Did you grow up being told that Santa Clause brought you your presents? If not, who were you told brought you your presents as a child?
I spent childhood without Santa. I was always told that the Parents bought me my presents. This may be one of the few things that I am grateful that my conservative Calvinist upbringing left me with. I am starting to think that the Santa mindset preconditions children for materialism. (That is just my opinion; I don't mind if you disagree.)
Sometimes in my childhood this mindset bordered on arrogance; *other* people told there kids stupid stories about Santa, but we don't believe in that nonsense.... (I am not saying that this arrogance is good; it is very bad and one of the plauges of my upbringing.) I genuinely apologize if I just offended most of you W's. But that is what I was told as a child. I guess that is why I am asking this question; because I am genuinely curious what everybody else was told. Thanks!
By the time I was five my mother, God rest her soul, felt it her duty to make sure I was grounded in reality. My wife and I encouraged our daughters belief in Santa down to milk, cookies, and carrots for the reindeer. She gradually came to figure it out while maintain a sense of joy and wonder. Most importantly she "gets" Christmas and helping others, what Santa really stands for. I truly believe in Santa Claus and feel sorry when people feel the need to destroy a childs sense of wonder and joy. Santa makes the world a little bit better.
Wait - there is no Santa Claus ??? Shouldn't this thread have a spoiler tag ???
I am 43 years old and to this day, my parents have never told me that there is no Santa Claus. I figured out that Santa's handwriting looked a lot like Mom's and I also saw Mom come down from the attic one night with toys that later came from Santa but I never asked and they never volunteered.
I truly believe there is a little Santa in all of us and through that belief, to me, Santa is alive and well. I know that some day my kids will ask me and when they do, I will tell them what I believe and let them make that decision for themselves.
Enough with the PC Crap A Christmas Tree is a Christmas Tree - not a Holiday Tree A Menorah is a Menorah - not a Holiday Candelabra
I don't recall exactly when I figured out there was no Santa. I think my kids figured it out when they were about 7 or 8 - public schools are too public, IMO.
But sure, Santa (or Sant-ee, as he is known in out house) is important. Part of our tradition, as well as reading the real Christmas story, going to see the lights and going to church on Christmas eve, and watching White Christmas and singing along with "Sisters". Oh, and funny gift tag names.
Example - to my daughter (she never comes here). She's a casual wrestling fan now, but they always watched with me when they were kids.
To: A Randy Savage Fan From: The good provider
(It's a couple boxes of slim-jims)
We'll be back right after order has been restored here in the Omni Center.
I'm not sure, but I think I was maybe 5 or 6 when I figured out that Santa ruse.
As far as my kids, I neither confirm nor deny, but we actually have 2 "present" times: one at the grandparent's home where everybody gets stuff from everybody on Christmas Eve; the other, on Christmas Morn, at our house where *mostly the kids get stuff that does not have a "from" on the label.
If they choose to believe, I will not discourage them. If they ask, I will not lie to them either.-- Although, I'm not above misdirection. I have avoided answering the question in the past by asking them what they think or through some type of distraction.
*We (mom & dad) get at least a token present...
"The truth is often a terrible weapon of aggression. It is possible to lie, and even to murder with the truth." ALFRED ADLER
I'd be curious to know exactly what IJ thinks of Santa. She'll be 3 in a couple of weeks.
There are already presents that have come in the mail that she knows are from other people, and both Mrs. JJD and I took her Christmas shopping. However, Mrs. JJD and her are going to be making Christmas cookies for Santa and IJ got some special "reindeer dust" at school to put in the front yard "so the reindeer know where to stop." She's also been told that she needs to "check with Santa" about things she wants for Christmas.
We bought her a Dora the Explorer bed, so after she falls asleep Christmas Eve we're going to trade out her old bed for her new one, so she wakes up in the Dora bed. If nothing else, it should sufficiently freak her out.
"You know what you need? Some new quotes in your sig. Yeah, I said it." -- DJFrostyFreeze
Originally posted by dunkndollazI am 43 years old and to this day, my parents have never told me that there is no Santa Claus. I figured out that Santa's handwriting looked a lot like Mom's and I also saw Mom come down from the attic one night with toys that later came from Santa but I never asked and they never volunteered.
Same here, except for the "43 years old" part :).
Originally posted by JJDWe bought her a Dora the Explorer bed, so after she falls asleep Christmas Eve we're going to trade out her old bed for her new one, so she wakes up in the Dora bed.
Originally posted by rinbergIf they choose to believe, I will not discourage them. If they ask, I will not lie to them either.-- Although, I'm not above misdirection. I have avoided answering the question in the past by asking them what they think or through some type of distraction.
*We (mom & dad) get at least a token present...
I understand but when our daughter came home from school and said kids were making fun of Santa, etc. she asked if I believed in him. With a straight face, I could tell her yes. I guess it all depends on how you define the jolly old elf.
I've always wanted to drive around pre-schools with a loudspeaker screaming "There is no Santa Claus-it's your parents fooling you."
Just kidding. But it would be fun to see if the kids cry.
I remember having doubts when I was four years old. I was on vacation in Barbados over Christmas, and I got a book that had the inscription, "From Santa, Auntie Angie and Uncle Jack". So I wondered a)how Santa knew I wasn't at home, and b)how he worked with various relatives.
Originally posted by DrDirtI understand but when our daughter came home from school and said kids were making fun of Santa, etc. she asked if I believed in him. With a straight face, I could tell her yes. I guess it all depends on how you define the jolly old elf.
