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You know, there's always some pious know-it-all who thinks telling kids about Santa is tantamount to child abuse. These are typically very unhappy, friendless people who cannot abide any fun at all in other people, and they live to ruin other people's fun in the pursuit of "truth," or whatever they perceive it to be. As if sharing a harmless little legend will mentally scar the child for life upon the discovery that it's not so. To people like that, I offer that they should get a life.
Now, all that being said, my nine-year-old daughter came to me a few holidays ago, looked me straight in the eye, and said, "There's no Santa Claus, right?" To which I shook my head and said, "No, sweetie, there isn't. It's just a pleasant story." She nodded her head sagely, said, "Cool," and moved on. No trauma, no scarring, no latent resentment. Same thing for my older son. My youngest is nine, and he is dubious, but he's still pretending to believe. I'm fairly sure he'll shake it off by the time next Christmas rolls around. After all, a ten- or eleven-year-old who still believes in Santa is bordering on mental retardation.
I was five when my playmate told me there was no Santa. I went directly to my mom and asked. She said "Do you want the truth?" I said "Yes" and she gave it to me straight. I immediately told my friend that there was no Easter Bunny. He was devistated....I think I felt a bit superior to him after that.
I think anyone who thinks it's wrong to let them have their little childhood magic just forgot what it's like to be young. Never forget, that's when you become old.
I was five when my playmate told me there was no Santa. I went directly to my mom and asked. She said "Do you want the truth?" I said "Yes" and she gave it to me straight. I immediately told my friend that there was no Easter Bunny. He was devistated....I think I felt a bit superior to him after that.
Exactly. If the child asks for the truth, you give it to him. At the same time, as I cautioned both my daughter and son, if you spoil the fun for some other child, then woe be unto you if I find out.
I think anyone who thinks it's wrong to let them have their little childhood magic just forgot what it's like to be young. Never forget, that's when you become old.
I'll have to agree. Why have our kids grow up so fast?
From the beginning, teach them that Santa is an attitude, a spirit, and a shared feeling amongst community members. That way they can always believe in Santa and will still enjoy and get excited at seeing the jolly man at the mall.
From the beginning, teach them that Santa is an attitude, a spirit, and a shared feeling amongst community members. That way they can always believe in Santa and will still enjoy and get excited at seeing the jolly man at the mall.
It's a nice sentiment, but you're asking a two- or four-year-old to absorb a really, really abstract concept. Even the brightest of children at that age are very concrete thinkers and aren't going to get that. Now, that being said, a supersonic Elf handing out free swag is a concept every child can grasp.
IMany felt that lying to a child in this way was horrible. I am one who believes that kids see too much "reality" too soon in life.
Absolutely. Some folks have this notion that kids should be presented with every piece of reality, as soon as possible. Dolts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpg35223
You know, there's always some pious know-it-all who thinks telling kids about Santa is tantamount to child abuse. These are typically very unhappy, friendless people who cannot abide any fun at all in other people, and they live to ruin other people's fun in the pursuit of "truth," or whatever they perceive it to be. As if sharing a harmless little legend will mentally scar the child for life upon the discovery that it's not so. To people like that, I offer that they should get a life.
Totally agree. Sometimes I wonder if this is because of their own unhappy childhood.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stan4
From the beginning, teach them that Santa is an attitude, a spirit, and a shared feeling amongst community members. That way they can always believe in Santa and will still enjoy and get excited at seeing the jolly man at the mall.
No. Childhood fantasy is a wonderful thing, especially one as joyful and fun as the big guy in red. My son loved the whole Santa thing...cookies, and reindeer food...it was a wonderful part of his childhood. When he matured, he figured it out just fine on his own, with absolutely no trauma. Imagine that.
From the beginning, teach them that Santa is an attitude, a spirit, and a shared feeling amongst community members. That way they can always believe in Santa and will still enjoy and get excited at seeing the jolly man at the mall.
Ahhhhh ha! The guy who went to see Baby Genius's 3 and liked it! I knew he existed! People kept saying he wasn't real, but I had faith!
My sis and I always suspected that Mom and Dad were Santa (as were Grandma and Grandpa when we would get to see them). My lil bro lived with the fantasy longer.
I have a nephew who will be 4 on the 29th and when I was visiting my sis and nephew for Thanksgiving we were out to dinner a couple nights before and one of her friends happened to say that "Santa's dead". The comment in context was kinda funny, except that my nephew had just come up to the table (he had been playing Pac-Man or something with his Dad who was dropping him off with Sis and I)! The poor kid, he started crying and then wanted to know if it was true, because he was already planning on making cookies for the guy!!
So, I told him "No honey he is still alive and well. Mommy's friend was just kidding."
I think children should be allowed to be children for as long as they can. Like I have been telling my kids "you are only a kid for 18 years and if you are lucky you will be an adult for a good 70+ years, so don't be in such a hurry to grow up, you'll be a grown up a lot longer than you'll be a kid."
So do I care that my 12 year old still believes in Santa? (I think she may have figured out that there is no Santa, but is still wanting to hold on to her childhood) The answer is NO!!! I see her as someone who is enjoying every aspect of being a child for as long as she can. I see her as someone who wants to hold on to the magic and believe that there is some good in this world. For if she sees good for as long as she can while she is a child, she will hopefully spread the good as an adult.
I think when the magic is lost at early ages it makes them more likely to be cynical as they age.
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