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MyFitnessPal Community

Santa!?!?! I hate the lie!

FindingMyPerfection

So my oldest is 3 and asked me about Santa and Christmas. I told him the basic crap that everyone spews and I hate myself for it! Wh does he need to believe in Santa just to have it crushed later in life? Why set them up for disappointment later in life. Am I a bad mom because I don't want to perpetuate this myth?

Thoughts please.

Replies

Greenrun99

Then don't.. tell him its all a lie and you just buy him gifts and write santa on them.. or let him enjoy the holidays..

Next tell him Easter isn't about a bunny but rather a guy that got betrayed by his friend, then nailed to a cross and bled to death for hours, but he came back.. that gets em every time.

bobbinalong

^^^This!

beernpizza2

I enjoy it. I like seeing my 4 year old get excited about the magic of Christmas. She's got the rest of her life to grow up and realize how much life can suck. I like letting my kid be a kid.

rml_16

I wasn't crushed when I realized Santa wasn't real. And as an adult, I still have an active and wonderful imagination.

It isn't a lie any more than playing house as children is a lie. It's pretend and it's fun.

just_Jennie1

Why set them up for disappointment later in life.

Because that's life.

Hornsby

Kids enjoy believing in Santa. Why take that away?

Iron_Lotus

The wonder and innocents of childhood does not last long, let them enjoy it while they can, reality is a cruel b!tch.

Myhaloslipped

Wait...myth? What do you mean? What are you saying?

omma_to_3

Would you prefer they be ridiculed at school for not believing? Why deprive them of a 'normal' childhood (at least in my country/area)?

If you're worried about explaining it when he's older, check out this post:
http://moms.popsugar.com/Telling-Kids-Truth-About-Santa-27332439?fullsite=1

miss_jessiejane

jess7386

Kids enjoy believing in Santa. Why take that away?

This. I was also never crushed when I found out Santa wasn't real, even though I was really young. Kids are pretty resilient & its fun to believe while you can.

italiangirlinva

Just tell him the truth. If I was a parent, I probably wouldn't do the whole Santa thing. I would tell them it's a story. Everyone has their own choice.

FindingMyPerfection

Then don't.. tell him its all a lie and you just buy him gifts and write santa on them.. or let him enjoy the holidays..

Next tell him Easter isn't about a bunny but rather a guy that got betrayed by his friend, then nailed to a cross and bled to death for hours, but he came back.. that gets em every time.

Easter is actuality pagan celibration of spring that was twisted by the church to help convert pagans. The same goes for Christmas it was a celibration of the days becoming longer again signaling winter wouldn't last for ever.

NaomiLyn15

My parents told my brother and I at a very young age. They told us not to ruin it for our friends and classmates, but explained the real meaning of Christmas. I don't feel like I missed out on anything. We still celebrated and had traditions. I still had a fantastic imagination. I don't think there is harm in either way.

Roll_Tide_Meg

I wasn't crushed when I realized Santa wasn't real. And as an adult, I still have an active and wonderful imagination.

It isn't a lie any more than playing house as children is a lie. It's pretend and it's fun.

This! So true. I would never take that away from my child.

Myhaloslipped

lol we think alike!

mcibty

Jeez, SPOILER ALERT.

letsstealahouse

Tell him the truth. My mom did, and I learned to appreciate Christmas for the family time and spirit of generosity. I'm going to do the same for mine.

lioness803

Santa's not real?

Seriously...santa helps teach children about unconditional giving, and that's a good life lesson.

ideang

I didn't want to do Santa with my first, but did after awhile everyone convinced me I should. I am very glad I did. She loved Christmas and the magic of Santa, and when she was older we explained everything to her. She started questioning Santa at 6 and at 8 we told her the story of St. Nick. She was not crushed to learn the truth and now helps be Santa for her little brother.

FindingMyPerfection

I enjoy it. I like seeing my 4 year old get excited about the magic of Christmas. She's got the rest of her life to grow up and realize how much life can suck. I like letting my kid be a kid.

I don't see why Santa is needed to creat excitement.

Tatiana269

It's the joys of being a child.. let them enjoy using their imagination and being all young and innocent. Let your child enjoy being a child... they grow up too fast.

ninerbuff

Mickey Mouse isn't real either. But somehow us adults love the "lie" of Disneyland/DisneyWorld too.

Many books and movies are fictional. This can go on and on.

If you really want to be truthful, you should abandon Xmas altogether since it really had nothing to do jesus being born, or Santa or any gift giving. It was derived from a Pagan holiday. That's why I like being Pagan...............they know how to party.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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vim_n_vigor

I wasn't crushed when I realized Santa wasn't real. And as an adult, I still have an active and wonderful imagination.

It isn't a lie any more than playing house as children is a lie. It's pretend and it's fun.

This^^

Were all of you really so traumatized when you realized that Santa was a story just like the cartoons you watched and the books you read? Really?

Lonestar5775

I enjoy it. I like seeing my 4 year old get excited about the magic of Christmas. She's got the rest of her life to grow up and realize how much life can suck. I like letting my kid be a kid.

Wise words!

summertime_girl

Aw, please don't spoil the magic that is Santa! They are only little for so long. My parents never did Santa, so I go way overboard with him with my kids. I want them to remember how magical it is!

_Calypso_

I'm 36 and still believe. NO of course there is not some big jolly old man with a white beard coming into my house late at night to leave presents. but I do believe in the magic of Christmas. Even after I learned the truth when I was little, my parents would say "this is going to be a tight Christmas. You wont be getting everything on your list" I had a younger brother and sister (11 & 13yrs younger) so I had to always believe.... well Christmas when I was 17... Santa brought me a car. So yea, while I know it wasn't some strange man, the magic was there. Some how/ some way my parents always had enough to get me and my siblings most (if not all) the things on our list. Same goes for me and my husband with our two children. No need to grow up so fast.

And when they ask.... we will let them know the truth, but we do celebrate St. Nick, the spirit of giving to others and of course the magic.

FindingMyPerfection

Tell him the truth. My mom did, and I learned to appreciate Christmas for the family time and spirit of generosity. I'm going to do the same for mine.

This! This is what I want for my kids.

jlapey

You could try this:

http://moms.popsugar.com/Telling-Kids-Truth-About-Santa-27332439

dennik15

I enjoy it. I like seeing my 4 year old get excited about the magic of Christmas. She's got the rest of her life to grow up and realize how much life can suck. I like letting my kid be a kid.

^^^This, so much this! I guess if it's against your religious beliefs to perpetuate Santa, then don't. Otherwise let them have the magic of Christmas for the short while they can. My kids no longer believe and there was no awful breakdown and accusations of lying. They simply grew out of it. If anything I was the sad one, not them. I still believe in the magic, just not the man and I hope my kids do too.