[binkybear]

aclee, I hear yah!

I think what your sister did was indeed totally appropriate given the circumstances and for a child of that age I would have said the same thing.

There is no lie in telling children the spirit of the season is at work, that miracles can happen during this time...even if it's a small miriacle in the grand scheme of things. Like mommy somehow found the doll they wanted that was sold out everywhere, it's a miracle to that little one and probably to the mommy who thought she'd have to explain why the dolly couldn't make Christmas Day. Let kids have some hope, magic and innocence while they still can! I wish, truly honestly really with all of my heart WISH, more adults had that spirit of wonder still in them. Santa Claus isn't just a funny characture of American culture, there is more behind it if you're open to Saints and all. There's no lie in the roots of the man and there's certainly no lie in the season celebrating Christ's birth.

[vegaschristina]

In our family, the day you stop believing in Santa is the day you stop getting presents. Let me tell you...we ALL believe.

[startedover]

My husband announced when we preparing for our first child that he would not lie and tell her there was a santa. The next year he stayed up till 3 in the morning to put together everything SANTA brought. It is an excitement that I hope my littlest one will enjoy for years to come.
When the boys in the 1st grade tried to ruin the fun for my son we set up a video camera and pointed it at the tree. When we watched it the next day, one minute tree, the next the back of santa and all the presents andwith a snap of his finger her was gone. That bought me many years.
I will confess, I try to word it in a way they will never wander if Santa isn't real, then maybe baby Jesus wasn't either. That was my only fear, was how to make sure they realized that.

[EZ2Luv]

My kids believe in Santa the same way I grew up. Children are only young for so long and to deprive them of that magic and innocence woul be pitiful IMO.

When I was a young child I wanted a certain toy and for some reason my parents were unable to locate the toy. So what does my dad do? he opens up a couple of toy stores the following February. Of course everyone knew that my dad worked for Santa.. lol
I have no problem telling it like it is, I was spoiled, but I wasn't a brat. My parents lost 3 fullterm c section still born babies so by the time I came along the sky was the limit. Talk about aparents being held on a higher standard(a whole nother post) They loved me and wanted me to be happy and I look back and see what wonderful people they were and are and will always be.

There is nothing like witnessing the wonderment in a child's eyes. In our house there was never a good list or bad list thing. Santa came and gave all the kids gifts because all children are special and good.

EZ

[ourdreamcametru]

Not only do we totally play into the Santa thing with our kids, well our boys are too old now but Castle isn't, Dh plays Santa for charity events around our area and Castle believes her daddy IS Santa!!!!! Now, not only do we have to break it to her at some point that Santa is not real, we have to make her understand that her daddy is NOT Santa LOL

[lovemy2boys]

Originally Posted by ourdreamcametru

Not only do we totally play into the Santa thing with our kids, well our boys are too old now but Castle isn't, Dh plays Santa for charity events around our area and Castle believes her daddy IS Santa!!!!! Now, not only do we have to break it to her at some point that Santa is not real, we have to make her understand that her daddy is NOT Santa LOL

But ourdream....her daddy IS santa!!!

[makarios79]

I don't do Santa with my boys nd I don't plan on doing Santa with any future kids.

My mom did when I was little, but my kids nor my niece and nephew were ever told about Santa. They hear abou him school, but not in our homes.

[zxczxcasdasd]

We only did "Santa" as kids in the same we do for our boys now...either as a fun character (like the Grinch or Mickey Mouse) or, when they start getting "technical" explain the whole St. Nicholas thing.

I have to admit, I get a little pricked when people imply that Christmas without Santa for little kids must be some magic-less, joy-less, unimaginative scientific or religious boondoggle. We have tons of joy, tons of magic, tons of imagination and love. My kids open presents from people who love them and chose them thoughtfully to bring them joy. We have traditions and snuggles and read stories and sing Christmas carols. I guess I'm the grinch because I just could never see how in the world Santa would make a better Christmas than one focused on real people that really love them and real joys that surround them.

And honestly, I can't stomach the lying part. I, personally, just can't separate it out as an okay or "excused" lie. It's just me, but I just can't look my kids in the eye and actively lie. I know for so many it's a magical wonderful thing to create this big fun ruse for your kids, but to me it feels like an elaborate practical joke and I just can't invest that much time and effort into something that's not true when there is SO much wonderful about Chrostmas that is true and is real. We enjoy those things full-bore. Conversely, I sometimes wonder if all the focus on Santa distracts from the real and true things.

Little J brought it up the other day...how some kids think Santa is real and some kids don't. He said he doesn't, but he doesn't want to disappoint the kids who do, so he'll just keep his mouth shut. I thought it was cute and funny.

However you do it, I know we all love our kids and want to give them the best Christmas we can. I just want to drink up every moment of this month. I hate that I have to work even one day.

Tonight we drove through our town plaza to see all the lights and wreaths hung over the streets and the big tree (and tinsel Santa ) in the center of the Plaza. Then we decorated little J's personal mini-tree with everything except his very first hand-picked ornament, which he says he doesn't want to hang until Chiristmas morning...while watching The Santa Clause...as cute fun entertaiment.

I love this month. Love it love it love it.

