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Santa, tooth fairy, easter bunny
I saw a thread on another board regarding telling kids about Santa; I thought that it would make an interesting conversation starter. Do you plan to have your children believe in Santa and other fictional characters? Why or why not? Is this different from the way your family raised you?
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Re: Santa, tooth fairy, easter bunny
I'm embarassed to admit I believed in Santa for a loooong time (we're talking 10-11 years). What can I say, my mom is good. My lil brother is 9 and my mom still has him going, I think it helps when I also tell him Santa is still real hahaha. I've heard ppl say "don't lie to your kids like that" and blah blah blah. But I honestly don't even remember the moment she finally admitted he's not real, she'd admitted long before the Easter bunny and toothfairy aren't real. I don't think it really affects kids, I think I turned out fine hahaha. FI and I plan on letting our kids believe in Santa and the like, I loved watching my brother write his lists to Santa. It's not as much when once you know all that great stuff just comes from your parents ;0)
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1) Not all children get toys from Santa.
2) I didn't think it was a good idea for him to start out life with the sense of entitlement that I think the commercial enterprise of Christmas contributes to.
I also explained that mommy would get him a few gifts each holiday season, but that it was mommy buying them, they didn't magically appear from "Santa".
As he entered kindergarten and then first grade this year, I reminded him that some children believe in Santa and that there was no need for him to tell them the truth. He was cool with that.
I like the way it has worked out. Christmas is still fun and exciting with a few gifts. And I feel like I'm more in-line with the world-views I strive (or at least make strong attempts) to raise him with.
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[QUOTE]My son just turned 7 this year. From the time he was a toddler, I explained that Santa is a story that some parents choose to tell their children. I did this for two reasons. 1) Not all children get toys from Santa. 2) I didn't think it was a good idea for him to start out life with the sense of entitlement that I think the commercial enterprise of Christmas contributes to. I also explained that mommy would get him a few gifts each holiday season, but that it was mommy buying them, they didn't magically appear from "Santa". As he entered kindergarten and then first grade this year, I reminded him that some children believe in Santa and that there was no need for him to tell them the truth. He was cool with that. I like the way it has worked out. Christmas is still fun and exciting with a few gifts. And I feel like I'm more in-line with the world-views I strive (or at least make strong attempts) to raise him with.
Posted by saintpaulJess[/QUOTE]
This exactly! My parents told me straight up when I was little and I'm glad that they did.
[QUOTE]My son just turned 7 this year. From the time he was a toddler, I explained that Santa is a story that some parents choose to tell their children. I did this for two reasons. 1) Not all children get toys from Santa. 2) I didn't think it was a good idea for him to start out life with the sense of entitlement that I think the commercial enterprise of Christmas contributes to. I also explained that mommy would get him a few gifts each holiday season, but that it was mommy buying them, they didn't magically appear from "Santa". As he entered kindergarten and then first grade this year, I reminded him that some children believe in Santa and that there was no need for him to tell them the truth. He was cool with that. I like the way it has worked out. Christmas is still fun and exciting with a few gifts. And I feel like I'm more in-line with the world-views I strive (or at least make strong attempts) to raise him with.
Posted by saintpaulJess[/QUOTE]
I like that! That's probably what I'll do if I have kids.. Maybe I was just a cynical child but when I found out Santa, Easter Bunny etc. were all white lies I assumed Jesus, Moses etc. were too.
[QUOTE]I actually love the idea of Santa although I was a pretty inquisitive kid and figured it out fairly quickly. I still got stuff from Santa up to college though I think. You know it is from mom and dad but I still thought it was fun. I really dont think that it was my parents lieing to me at all - more of playing along with a child's imagination. There is nothing wrong with make believe and that is all it was for us.
Posted by drdifabio[/QUOTE]
<div>I second that. </div><div>
</div><div>I believed in Santa, the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, etc until I was maybe 7, when I caught my mom slipping change under my pillow after I lost a tooth. I actually pretended to stay asleep and then confronted her about it later that morning, haha. She owned up to it all and I felt pretty proud of myself for figuring it out!</div><div>
</div><div>BUT, I do think parents should tell their kids before they get too old. One of my friends still believed in Santa until 4th grade, and at that point I felt bad for her because I thought she was so naive (you know, 4th graders being so mature and all ...).</div><div>
</div><div>ACW016 -- that is hilarious! And makes complete sense.</div>
I don't think I ever had a big revelation that Santa wasn't real; I think I just gradually figured it out. Or maybe I always knew? There was one time I was out shopping w/my mom - I have no idea how old I was - and my mom saw some stuff and said "Oh, these would be great stocking stuffers!" and started throwing them in the cart. She just stopped, looked at me, and said "You know Santa's not real, right?" That would've been a sucky way to find out he wasn't real if I still believed in him!
We'll let our kids believe for as long as they reasonably want to. Now that I can see how magical this is for my nephew, I want to let it go on for as long as it reasonably can with my kids. We'll give a quarter for every tooth lost, but I'm not sure about the Easter Bunny. Having grown up Catholic and knowing what a solemn event Easter is, and the sacrifice involved with Lent (I still practice even though I'm atheist), I feel like it belittles the point of the holiday to make it about candy. The same could be said how Xmas isn't about presents, but the birth of Jesus, but at least it's acknowledged and kids know the point going into it.
To also reiterate what IwantCake was saying, our children will also understand WHAT Christmas/Easter are really about though... rather than candy/gifts. It will be taught to them at a young age.
[QUOTE]Wait....what are you ladies talking about? <strong>Santa still brings my presents to my parents' house every yea</strong>r. Sounds like some of you are just sore about getting coal in your stockings. :P
Posted by hkiesling[/QUOTE]
This!! :)
I also think that it's fun to have the illusion of characters for the younger kids growing up. Especially in households where there are children finding out at different ages. I'm not for lying to children, but I think explaining to them what Santa and such characters represent is important.
[QUOTE] Having grown up Catholic and knowing what a solemn event Easter is, and the sacrifice involved with Lent (I still practice even though I'm atheist), I feel like it belittles the point of the holiday to make it about candy. The same could be said how Xmas isn't about presents, but the birth of Jesus, but at least it's acknowledged and kids know the point going into it.
Posted by I Want Cake[/QUOTE]
<div>This is me, too! Exactly!</div>