Santa!?!?! I hate the lie!

My parents told me the truth about Santa very early on -- so early that I don't even remember asking. I grew up being glad I had parents who wouldn't lie to me, and still loving Christmas even without believing in a mythical Santa Claus. For our family (we're a bunch of atheists) the magic comes from gathering with the people you love and sharing that spirit of generosity with them.

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

Thank you for that. It's wonderful.

Ok, My thoughts are not popular, but we all have to choose how to raise our children, so here it goes. I feel exactly like you do. And I have no clue what your religious beliefs are, but for us, it is the time we celebrate our savior's birth. So, We were really torn! Then one day, our oldest just straight up asked us, like yours did, if he was real, we just decided we were not gonna lie about it. We are extremely blunt and honest people to begin with, and always talk with our kids about how we will always tell them the truth, no matter what.
I do feel like in the back of my mind, I always did remember feeling betrayed that my parents had lied to me about Santa. I am an extremely trusting person. If my parents told me something was true, then it was true, you know? So, we do not "do" Santa. I am actually buying a book at St. Nicholas to start reading to them at Christmas time. They know the story because we have told them, but St. Nicholas Day is Dec. 6th, I believe, and I would like to start incorporating that into our traditions. He was a real person and did wonderful things and showed compassion. Okay, ramble over.

Jesus wasn't actually born anywhere near Christmas. That's also a lie.

I know He wasn't. Most of my friends who are Christians know He wasn't. But that was the date chosen to celebrate it, so we do it then.:)

Edited:

because of religious irony....

To be honest, I almost didn't post because I knew someone would have to say this, and I do not get into internet arguments... sigh...

I don't know, I have very fond memories of Christmas when I was a kid. My parents went all out to make it seem like there was really a Santa Clause. They also made sure to make a point what the meaning of Saint Nicholas was as well. My family isn't overly religious, but they believe in the meaning of Saint Nicholas around Christmas time (giving to others, especially people who are less fortunate.) Eventually I figured out that Santa Clause isn't real and of course I was upset. However, those are some of my favorite memories from when I was a child and I plan on doing the same thing my parents did when my husband and I have children of our own.

Plus, now when I see kids' faces light up when they see Santa Clause it reminds me of that feeling I used to get. I mean we lose that innocence so easily and quickly anymore, so why not just let your kid enjoy it? The world is a hard place and they're going to face plenty of disappointment in his/her life. Why not just let him/her enjoy these moments and when he/she figures it out, then they'll figure it out, no big deal.

OK, so Christmas is about a man who was born to a virgin impregnated by God (a spirit no one actually sees or hears -- ever) who singlehandedly created the universe and everything in it. God then told this virgin about her pregnancy by using an angel who can fly and move between heaven and earth.

That man whose borth you're celebrating grew up to be able to heal mortal illness just by touching people, walked on water, turned water into wine, made bread and wine his own flesh and blood (and people ate and drank it). He knew the future, too, in some cases.

I could go on.

But you're all worried your kids might temporarily believe a guy in a red suit travels the world in a night and leaves presents?

Ok, My thoughts are not popular, but we all have to choose how to raise our children, so here it goes. I feel exactly like you do. And I have no clue what your religious beliefs are, but for us, it is the time we celebrate our savior's birth. So, We were really torn! Then one day, our oldest just straight up asked us, like yours did, if he was real, we just decided we were not gonna lie about it. We are extremely blunt and honest people to begin with, and always talk with our kids about how we will always tell them the truth, no matter what.
I do feel like in the back of my mind, I always did remember feeling betrayed that my parents had lied to me about Santa. I am an extremely trusting person. If my parents told me something was true, then it was true, you know? So, we do not "do" Santa. I am actually buying a book at St. Nicholas to start reading to them at Christmas time. They know the story because we have told them, but St. Nicholas Day is Dec. 6th, I believe, and I would like to start incorporating that into our traditions. He was a real person and did wonderful things and showed compassion. Okay, ramble over.

If you are going to celebrate the birth of our saviour you should do it on the actual day he was born in march or april (I forget the exact date now)

Having a celebration on the day isn't as important as the celebration itself. I get what she's saying. It's sort of like, "Remember the reason for the season." I can see it both ways because as a child, I was extremely trusting as well. I believed in Santa Claus until I was 8 or 9 years old, and I never asked. My parents had to TELL ME that he wasn't real because they didn't want me to be embarrassed. I cried and cried and cried. To me, it was like saying God wasn't real. I just had so much faith! I'm still torn on whether to live out the fantasy for my baby, but I do agree that it is adorable to watch them get so excited on Christmas morning. It is a magical thing to watch their imaginations active in an age of iPads and Xboxes.

when it was time to tell my kids I explained it that Santa was a part of each and every one of us and that he represented the giving spirit we have at Christmas and all around the year.

They really liked thinking about it that way.

I seem to be in the minority about this, but I was kinda pissed off when I found out that my parents had been lying to me for years about a man breaking and entering to leave presents and eat our cookies. I just don't see the need to present Santa as anything other than a story. If the truth about Santa ruins Christmas, you're not really introducing your children to all of the other wonderful things that are associated with the season.

Additionally, after working at the mall, I have to say that my early skepticism about mall Santas was probably for the best. Beware!

Do what you feel is right! No two parents will have the same parenting style and no two kids will be same way! My parents never lied or told the truth. They let me believe what I wanted to and also learn truth my own way.
I never felt crushed, I actually found it funny that I was so innocent!
I love to see kids innocence. I don't think because lying is bad, I am going to expose them to all the harsh truth in life so early!
They have a lot of time later on for that crap. I want my daughter to enjoy her childhood as long as she can.
I wish I could remain as innocent and not aware of all the crap around myself!

My parents NEVER led me to believe in Santa Claus as a child, I always knew they were the ones who bought all my Christmas gifts. There was no Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy business going on either. My parents gave me a choice. If I chose to believe in those thing then it was up to me, but I already knew the truth either way. No parent should feel that they HAVE to make their children believe in Santa Claus. Why do they have to believe in a lie in order to celebrate the "magic" of Christmas. That is not the purpose of Christmas anyway. Is Christmas less magical because I knew that it was my hard-working, loving parents who provided gifts for me, versus a fictitious dude in a red suit? I think knowing that my parents sacrificed to give me a Christmas is alot more special than believing in a fairy tale.

Lie, pretend, tradition, we're doing it. I love bringing a little magic into our home. My little is really into fairies. We made a fairy garden so that any fairies in the area would have a place to hang out. Sometimes they leave things in the garden for little. Sometimes they leave little notes asking for her to give them things they need. Seeing the joy and wonder on her face when we talk about Santa, or tend to her garden...well, it completely wipes away any doubts I might have about "lying" to her. I wasn't crushed when I found out about Santa and I don't hate my parents for it. Whether it's Santa, or fairies, or dragons, whatever, I LOVE seeing parents pretending with their kids and bringing some magic into their lives. I think my little will have fond memories of this stuff when she's older. If it screws her up, she can get a good therapist to talk to about it.

Said fairy garden:

Sometimes being a good parent means lying to them.

My kids still believe. I love that Christmas is magical to them. Believing in santa doesn't mean you don’t teach them the meaning of Christmas though.

I will never agree with that!

You are in for a tough road ahead then.

What could possibly be worth lying about?

It's not so much lying I guess, but protecting from the truth.

I was never taught to believe Santa was real and I enjoyed every single Christmas. More important that they learn about the real meaning of CHRISTmas at a young age.