What are your thoughts on Santa?

[sinclairmcevoy]

I'm listening to a radio show right now that has Santa on for the kids. I disagree with the fact that someone is promising kids things that they probably won't get. They phone in, say what they want for Christmas, and he says "Look for it under your tree, I'll try and get that for you."
I think it's setting some kids up for a let down. My daughter is only 3 months old but I'm already wondering about how to handle the Santa Claus thing. Do I tell her he's real, or say he's not?
Just wondering what others think about the whole Santa thing.

 

[Phil]

Well, when she's old enough, tell her Santa represents the good cheer and giving nature of the season, and that's what's important. As to his being real, simply ask her what she thinks.

 

[Marquis de Carabas]

Best to teach kids about deceit and disappointment early.

 

[mr rosewater]

Santa at the Garden State Plaza, Paramus, N.J. looks great like the real thing, for all I know he may be.

 

[sinclairmcevoy]

Best to teach kids about deceit and disappointment early.

I'm leaning that way. Finding out that Santa wasn't real was a pretty big disappointment for me. Lying to your kids and then having to explain yourself when they find out the truth just ain't right.

 

[TragicMonkey]

I have to wonder about the propriety of teaching children that a strange old man watches them all the time, whether they're waking, sleeping, or in the bathroom.

Wait, are we arguing against Santa, or God?

 

[Phil]

I have to wonder about the propriety of teaching children that a strange old man watches them all the time, whether they're waking, sleeping, or in the bathroom.

Wait, are we arguing against Santa, or God?

Or just a creepy neighbor.

 

[Tsukasa Buddha]

"Well son/daughter, some parents think it is cute when children believe in silly, unreal things. So they made up Santa Claus and teach this lie to their kids. They also try to get them to act nice by bribing them with presents. I think you are too good for that ^^ ."

 

[sinclairmcevoy]

I have to wonder about the propriety of teaching children that a strange old man watches them all the time, whether they're waking, sleeping, or in the bathroom.

Wait, are we arguing against Santa, or God?

In this case, Santa. God is a different story. You make a good point though.

 

[TragicMonkey]

Well, as long as they know that some weird old man is judging them, and has access to their bedrooms in the dead of the night by magical means that can't be countered. That should encourage them to sleep lightly.

 

[Moochie]

I don't know why folks can't just explain to their kids that once a year they (parents) feel hideously guilty for all the crap they've dished out to them (the kids) over the preceding 12 months and so assuage that guilt by buying crappy presents. And besides, it keeps the economy going. Or something.

M.

 

[H3LL]

I don't think it's a problem if it is presented in the same way as any other storybook characters.

Children don't have problems with Cinderella, Aslan, The Grinch, Spongebob, Bilbo Baggins, Tom Thumb, etc...etc... and usually can separate them from reality.

Keep it a story.

You are not going to stop telling them stories...are you?

.

 

[tsg]

I always saw growing out of Santa as a kind of rite of passage. It's a milestone in the journey of growing up. A point a child can look back on and say, "before that I was young. I am older now."

My three-year-old loves Santa. My seven-year-old is starting to have his doubts.

I still get presents from Santa. I also get presents from my mother's cats, though.

 

[sinclairmcevoy]

Well, as long as they know that some weird old man is judging them, and has access to their bedrooms in the dead of the night by magical means that can't be countered. That should encourage them to sleep lightly.

Well, by the time she's 10 I'll be 50, so I'll be old relative to her, I have been called weird, but I won't need magic. Just a camera. Sweet dreams honey, remember, I know when you've been sleeping,....

 

[Darth Rotor]

Just wondering what others think about the whole Santa thing.

This was an argument my wife and I had for some years, an argument that I finally abandoned.

My position was to teach the kids that the gift deal is all about the giving, even though receiving is neat too. I did not see Santa Claus as a necessary element of that teaching point, and embracing of the seasonal tradition of gift exchange.

She wished for the fantasy and magic of the more commonly practiced idea to be our norm, and sometimes, you accept the following:

If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

When my son was 7, in early December, he walked into my room with nine toys he no longer played with, and said he thought he ought to give them to kids who had no toys.

I examined them. Four were broken and not in good shape. I asked him if he would appreciate being given a broken toy.

He said no.

We set those aside.

We examined the other five, and I asked him which of them, all in pretty good shap, including a toy dump truck, he would appreciate if someone gave to him.

He pointed to the dump truck, and a PowerMan with a parachute.

We went and found boxes, wrapped them up, and put them in the pile for the school's toy drive.

