Santa

[Bibio]

Originally Posted by Terah

This one is mostly for those with kids...

The wife is adamant that she won't lie to our kids (3yr old and baby) about Santa and will tell them there's no such thing - this at least partly due to her own parents lying to her.

I have mixed feelings about this as I want the kids to enjoy their childhood as much as possible, and I don't see anything wrong with them believing in whatever they choose to while they are young. I also think kids are getting far too commercialised and the whole Santa thing just makes it worse. Lastly, I don't think I'm gonna win the argument anyway.

Really just wondering what other peoples thoughts are on this? If you have kids what do you tell them? Is it right or wrong to tell kids there is a Santa? Is it actually going to affect them either way? Are the other parents at nursery going to demonise us when our kids tell their kids it's all made up?

on your wife's head be it... how else are you supposed to get little kids to behave when there is no threat of 'Santa wont bring you any presents'...

message to Terah's wife.. BAH HUMBUG.

As pookie said, kids grow up fast enough without robbing them of the magic of Christmas. I am a real bah humbug person when it comes to this time of year but if I still believe it should be a fun time for the kids, I don't have any but if I did I'd find some festive spirit from somewhere...probably

Besides which, how spoilt will your kid grow up being if he/she doesn't think being on their best behaviour warrants nice presents on Christmas Day? You'll be constantly replacing their shoes thanks to all that stomping they'll be doing

EDIT: Hadn't read Bibio's post before mine haha

I don't actually remember much of my childhood, let alone whether I believed in Santa or not, but I know my mum's not the type to stop my imagination running wild with tales of elves, flying reindeer and bearded generous men...oh wait, maybe scrap that last bit... BUT, the point still remains, kids are only kids once and their little minds should be given the freedom to take themselves into other worlds. Would you stop them reading Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree books or Beatrix Potter's talking animal stories? I'd blooming hope not. Children are going to have enough to worry about when they grow up and have to deal with the real world, no point rushing things

[Messie]

Originally Posted by Littlepeahead

So Mary got herself up the duff and in order not to let Joseph find out she'd been doing the dirty on him she said an angel told her it was 'the son of God' and she was still a virgin. Yeah right. Then 9 months preggers she travels several hundred miles on the back of a donkey - I've ridden one and it ain't comfy - without first using Lastminute.com or anything else to sort out a room so ends up staying in a barn, and then instead of getting any help from a midwife a bunch of shepherds turn up with a load of stinky sheep. Bet she was delighted. They were soon followed by 3 wise men. So wise that they bring utterly useless gifts like frankinsense instead of something practical like some baby wipes and a packet of Pampers.

And my local vicar expects me to believe this! Really?

In that case I think Father Christmas, the Tooth Fairy and the Yeti are all perfectly feasible.

Lol I was going to put something along these lines but you put it better than me.

We tell our kids lies all the time, why should Christmas be any different. Just watch out for when they start the real questionning and be prepared to answer truthfully! And this stuff about protecting other kids - what rubbish. Kids have been telling tales since the year dot. You can ask yours not to tell others but they will anyway. That's what teaches our kids the ability to determine the value of what another is saying.

Originally Posted by SIII

As already mentioned its a great motivator, Every time my kids are not good, Santa takes a present out of their sack and puts a vegetable in!

Brilliant. May well have to use this. I'm not a massive fan of the 'If you don't do as you're told Santa won't give you any presents', because, after a friend saying this to their daughter, daughter happily replied, 'Well I was bad last year and still got presents'.

Originally Posted by Bibio

on your wife's head be it... how else are you supposed to get little kids to behave when there is no threat of 'Santa wont bring you any presents'...

As above, and currently the Naughty Corner and Counting to 3 work in most cases. (I'm not saying I won't use it at need though)

Originally Posted by Bibio

message to Terah's wife.. BAH HUMBUG.

