S/O Christmas - STMs

JFH2010 · October 2014

How do you do (or not do) Santa with your older child? I've told him about Santa, and I want to do a lot of the traditions, but I've also told him Santa isn't real. He likes to pretend all sorts of things, so I think it will work to tell him that we pretend Santa flies around the world and brings gifts. I'm curious if others are like me in wanting to maintain some of the tradition, but also wanting to be upfront that it's just for fun. DS is just over 2.5.

Many apologies for those who think I'm a jerk for potentially ruining Santa for other kids! I hope I can somehow convince DS to not talk about Santa's un-real-ness on the playground!!

absolutelymaybe · October 2014

SANTA'S NOT REAL!??!!?

soulcupcake · October 2014

I never did the Santa "tradition" with my kids. They've known him as a fantastical, mythical character based on folklore since the beginning. They're familiar with the roots of Santa and all the mythos, and they still find it fun. They still get into the usual festivities.

I explained to my girls when they entered school that some other kids believe Santa is real, and not to spoil it for them. Haven't had any issues, but they're at the age where a lot of kids realize he's a mythical character.

wildflower75 · October 2014

absolutelymaybe said:
SANTA'S NOT REAL!??!!?

This x 100000000

JFH2010 · October 2014

Well, shit. I've been worried about DS at the playground but I obviously should have been more secretive on here! SANTA IS REAL, NOTHING TO SEE HERE FOLKS.

smboswell1 · October 2014

absolutelymaybe said:
SANTA'S NOT REAL!??!!?

My most favorite movie!! My sisters and I can quote the whole thing.

jac409 · October 2014

I just ordered a book on amazon about the true story of St. Nicholas for DD. My DH is adamant about not lying to our kids about Santa, but I don't want to completely ruin the tradition and fun of it for them either. So, we will teach them the true story of St. Nick, but keep the traditions. They will know that even though he was a real person, he doesn't really fly around in a sleigh or come down the chimney. All of that is just for fun.

abbyful · October 2014

DS is 2 (August birthday), we will do Santa with him starting this year probably. I love the "magic" of it. We we present Santa as real.

When I was starting to question if Santa was real, I asked for a bell from his sleigh. I got it! My parents managed to track down a shiny brass sleigh bell (a real one, not some craft-store decoration). And this was before the internet! I still have it, that was a great Christmas memory! I can't wait to share that with my kiddos.

wildflower75 · October 2014

Ummm

SarahHeck · October 2014

We do a mix. My 5 year old likes the idea of Santa. We get her presents from him. We do the elf on the shelf too. She knows it's all just for fun, but likes playing along too.

hellosweety18 · October 2014

We'll do Santa

I don't feel like it's a "lie" and if it is, well it's a lovely one! I l've always loved it. We will do one present and filled stockings from Santa.
I just feel like it adds something magical to Christmas that isn't there otherwise. Imagination is incredible, why not let it fly free!? There is plenty of time to grow up

Also, I think that when kids do find out it is really cool to share the St. Nicholas story and where the story started.
GAH sorry, I absolutely love holidays, like it's probably a bit of an obsession!

Kristy774 · October 2014

I am going to lie and lie and lie to my kids about Santa, Easter bunny and tooth fairy until they corner me (hopefully when they are like 12/13 years old) and make me tell them the truth. And I will be sad on that day when they figure it out, because I love how excited my little ones get! Putting cookies out for Santa and a carrot for the reindeer, letters from Santa, pictures with Santa, I love it!

ElinJ · October 2014

I'm the kid who figured it out on my own about 1st grade age. To be honest it just made more sense that my parents couldn't afford to get me a battery operated Barbie Jeep, than to be like "but it was the only thing I asked Santa for 3 years in a row!!!"

I had said I didn't want to "lie" to my kid and would tell them from the beginning that Santa is a fun mythical character to represent Christmas spirit. But… I have taken him to see Santa both previous Christmases, because the pictures are just TOO FREAKING CUTE. So… I dunno if my plan will change.

I know with 100% certainty we are NOT doing Elf on a freaking Shelf.

krgriffin26 · October 2014

I'm almost 30 and my mother still sends gifts from "Santa". It's fun and my other 3 siblings and I love it. Even once we found out the truth of Santa we kept the fun tradition alive. And since we didn't all find out at the same time we had a blast pretending for the sake of the younger ones.

I will try I do the same thing with my kids. Imagination is important and I don't see it as a lie. I will never use him as a behavior modification tool though. SIL and MIL taunt the niece and nephew about being good because Santa will keep the good gifts or forget them all together. Not cool to me.

jlove253 · October 2014

We are telling dd that Santa is something everyone pretends together for fun (like DH was told as a kid). DH and his siblings all say they had fun and never felt like they were missing out. I grew up with Santa being real, but what was most exciting for me was trying to stay up late/wake up in the middle of the night to sneak to the living room and look at the wrapped presents.

I just want dd and LO to know we give each other presents because of love, not because the gifts are "earned" by being good. But I don't fault anyone for doing the Santa thing all out. It is fun and I never felt betrayed by my parents or anything.

sweetbabyrahe · October 2014

I agree @kristy774 put me in the liar category. Santa is real at our house and I love it. We go see Santa, bake cookies for Santa and also leave carrots for the reindeer. DS loves all the Christmas movies especially the polar express and got his own bell for Christmas. It reminds me and DH of Christmas fun from our childhood

JFH2010 · October 2014

jac409 said:
I just ordered a book on amazon about the true story of St. Nicholas for DD. My DH is adamant about not lying to our kids about Santa, but I don't want to completely ruin the tradition and fun of it for them either. So, we will teach them the true story of St. Nick, but keep the traditions. They will know that even though he was a real person, he doesn't really fly around in a sleigh or come down the chimney. All of that is just for fun.

Oooh, what book is it? It sounds perfect.

Want a personalized experience?

S/O Christmas - STMs

Re: S/O Christmas - STMs

Choose Another Board

Search Boards