He then hit me with one of those moments that you live for, out of the blue.

He said he had thirteen dollars saved up, and wanted to buy a brand new toy, to add to those, for the drive.

We drove to the toy store a few miles from our house, a KayBee Toys. He bought a nine dollar transformer that he took some care in picking out of the many at the toy store. I paid to have it gift wrapped right there. It too was in the bag he carried to school on Monday.

Moments like that are what tears of joy are for. No Santa required.

DR

 

[TragicMonkey]

I don't think it's a problem if it is presented in the same way as any other storybook characters.

Children don't have problems with Cinderella, Aslan, The Grinch, Spongebob, Bilbo Baggins, Tom Thumb, etc...etc... and usually can separate them from reality.

"Grampa, how will Aslan bring us presents? In his mouth? Will my Baby Alive have lion drool and fang marks all over her?"

"Mommy, will Spongebob be able to breathe in our living room? Is he going to leave the presents in the fish tank?"

"Daddy, if Bilbo still has the Ring and uses it to sneak presents into the house, how do we know he's not here, right now, listening to us talk about him? And is there a risk of Gollum or Ringwraiths tracking him? I mean, I want that bigwheel, but not if it's going to get us all slaughtered."

"Cinderella's bringing the presents this year? The woman whose only skill is fitting into a pair of shoes? Sheesh. Forget it. Get me a damn gift card, and we'll call off this ridiculous farce!"

 

[Donal]

Isn't part of growing up having your childhood innocence shattered and all you hold dear ripped from you?

How can these kids become adults if they don't confront the fact that the world is full of liars, including mommy and daddy?

 

[Darth Rotor]

Isn't part of growing up having your childhood innocence shattered and all you hold dear ripped from you?

How can these kids become adults if they don't confront the fact that the world is full of liars, including mommy and daddy?

Good question.

The Jehovah's Witnesses don't have to deal with that, what with their ban on Christmas and such.

DR

 

[mr rosewater]

When my son was 7, in early December, he walked into my room with nine toys he no longer played with, and said he thought he ought to give them to kids who had no toys.

I examined them. Four were broken and not in good shape. I asked him if he would appreciate being given a broken toy.

He said no.

We set those aside.

We examined the other five, and I asked him which of them, all in pretty good shap, including a toy dump truck, he would appreciate if someone gave to him.

He pointed to the dump truck, and a PowerMan with a parachute.

We went and found boxes, wrapped them up, and put them in the pile for the school's toy drive.

He then hit me with one of those moments that you live for, out of the blue.

He said he had thirteen dollars saved up, and wanted to buy a brand new toy, to add to those, for the drive.

We drove to the toy store a few miles from our house, a KayBee Toys. He bought a nine dollar transformer that he took some care in picking out of the many at the toy store. I paid to have it gift wrapped right there. It too was in the bag he carried to school on Monday.

Moments like that are what tears of joy are for. No Santa required.

DR

That's really very sweet, thanks again.

 

[ScroogeANDMarley]

This was an argument my wife and I had for some years, an argument that I finally abandoned.

My position was to teach the kids that the gift deal is all about the giving, even though receiving is neat too. I did not see Santa Claus as a necessary element of that teaching point, and embracing of the seasonal tradition of gift exchange.

She wished for the fantasy and magic of the more commonly practiced idea to be our norm, and sometimes, you accept the following:

If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

When my son was 7, in early December, he walked into my room with nine toys he no longer played with, and said he thought he ought to give them to kids who had no toys.

I examined them. Four were broken and not in good shape. I asked him if he would appreciate being given a broken toy.

He said no.

We set those aside.

We examined the other five, and I asked him which of them, all in pretty good shap, including a toy dump truck, he would appreciate if someone gave to him.

He pointed to the dump truck, and a PowerMan with a parachute.

We went and found boxes, wrapped them up, and put them in the pile for the school's toy drive.

He then hit me with one of those moments that you live for, out of the blue.

He said he had thirteen dollars saved up, and wanted to buy a brand new toy, to add to those, for the drive.

We drove to the toy store a few miles from our house, a KayBee Toys. He bought a nine dollar transformer that he took some care in picking out of the many at the toy store. I paid to have it gift wrapped right there. It too was in the bag he carried to school on Monday.

Moments like that are what tears of joy are for. No Santa required.

DR

That is the best XMas story I've ever read. Thank you for posting it.

To the OP: Only tell your child that Santa is real if you plan on having more children. My brother and I loved shattering our youngest sister's belief in him. It was cruel...and a good bit of fun.