[Stormster]

DH and I had a conversation tonight about Christmas and if we were going to tell DS about Santa Claus.

I think it's so ironic that we will be totally honest with him about his adoption from the very very beginning and yet when it comes to where his Christmas presents came from it's all fiction! Just kidding, I do know the difference.

What do you tell your children about Santa? How far do you go with it? I'm so excited to start! He's already fascinated with Christmas lights so I've been saying Christmas a lot to him. How should I introduce Santa to him? Unfortunately we will be at my fathers all through the holiday so there won't be a tree at home (he's Jewish) but we will still take him to see other trees and the lights and he will have a stocking there and presents.

I also get to dress him up for a Christmas party. It's all too wonderful!

PS DH calls him Father Christmas....how cute is that? ETA I do realize it is a religious holiday as well but I'm talking about the presents and Santa aspect for a little toddler.

[Fran27]

I have no idea. I think it's so important to never lie to your kids, so the Santa thing just goes against that...

In France we call Santa the exact translation of Father Christmas by the way.

[lovemy2boys]

Even though we've always did the "santa" things, our kids didn't really "get" it until they were about 4...but let me tell you, it's AWESOME!!! The excitement is great!

AJ is turning 7 next week, so he is starting to ask a few questions, like why do some kids get more gifts than others...This came about because we have a giving tree at church, where we choose a child whose family is struggling this holiday and buy him/her a Christmas gift.

This may sound wierd, but we tell the kids that since there are so many kids in the world, moms and dads are the ones who give santa the money to buy the gifts, and some families are less fortunate and don't have the extra money to buy their kids gifts...and that's why we help out, making sure that these kids get gifts from santa as well...

When the boys get to the point where they start to not believe, I will take the message from the Polar Express...I'll tell them more or less that santa is the spirt of Christmas that lives inside of you, and it's up to you whether or not you believe...(of course I'll have watched the move a million more times before then, so I'll be able to relay the message more eloquently - haha)

(And of course, as Catholics, we believe Christmas is Christ's birth, so the boys know that first and foremost, this is what we believe is the true reason for Christmas).

[nurse_reedle]

We don't teach that Christmas presents come from Santa. We are going to teach Isaac about the true story of Saint Nicholas and about how that came to be "Santa" as we know him today. We also talk about how the gifts represent those given to Jesus at his birth and are fun and thoughtful ways to let each of us know we are loved by the others. We still read the books like "The Night Before Christmas", but as purely fun fiction. We tell him that some kids do believe that Santa is real and that different people believe different things regarding this time of year. We plan, as he gets a bit older, to also go into Channukah and more about that holiday. I want him to understand the history and the spirit behind these holidays more than I want him to "believe" in anything fictional. I never believed and it never took one ounce of joy out of the holiday.

[melissa_bear003]

I'm a bad mom. I lie like a cheap rug to my kids. My 10 yo, 3.5 yo, and 2 yo all know and believe in Santa, the Toothfairy, and the Easter Bunny.

and ya know...I love that for them.

I grew up believing too, and it was the best part of my childhood. Once I knew the truth, some of the anticipation, magic, excitment was just gone.

For me, I view it as a tradition, and a chance to use imagination, to really believe in things unknown and unseen, the way only children can. I can't imagine depriving my kids of that. We're a bunch of fantasy freaks

Lets face it. As parents, we lie by omission a lot. We don't tell them about the cruelty of the big world as much as we can possibly avoid it.

Santa is joy, and love, and excitement...and we can all use a little more of that.

[DPline]

Originally Posted by melissa_bear003

I'm a bad mom. I lie like a cheap rug to my kids. My 10 yo, 3.5 yo, and 2 yo all know and believe in Santa, the Toothfairy, and the Easter Bunny.

and ya know...I love that for them.

I grew up believing too, and it was the best part of my childhood. Once I knew the truth, some of the anticipation, magic, excitment was just gone.

For me, I view it as a tradition, and a chance to use imagination, to really believe in things unknown and unseen, the way only children can. I can't imagine depriving my kids of that. We're a bunch of fantasy freaks

Lets face it. As parents, we lie by omission a lot. We don't tell them about the cruelty of the big world as much as we can possibly avoid it.

Santa is joy, and love, and excitement...and we can all use a little more of that.

Beautifully said in my opinion!

My children all believe in Santa. And while we do celebrate the true reason for Christmas, I also encourage the magic of Santa as well.

lovemy2boys - Far from weird, I think your explanation is brillant! I only wish I had thought of that when my son was younger and asking questions like that.

[lovemy2boys]

Originally Posted by melissa_bear003

I'm a bad mom. I lie like a cheap rug to my kids. My 10 yo, 3.5 yo, and 2 yo all know and believe in Santa, the Toothfairy, and the Easter Bunny.

and ya know...I love that for them.

I grew up believing too, and it was the best part of my childhood. Once I knew the truth, some of the anticipation, magic, excitment was just gone.

For me, I view it as a tradition, and a chance to use imagination, to really believe in things unknown and unseen, the way only children can. I can't imagine depriving my kids of that. We're a bunch of fantasy freaks

Lets face it. As parents, we lie by omission a lot. We don't tell them about the cruelty of the big world as much as we can possibly avoid it.

Santa is joy, and love, and excitement...and we can all use a little more of that.

You lie to your kids??? And I'm supposed to take parenting advice from you????