[bprice215]

To beleive in Santa Clause is to have faith no matter what people tell you. If there is faith then please beleive. Like Jesus Christ and God, it's very personal. But i do see your point and trust what you say z.

bprice215

[feelingreyt]

Our kids have always believed in Santa. They get a few special gift from Santa, then the rest are from us. Santa also fills their stockings.
This year my dd who is 8 knows the truth. HOW does she know???? She came up to me just the other day and asked if Santa was real. I asked her what she thought and she thought Daddy snuck out of bed and played Santa. I was done make believing at this point. It would have been a bold face lie to keep saying "Santa is real" when she knew better. So I just told her about ST. Nick and how some parents have always loved the magic of CHristmas so we continue with the story of Santa for our children. I was taken by surprise and didn't really know what to say.
I did tell her to not spoil the fun for her little brothers, 4 and 15 months old, or ANY other kid that believes.

Of course we are Christians and both the older children know the true meaning of Christmas.... JESUS, who was born to die for our sins so that we may have Eternal life with Him and His Father in Heaven.

[aclee]

I am 4 years old, my sister is above me in our bunk beds. She is five. It appears to be barely light outside our bedroom window.

I whisper...Erin? I hear her shuffle out of her blanket and quickly see an upside down head flip over the side so she can see me. Her eyes are WIDE. I sit straight up in bed. I just stare at her. She pulls herself back up to her bed, and I almost immediately see feet come down the ladder steps. She throws herself onto my bed. The room isn't cold, but our teeth are chattering. Literately trying to vibrate themselves off our faces.

"You think we can get up yet?" I ask her...she's older and must be much more knowledgeable in the rules of Santa Land. She pauses for a moment and says, "We should check and make sure he's not still here." So hand in hand, wrapped in the quilts from the bottom of our beds, we sneak out of our room, down the hall and meet up with our two older sisters who are also just heading out of their rooms...we walk down a hallway that seems to last forever...teeth chattering, and little bodies shaking. We stop and peer around the wall to the living room.

We FREAK OUT. HE CAME! We are jumping up and down and from couch to couch and pointing out presents that are for each other.

"That big one is for you Erin!"
"And these ones over here are for you!"

We round the corner and to out amazement on the dining room table sat a fully assembled Little Orphan Annie Mansion. I think my sister was crying. We hear my Dad open his door.

"Did HE COME girls? Did Santa find our house?" He yells down the hallway...

We are doing laps up and down the hallway. Screaming...

"He came, he came Daddy. Come see...It's ANNIE'S HOUSE! It's in the dining room! Come see!"

"Well start your stockings, Mom and I will be right out." he says after giving us each a kiss.

So we would start our stocking. Each of the four girls claiming a small space in the living room and slowly going through her stocking loot.

Fast forward 13 years...
I am standing on a couch, my sisters and I barely able to get into the now much large living room. I see a small fridge over in the corner, and know Santa got my list on needing things for college...

My Dad opens his door, "Did he come girls? Did Santa find our house?"

"YUP!" We all scream

"Well start your stockings...we'll be right out."


Fast forward 10 years...

I arrive with my sister on Christmas Dad at my father's house. We throw the door open, I am holding my 11 month old niece, Bridget, and we yell;

"Did he come Dad? Did Santa find the house?"

Every member of our extended family looks up at us like we are crazy, but Dad looks up, smiles, and says...

"He sure did, and he left Bridget a stocking for her to get started on!" and she did.

Now Bridget (3) throws the door open and yells to check if Santa made it.

I think it's just what each person is used to. My family had a very hard time religiously when we were growing up. We did occasionally attend church, and we all "knew" what Christmas was about, but it wasn't focused on.

Tyler will know more than I did regarding the origins of Christmas, but I couldn't take from him what I had as a child. I want him to remember standing on the furniture in amazement and wonder.

I want his teeth to chatter...

[4everwaiting]

Wow Aclee, that is beautiful!

I agree, when/if we ever have a child, I want their teeth to chatter with excitement of Santa "finding our house!"

Thank you for sharing!

Sandra

[qs mom]

Santa comes to our house. But Santa only brings a present or two - unwrapped, just like in all the movies and shows. Mama brings the rest of the presents.

My son asked me about Santa last year, I asked him what he thought. He's 8 this year and is totally into beleiveing in Santa, which surprises me.

I was his age when I found my presents in my parents closet. I never said anything. When some of them had tags that said they were from Santa, I knew.

But, I'm 44 and I still get presents from Santa. And I believe in Santa. Santa to me is the spirit of giving, the spirit of love. Santa gives gifts because he loves the children.

We watch The Santa Clause and Polar Express at Christmas time. My son realizes the true spirit of Christmas.

We were talking about birthdays in the car this morning. I told him that Jesus' birthday was coming up. He didn't realize that Christmas was Jesus' birthday, which really shocked me. He said, but Jesus died at Easter, right? So, it escapes me how missed that Christmas is the birth of Jesus.

[zxczxcasdasd]

Goodness aclee, you sure can wax eloquent!

Great narrative. You should save that. Seriously.

[court5505]

Some of my favorite Childhood memories involve Santa. There is nothing more exciting to a kid than waking up on Christmas morning thinking that Santa was in your house and brought special presents just for you!

Like others have said, when I found out that there was no Santa, I didn't feel like my parents had lied to me. I was just disappointed that I wouldn't feel quite as excited as I did when there was a Santa! Christmas was still great, don't get me wrong, but it's just not the same.