Believing in Santa

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-28-2006
Believing in Santa
2
Wed, 11-19-2008 - 8:54pm
Hi everyone!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 11-19-2008 - 10:17pm

Hi and welcome! There is a similar discussion below in this same folder, so you might go look at that when you have time. Short version for me personally: once my kids were about 9 or 10 *I* became uncomfortable with the myth and I needed them to know the truth. It became less a fantasy and more of a fib, and I felt untruthful carrying it on.

My dd did something similar to yours, brought it up and seemed anxious, so I gently and simply asked her "what do you think", and she admitted that she thought that he was not real. I took the opportunity to explain that while there is not a fat man in a suit who comes down our chimney, there IS a giving spirit of Christmas and that I will ALWAYS play santa for my loved ones because santa embodies the spirit of unconditional giving and the belief and faith in things that are unbelievable. Quite truly *I* believe in Santa, and I told my daughter so, which greatly relieved her. She clearly knows from this conversation that we don't have to pretend a man will come down our chimney, but we do need to believe in all things wonderful and giving, and we still need to leave out cookies (though we now substitute beer for milk, as she knows daddy will appreciate that), we still sprinkle glitter on our lawn to attract the reindeer, we still read "the night before christmas" every single Christmas Eve.

Finding out the truth does not have to be painful and it does not have to be difficult. I imagine she already knows, it's inconceivable to me that a logical 10 year old hasn't figured it out! IMO she deserved the truth, gently told and gently reassured that the traditions will continue, no matter what. Santa will always sign his name to gifts in my home, forevermore, because Santa is about believing the unbelievable, which is an important topic to my faith.

Good luck!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-28-2006
Thu, 11-20-2008 - 2:41pm

Thanks so much - that is exactly what I wanted to say to her - you put it in great perspective and gave me some words!