Agreed

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

BUT, the point still remains, kids are only kids once and their little minds should be given the freedom to take themselves into other worlds. Would you stop them reading Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree books or Beatrix Potter's talking animal stories? I'd blooming hope not. Children are going to have enough to worry about when they grow up and have to deal with the real world, no point rushing things

Absolutely. And there were never any problems with fairies, giants, dragons, elves, snarks, grumkins or any other fantasy. Just Santa.

Originally Posted by Messie

Just watch out for when they start the real questionning and be prepared to answer truthfully!

This is what it was all down to really. We've agreed that we'll do the whole Santa thing, so long as when the kids properly question it they get honest answers - not getting those answers herself is what had put Mrs Terah off the whole thing in the first place.

So, and I'm asking this becuase I havent had to do it yet...

What do you think the "right" way would be to tell your kid(s)?

"Dad, is Santa real or not, becuase <insert reason they have started to realise here>"

"Well Son, <.....>"

[hindle8907]

I feel quite sad reading the OP
why oh why would you want to take that feeling away from a child is beyond me.
Kids love Christmas because of the whole Santa is comming and the magic and anticipation leading up to Christmas eve !
I dress up each year for my all my nephews and nieces from ages ages 2-6 they love it when I wobble in with my sack and presents with my awesome fake Santa voice.

[BoltonSte]

Originally Posted by HoL

When I was little I made a trap to see if the tooth fairy existed. I put my tooth in a yoghurt pot with cling film over the top. When I woke up there was 50p in the pot under the cling film!!!!

Didn't occur to me that if she didn't exist then it must be my mum..... who helped me make the trap. Duh!

I took a tooth out on the sly one night and left it under the pillow, in the morning it was still there so the following day I told my parents it had just fallen out and duely put it under the pillow, woke up to find 50p. Made sure that I always told them after that so I'd get my money still.

Discovered santa wasn't real by finding the presents stashed one year. Also found out the ornament that moved round the tree each night wasn't magic by hiding it from my parents and it was were I left it when I checked in the morning.

I must have been about 6.

If you don't let them believe then how are they going to con money/work things out for themselves? It's good for the anticipation/threats to get them to go to bed. The other half doesn't have to specifically lie to them but can go along with it if they ask the questions surely?

[hindle8907]

Originally Posted by BoltonSte

Discovered santa wasn't real by finding the presents stashed one year. Also found out the ornament that moved round the tree each night wasn't magic by hiding it from my parents and it was were I left it when I checked in the morning.

I must have been about 6.

This is around the age they start to get curious lol, Last year Owen my nephew seen my ginger beard under the fake one and said nooo way !!!!
Nooooo wayyyy !!!! its uncle Anthony. hahaha

I have only played Santa once and that was an accident.
my birthday is 26th Dec.
When we had our first house (and no kids) my brother bought me a big stereo arial to get better radio reception.
being impatient, I went out in cold (+ big red jumper) and went up on roof to fix arial bracket to chimney.
For the next few days I was told by many neighbours that their children screamed at the window that Santa was nearby to which the parents added - he must be running a bit late.

This Christmas we have the honour of our first grandchild who was born in January in Toronto coming to Scotland for his first ever Xmas.
Although I have enjoyed getting the house ready, I have told my wife that the garage is a SFZ
(Santa free zone).
Being now a grandad, I will continue the story as long as I need to.

Who remembers the 'Likely Lads episode' when one was told Santa was Dead

best wishes to all

The big softy in Glasgow

So I was asked to be the Santa for a playgroup my wife attends. I spent quite a lot of money on a costume, complete with big white beard, wig, glasses and boots. I arrived at a big party, with a pillow stuffed down my top to make me look about 5 stone bigger.

As I walked in all the kids screamed 'It's SANTA' and my four year old clocked me straight away and said 'Hi - it's my Daddy'.....

It was the best kept secret in our house and I have no idea how she figured it was me so quickly. All I can say is I had some explaining to do, but I think the secret is still safe.