Seriously though - I found out there was no santa at 5 (the boy around the block told me) That's the same age that my youngest is now...and I can't imagine him not believing!

And you're right - it did take away some of the magic for me...And I respect people who don't do the whole "santa" thing. But like you said - it was tradition in our family...and Christmas was always so magical for us - literally the best time of year...and santa was part of it...

[melissa_bear003]

Yup, I'm a lyin Momma.

Oh, and best response EVER for a child who was doubting? "Well, your Dad and I sure as heck couldn't afford to do all this..." My mother used that one on me, and it worked, lol!

[aclee]

Ty will have Santa. When I found out Santa wasn't real, my first thought wasn't...Oh my gosh, they lied to me, it was, oh my gosh...why couldn't I have found out next year. Santa is a fun part of childhood, so I'll do that for all my kids. Part of your childhood dies when you find out Santa isn't real...

I'm sort of into Christmas. I'm sure you can all imagine the restraint it takes to be a "four" present Mom. Ty will get his "four" from us, and one biggish one from Santa, as well as his stocking. The stocking for me has always had an orange in the toe, candy, school supplies, and other small inexpensive toys or useful items. Jump ropes (not for Ty! I got them as a kid) bouncy balls, and stuff like that. Hair accessories and shampoo and stuff when we were older.

Less than a MONTH! Bought Ty's outfit the other day. Charcoal vest and slacks, with a white tuxedo shirt with pintucks across the top and a black bowtie. Very, very freaking cute Nana's got to hem the pants though, they are a little long, but he needed the room in the vest.

[lovemy2boys]

aclee, you MUST post pictures!

And I'm really into Christmas, much to the dismay of my friends...Most of them can't stand my holiday cheer, or the fact that I tell them that Christmas isn't a day, it's a season...lol

Bring on the holidays!!!

[binkybear]

Growing up Catholic it was always about the birth of Christ, the Nativity, helping others during the season (it's a SEASON for us too!! ) and with all of that we knew about St Nicholas and how he played into Santa Claus. My parents let us make cookies for "Santa" and we did all the traditional stuff that kids to getting ready for an American Christmas, but my mom always stressed the Saint point in it all. That since we were good all year that St Nick would help her to find those special hard to find gifts we put on our lists and she wanted to find for us....kind of stressing that there's always someone looking out for us and helping us along the way. It made sense to us, even at a young age. Even as a very little kid I never bought the whole fat guy in a suit / chimney thing...but I always did and still do beliee the Saints and Angels are with us.
One year at Christmas when I was super little, like 5, I saw my great grandfather in the mall, he had passed away 2 years before. I pulled my mom's arm and told her, she saw him too. We followed him around the corner and poof..he was gone. They're always with us

[jules17]

Let me clue you all in to what a complete nerd I was as a child...LOL.

You all may already know that we had no TV, no sweets...just organic food, talking, education, books, etc. (what I hated then but want for my sons now!!)

So my sister who is 2 years older was on to the whole "there's no Santa thing." And my parents didn't want to lie to her, so they told her the truth, but they asked her to please not tell me!! (I had just turned 5). She came RUNNING out of their room (I still remember it) and told me. I was smug, and instantly said, "Excuse me, but he's in my encyclopedia, so he must be real." And then immediately produced my encyclopedia results. They wouldn't put anything in there that wasn't REAL, right??

My family still laughs about me about it...and how I am such a research nut.

As far as our sons, they are sort of getting the season. They are wayyy into Christmas lights. As far as Santa, I am just happy to have 2 sons who aren't into the "I wants" yet. It is still so sweet and innocent. I am loving every second. BTW, my boys DO already know what a Salvation Army bell ringer is and what to do when you see one. So that is awesome!!

[manni28]

Originally Posted by melissa_bear003
I'm a bad mom. I lie like a cheap rug to my kids. My 10 yo, 3.5 yo, and 2 yo all know and believe in Santa, the Toothfairy, and the Easter Bunny.

and ya know...I love that for them.

I grew up believing too, and it was the best part of my childhood. Once I knew the truth, some of the anticipation, magic, excitment was just gone.

For me, I view it as a tradition, and a chance to use imagination, to really believe in things unknown and unseen, the way only children can. I can't imagine depriving my kids of that. We're a bunch of fantasy freaks

Lets face it. As parents, we lie by omission a lot. We don't tell them about the cruelty of the big world as much as we can possibly avoid it.

Santa is joy, and love, and excitement...and we can all use a little more of that.

All of your examples are beatiful memories of childhood! When I was growing-up ( in the 70's) if you got dollar from the tooth fairy you were rich! Now adays $5.00 is the norm!

-Manni

[RavenSong]

Storm, are you trying to tell me there is no Santa Claus?? I've heard that rumor before, but I don't believe it for one minute.

Manni, you were lucky -- I would have pulled all my baby teeth out myself if the Tooth Fairy left me a dollar per tooth. In my day (late 50's thru 60's), the Tooth Fairy was a real cheapskate...I'm talking a dime per tooth. Well, actually I think she went up to 25 cents when I was about 7 or so. Sheesh, some people have all the luck....

[Fran27]

Great stories!

I don't remember really believing in Santa... although maybe I did because I remember being in the restroom in preschool and a kid telling everyone that Santa didn't exist and making fun of the ones who believed in him...

I know it was great to go downstairs on Christmas day and see all the presents though.

I don't know why I'm so worried my kids will resent me for telling them that Santa exists... and I'll be worried that someone will tell them too