I never grew up with Santa and don't plan on any kids of mine doing so if I become a mom.
this post was submitted on 29 Oct 2023
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Not sure if it will help, I was looking for another video about Santa specifically. But could not find it. In that video he says that he did not dismiss Santa's tales but also did not engage with it. And at a certain point question the tales and asked the kids how they know that's Santa who is giving them presents. Then the kids looked for ways to find out, and discovered themselves. (If I remember correctly)
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We made a point of never lying to our kids about Christmas/Santa and it didn't seem to diminish their enjoyment of Christmas at all.
I'm surprised I had to scroll this far down for this exact answer. We did the same thing and they enjoyed it nonetheless.
My brother was straight up with his kids from the start. He didn't want some imaginary fat man taking credit for the thoughtful gifts he gives them.
Kids talk at school. Ages 5 to 9.
Saw this on Reddit years ago, and it goes like: You had a great time thinking of Santa. Now you know the truth, and you are now Santa. Same as your parents. Don't ruin it for your siblings, let them keep the magical feeling.
This. I was eight when I found out. My mother was in denial and kept using santa as a manipulation tool for good behavior until I was maybe 13, but she was an alcoholic with the tentative grasp of reality. I got super bitter about Christmas until I was homeless as a teen.
Christmas was the first major attempt to wrestle back what I felt I was owed as a child. I refused to be bitter, because I saw that as giving in to the people who wanted me to fail. I enjoy Christmas as punk as fuck.
Still hard, though. I can't find anyone as into it as I want to be and don't have the energy to really go all in as I want to.
Never lie to them in the first place. Also no circumcision. Just don't do predictably horrible shit to little-yous who have to live with the fallout
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I was 2 and a half and spotted that Santa was wearing my Dad's shoes. As I thought he'd killed my father and robbed his shoes I was upset and my parents had to explain that Santa wasn't some kind of murder hobo but that the Wellington boots that came.with the Santa outfit were too.small, so my Dad had to use his own. Never did me any harm.
I don't remember being told that santa existed, growing in a deeply religious family christmas was always about Jesus. Now I'm an atheist so I guess 16-18 when I found out it's actually a pagan festival that the romans ductaped Christianity to it
We always said Santa was a fun make believe activity, but then our house has a lot of fantasy media so what's one more myth?
Not christmas stuff here but also giftbringer once a year.
Most times the children get to know the truth at 6-8 year. When they are in the year off school you get to write and read... If you don t know yet the others will tell you. And sometimes a bit of laughing. Hardcore believers are like 10. Never saw one older than that.
My sister was 4 she wanted proof. So explained. I was 6 and mam told me cause my relatives got always so mutch more and she did not wanted me to feel bad. Or think i was bad. My niece was 10 and she was like 2 days sad crying in het bed after dhe was told.
I found the present stash when I was about 5-6 years old and spent a few years continuing to go through the motions of Santa, playing dumb. I was also told by a non-Christian kid around that time that Santa was fake (not sure which came first). It made me very upset for a day, which is why I remember so clearly, and then I realized either way Christmas is still great. I'm glad I played dumb, for my sister's sake, and I think my parents got a kick out of it.
My kids are of the age where they're starting to think critically about it. We've never directly lied and said that he's real and have instead answered their questions with a "do you think he's real?", and then they have a think and conclude that he is.
When they come to us with more of a statement than a question, for example "Santa isn't real, is he?", then we will let them in on the ruse.