My daughter is two this year and we have another child on the way. I've been telling her that I am Santa Claus periodically this season, but telling her not to tell anyone else. Sometimes she will say "Daddy!" when someone talks to her about Santa and its funny because nobody but the two of us know why she is saying Daddy. I will catch her eye and give her a "shhhh!" motion when she does.
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Will you tell your kid/future kid that Santa is real?
- Thread starter Supast4r
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highrider
Banned
There are ways to present the idea to kids that are more vague . When I was a kid Santa was always sort or spoken about with a smile and a wink. There was no sense of being tricked or deceived. It sounds like this was presented to your kid in a completely serious way, which is failing spectacularly to grasp the concept of the Santa myth.
Soapbox Killer
Grand Nagus
I never believed in Santa (as far as i can remember) and I never let any of my kids believe in Santa either. Christmas seems to be fine just the same.
Sato Koiji
Member
Its all about memories. Let the kids live in their world as long as they can.
I feel like it's mostly millennials complaining about wanting the credit for Christmas. So, I would guess that they understand the sacrifices of their parents, but years of getting "participation badges" have left them needing constant validation?
Christmas for children is about magic and wonderment. It's a beautiful innocent thing that children can enjoy before the world comes crashing down and cynicism ruins everything for them.
Let people feel that magic in their youth. One thing I hate about holidays is how adults have made it about their own satisfaction. Everything must relate to their own sense of politics and their own convenience.
Kids must trunk or treat because it's easier for parents to drink and socialize. Halloween parties have overtaken what amounted to a children's holiday of spookiness, mischief and treats. Exploring neighborhoods and accomplishing something.
Getting older I feel Christmas has changed in the same way. Over the years, people selling cars, jewelry, etc have given up on trying to keep the myth alive for younger people. They have taken a childish thing and morphed it into a big joke without care for anyone but the 45 year old sarcastic assholes buying cars.
Ads that modernize/poke fun at the Santa myth while protecting it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnQFWYvxWDo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE8CJwXSPRs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y888mx7hMZ0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMjPpTz3EYg
Versus this smut.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_9Q6MePfwM
Let people feel that magic in their youth. One thing I hate about holidays is how adults have made it about their own satisfaction. Everything must relate to their own sense of politics and their own convenience.
Kids must trunk or treat because it's easier for parents to drink and socialize. Halloween parties have overtaken what amounted to a children's holiday of spookiness, mischief and treats. Exploring neighborhoods and accomplishing something.
Getting older I feel Christmas has changed in the same way. Over the years, people selling cars, jewelry, etc have given up on trying to keep the myth alive for younger people. They have taken a childish thing and morphed it into a big joke without care for anyone but the 45 year old sarcastic assholes buying cars.
Ads that modernize/poke fun at the Santa myth while protecting it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnQFWYvxWDo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE8CJwXSPRs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y888mx7hMZ0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMjPpTz3EYg
Versus this smut.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_9Q6MePfwM
I'm aware this is a part of getting older. I'm just stupid and unaware that Christmas ads have always been like this, but for some reason I feel stuff like the ad above are different. It annoyed me when I saw it during a football game.
Ecto311
Member
Man I thought the same till I had a kid and your ideas of things go out the window. You have no idea what you will tell them till they are right there in front of you asking. They will come to you with all kinds of concerns and questions and when you are looking them in the eye it is a lot different than being rigid on ideas right now.
I tell my daughter that I don't know because like Jesus or god (or any god) I have yet to see them but there is no proof either way. Makes for a nice transition into questioning everything and thinking on your own not just buying in on some shit you heard.
Believing in santa isn't bad so why just shit on it day one. Let the kids decipher it on their own.
Captain Tuttle
Member
Melchettsmoustache
Member
So if you got to Disney or any big theme park based around a character.... or even a kids party with the cast of frozen. Do you just politely remind her none of it is real and it's just dress up?
Dongs Macabre
aka Daedalos42
Is believing in Santa actually a thing? When I was a kid I don't think even my white friends believed in Santa, but maybe that's a side effect of our city being pretty culturally diverse? I dunno. Either way, kids are smart. Like, the whole chimney thing is definitely a huge red flag when a lot of people don't have chimneys.
Melchettsmoustache
Member
He has a magic key.......
The One and Done
Member
No.
Making your children believe fantastical lies seems like one of the boons of having them really. In my experience the reality of Santa is usually shattered pretty early anyway by a relative or someone at school.
