel like 8 holiday specials just exploded in here, and then the Polar Express ran through.

That being said. The Santa thing is fun. I'd be mad if a kid ruined it for my kid too.

LOL.  

I see your point, OP, but I think wanting to smack the kid (or her parents) is a bit much.  It obviously didn't phase your daughter, so no harm done.  I guess it all depends on how the conversation went down.  I mean, I was a pretty nice kid and all, but I can remember trying to convince other second graders that Santa wasn't real.  I wasn't trying to be mean.  I just thought they needed to know.  IDK, I guess her past behavior makes you more inclined to believe she was trying to ruin it for your DD...

belle204

I would be annoyed too. I remember when my middle sis told the youngst Santa isn't real. I almost knocked her out myself. The poor kid was so crushed.

gracendantho26

I think getting to the point of being that upset with an 8 year old is over the top....8 year olds are still children and children aren't great with secrets. With that said I think Santa has been "exposed" many times over for my kids but they still go with it...seem to believe the hype. I think most kids are exposed to the concept of Santa not being real many times before the jig is really up.

Kapalua

I remember as a child pretty much figuring out that he wasn't real but still playing along b/c I didn't want to miss out on anything!

anyways

I think OP's reaction probably has more to do with the fact that she just doesn't like her neighbors.  I'm sure if her bff's kid did the same thing she could see the situation more rationally.  But, either way I'm glad your daughter wasn't phased and the fun can continue!!

AggieCouple

My young cousin (total brat) told ML this last year too.  I just told her that Santa only comes to those who believe in him, and her cousin's parents had to start doing it because he stopped believing.

To me, this is not a lie/story.  The spirit of giving symbolized by Saint Nicholas is very real, and it does come to houses who believe in it.  I use both angles when I talk about Santa; the fat jolly guy and just the general concept of giving/love.  So, one day, when the fat jolly guy no longer seems real, Santa just doesn't disappear.

Zenya

dawnc78:

so I told DD that the little girl is probably so naughty that the "REAL Santa" doesn't get her presents, so her parents put gifts under the tree from him so she doesn't feel bad.

ew.  that was really mean.  I HATE that stupidshit people tell their kids about santa not coming if they're naughty  It's just so mean.  A kid should just be excited about Christmas.  Not think that their visit from santa is dependent on their behavior. 

Yodajo

Kapalua:

I remember as a child pretty much figuring out that he wasn't real but still playing along b/c I didn't want to miss out on anything!

anyways

I think OP's reaction probably has more to do with the fact that she just doesn't like her neighbors.  I'm sure if her bff's kid did the same thing she could see the situation more rationally.  But, either way I'm glad your daughter wasn't phased and the fun can continue!!

This.

And I prefer saying  Santa comes to those who believe vs saying that those who are naughty miss out, as Aggie said, but I understand that OP was speaking out of her dislike for her neighbor. 

Rebekah1021

I agree that your reaction is a bit over the top. Wanting to smack a kid? All kids need the joy of Christmas, you should have just changed the subject or said that Santa comes to those who believe.

esposa38

Good lord. I seriously doubt she *really* wanted to "smack" a child. It's like when my dog jumps up and eats the entire loaf of banana bread I left cooling on the counter-- I am annoyed and I say "OMG, Imma KILL that stinking dog." Obviously, I not *really* going to kill anyone. It's just an expression. (although when i heard my 4 year old threaten to kill the dog, i realized that it's really not a nice thing to say, so I've stopped saying it. Tangent!)

dawnc78

"I guess her past behavior makes you more inclined to believe she was trying to ruin it for your DD..." (Isufan)

 

Yes, her past behavior does lead me to think that she had every intention of ruining the fun

dawnc78

esposa38:

Good lord. I seriously doubt she *really* wanted to "smack" a child. It's like when my dog jumps up and eats the entire loaf of banana bread I left cooling on the counter-- I am annoyed and I say "OMG, Imma KILL that stinking dog." Obviously, I not *really* going to kill anyone. It's just an expression. (although when i heard my 4 year old threaten to kill the dog, i realized that it's really not a nice thing to say, so I've stopped saying it. Tangent!)

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