My reply to that question from my kids:"Do you believe everything the kids at school say? How do you feel about Santa? Here, have a cookie..." So, I'm right there with ya, Doc.
And, JJD, I have to agree with Frosty: Best.Christmas.Ever. Let us know how it turns out. I may steal that idea in a couple years when the 4th little 'berg graduates out of the crib.
"The truth is often a terrible weapon of aggression. It is possible to lie, and even to murder with the truth." ALFRED ADLER
Not only did Santa drop off presents at our house when I was a kid, but he also decorated our Christmas tree. We used to get a live tree a few days before Christmas and it would sit in its stand completely bare up through Christmas Eve. Then on Christmas morning my sister and I came downstairs and saw that Santa had decorated it when he stopped by. He also always left Thank you notes for the cookies and milk. I vaguely remember thinking about the milk getting warm and spoiling and wondering if Santa would still want it, but he never complained.
I'm 3 years older than my sister so I had a couple more years of believing in Santa than she probably did. If I knew/suspected that there was no Santa I know I wouldn't have kept quiet about it. Is it easy for families with children of various ages to keep Santa alive for the younger ones? In my house if you voiced an opinion that Santa wasn't real you'd be told that if you don't believe in him, then he won't come.
'But if one is struck by me only a little, that is far different, the stroke is a sharp thing and suddenly lays him lifeless, and that man's wife goes with cheeks torn in lamentation, and his children are fatherless, while he, staining the soil with his red blood, rots away, and there are more birds than women swarming about him.' Diomedes, The Iliad of Homer
Christmas wasn't all that big a deal in my atheist household, but we did have presents from Santa when I was little. I don't remember the details of what I learned and when.
I now spend Christmas with friends of the family, and the kids still believe. Well, this year, the older kid (7) is getting suspicious. When they took him to see a mall Santa this year, he asked Santa to leave a bell from his sleigh, to prove he was real. Luckily, my girlfriend recently got a sleigh-type bell with something she ordered from Lands End or some such catalog, so we're going to wrap it up and put it under the tree, and see what happens.
My kids (9 and 5) are convinced still that there is a Santa, and that he has a whole lot of helpers who work the malls etc...
My 9 year old told me he heard footsteps going up and down the stairs last year, but we were able to convince him that Santa was actually checking to make sure he was asleep.
I don't remember when I started to question it, but again, I do, like others, still believe that there is a little Santa in all of us...
My 9 year old keeps telling me how the best part of Christmas is the giving of presents to those who need them more than us and the spending of time helping others enjoy the season. I am so proud of him at this age feeling that way.
Where the wild are strong, and the strong are the darkest ones, you're the Darkest One.
Originally posted by hazMy 9 year old keeps telling me how the best part of Christmas is the giving of presents to those who need them more than us and the spending of time helping others enjoy the season. I am so proud of him at this age feeling that way.
That is a good feeling...a few years ago after hearing about a family aquaintences house burning down, my daughter went into her room, gathered up some toys, books and stuffed animals and said that their little girl should have them since they weren't going to be in their house for Christmas.
Back on topic, my kids 10 & 4 still believe. Although they know about the "helpers" at the mall. We also have "peeker brownies" which occasionally will be spotted. They report good or bad behavior back to Santa.
I remember I stopped believing around the age of 6 or 7, and I almost immediately tried to convince my sister (a year younger than me) there was no Santa. I was unsuccessful for a couple of years. Then one year I asked my parents, in front of my sister, why all of our presents say they come from either Mom or Dad or both if it was actually Santa making the delivery. I'm actually not that clever, I read it in Calvin & Hobbes. From that year on, all of our presents came from "Santa." Tricky parents, I have.
I figured out the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and Santa Claus all in about five minutes over my breakfast cereal when I was five years old (I thought it was strange that the Tooth Fairy left me a silver dollar taped to my father's friend's business card!), and the E.Bun. and S.Claus went down like dominoes. My mom made me promise not to tell any of the other kids at school, and I never did.
I have a second cousin in Bombay (yes, Santa goes to India, too!) who still believes in him. She's 14 years old. I don't know what to make of that, but I find it little sweet and a little sad at the same time.
(edited by Stilton on 22.12.05 2337) If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever. --George Orwell
Both of my younger kids (10 & 5)still believe. The 10 year old is currently in the family room going nuts, due to the fact my 5 year old is actually sleeping past 7 am!
I don't remember when I stopped believing in Santa, but I do remember one day in the third grade when my teacher said to the class "You all know Santa's not real by now, right? You know your parents give you your gifts, right?"
And everybody in the class agreed, except one boy. He got this shocked look on his face and said "Well I believe in him!" Everybody broke out in laughter, and he's looking around at us with this look of shock that ultimately turned into this look of "Man, how could I fall for that all these years".
I'm sure his parents got QUITE the lecture that night.
I can't remember when I found out he didn't exist, but I was pretty young. I do remember the first Christmas that I had after finding out though. My younger brother was still jumping around all excited, and thankfully I was mature enough to know to keep my mouth shut and give him another couple years of getting excited (until he asked me one year why I wasn't as excited anymore and insisted that I told him).
Originally posted by triciaI am starting to think that the Santa mindset preconditions children for materialism.
Children are BORN preconditioned for materialism. From the second they can make noise, they naturally scream and cry until they get their way. Parent's *hopefully* (but rarely) condition kids against that over years, but Santa holds no blame.