In December 2007, we decided to tell the younger kids about Santa. We felt convicted about this with our kids but that is a personal choice. Sean was 5 and Sierra was 3. We were a bit apprehensive about what their reaction would be, especially Sean’s. We explained it to them as gently as we could and waited to see their reaction. Sean looks at me and says, “You mean after we go to bed, you and Daddy wrap up the presents and put them under the tree?” “Yes”, I said. He started laughing like this was the most hilarious thing he has ever heard of. He actually seemed very relieved to find this out.
The next day, he brought me his list that he had been saving for Santa. Later that day, I told him to do something and he paused for a second then said, “I am going to obey you or you might not get me anything for Christmas.” I do not think he ever believed that Santa was watching him, but he cannot deny that Mommy is watching him. He tried to play a trick on me when Santa visited our family Christmas party. After he talked to Santa, he told me that he told him he wanted a Star Wars light saber and then he just looked at me. See, the light saber was not on his list, so I think the look was to see what my reaction was. I just told him that Santa was already done shopping. Nice try.
Our biggest concern was that he would tell another child and make someone’s parents upset with us. The closest he came to doing that was when he told my niece there was something her Daddy needed to tell her about Santa.
Sierra made no comment about the whole thing. I’m not sure she’s convinced he doesn’t exist because she is still afraid of him. The other day she climbed up on my lap and said, “Ho ho ho, I’m Santa Claus.” I replied, “I am afraid of you.” Without missing a beat, she said “I’m not real, I’m bus petending.” I felt much better.
From my standpoint, telling them helped alleviate some of my Holiday stress. Now I did not have to worry about using different wrapping paper for Santa’s gifts or trying to store gifts until Christmas morning so they would not be discovered. The only thing I did for fun and tradition was to put some things in their stockings before going to bed. So, overall, we believe it was the right thing to do and the right time to do it.
This worked for me very well. For more tips at Works-For-Me-Wednesday at Rocks In My Dryer click here.
2 comments:
Here Santa, Sinterklaas, is also a community matter. So at schools mom keep each other informed about the children who loose their belief first.
The age we keep here is 7.
When children loose faith they're taken into "the big secret" and get responsibility. They share in surprising others, which is even more fun than believing.
You can find my tip at:
Laane on the World
Have a great week and an amazing spring!!!
so, my husband and I decided early on that we weren't going to lie to our kids about santa... we expect absolute honesty from them, so it seems wrong to start off with a big old fib. we do talk in abstracts about the holiday spirit and santa and how he fits into it all. I also used to worry about my kids saying something to another kid and getting an upset parent call... but so far, so good. I think you made a great choice, although others may (will) tell you you're a spoilsport...
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