I remember when I was a kid the story seemed to be amended with Santa having some fucking skeleton key for those houses without chimneys. To be honest for me it was the reverse - we had a chimney but it was functional and a fire was usually going.
I remember when I was a kid the story seemed to be amended with Santa having some fucking skeleton key for those houses without chimneys. To be honest for me it was the reverse - we had a chimney but it was functional and a fire was usually going.
Megalosaro
Banned
I'm not ChristIan either, but I still celebrate Christmas because is fun.
My daughter turns 3 in a couple months. Reality and make-belief have a pretty fuzzy boundary at that age, so Santa is as alive and real as any other cartoon character, stuffed animal, etc.
I'm not going to go out of my way to trick her into thinking Santa is real when she gets older and starts questioning things, but I'm not saying "No, that is an old man in a suit and fake beard making $12 an hour" every time she excitedly points out a mall Santa.
I'm not going to go out of my way to trick her into thinking Santa is real when she gets older and starts questioning things, but I'm not saying "No, that is an old man in a suit and fake beard making $12 an hour" every time she excitedly points out a mall Santa.
xrnzaaas
Member
I was lied to even longer than that and I see no problem here. There are far worse lies you could tell a kid, like that a deceased relative is on a long trip and won't come back anytime soon.
But to answer your question, I'd wait for them to figure it out and take part in this game until that happens.
But to answer your question, I'd wait for them to figure it out and take part in this game until that happens.
ZackieChan
Member
But...that's a lie, too. So one lie is better than others, as long as you get credit for buying the presents? That's some petty shit.
Laieon
Member
Grew up in what is now the most diverse city in the nation. Knew plenty of people who believed in Santa. I also went on the sub for schools in that area for a bit, plenty of preschoolers/kindergartners still believe in Santa.
In my school district (population of 50,000) a middle school teacher made reference to Santa only coming for 'little kids' and some parents threw a fit on Facebook. WTF people, every middle school kid knows it is mom and dad.
We did the whole Santa thing and with two logical kids they get it is fake but they still have fun with it. It is harmless.
You want stupid? The tooth fairy. WTF is that all about.
We did the whole Santa thing and with two logical kids they get it is fake but they still have fun with it. It is harmless.
You want stupid? The tooth fairy. WTF is that all about.
Dongs Macabre
aka Daedalos42
Well, I said "culturally diverse", although that probably wasn't the best term I could have used anyway. My city is like fifty percent immigrants, mostly from Asian countries where believing in Santa isn't a thing.
killer rin
Member
It might be unethical to lie to your kid about Santa Claus... but at the same time, with all of the bad in the world; There is nothing that can go wrong by telling them that there is a being that indiscriminately gives out gifts and toys to all the good little boys and girls, men and women, poor and rich... of all races and backgrounds. That there is a being which treats all humans as humans. Let's be honest, the world sucks. But maybe by believing and spreading the lie you can help make it a little bit better. And that's really what it's all about.
So yeah, I would tell my hypothetical children about Santa Claus. And when doing so, the above is the exact version of the story I would go with. At the same time, if my child were to come up to me and sincerely ask if Santa is real I will admit the lie, congratulate them on being able to use their brain properly and and explain the reasoning behind it.
So yeah, I would tell my hypothetical children about Santa Claus. And when doing so, the above is the exact version of the story I would go with. At the same time, if my child were to come up to me and sincerely ask if Santa is real I will admit the lie, congratulate them on being able to use their brain properly and and explain the reasoning behind it.
AbortedWalrusFetus
Member
Not only will I be telling my child that Santa is fake at the earliest possible point of his/her comprehension, I will also tell my child that she's/he's free to disseminate that information if desired.
Golden_Pigeon
Banned
No, i won't. I wasn't not told it was true neither.
I don't believe that is a solid foundation for trust.
I don't believe that is a solid foundation for trust.
Mister_Ruck
Member
IMO it's cute when kids believe in things like Santa and I think it makes it more exciting for them to believe there's more to Christmas than just "oh i asked for this so my mom bought it." They don't need to learn about the value of a dollar the minute they're out of the womb. Let them be innocent while they still can. They'll learn eventually, and I sincerely doubt any 10 year old has ever been upset at their parents for telling them Santa's real. It's silly to expect young children to understand and appreciate how hard you work to provide for them. That's something that comes with age and general life experience.
Outtrigger888
Member
Being a parent of 2 kids and having them run into our room Christmas morning all excited that Santa came is something I look forward to every year.
If your kids don't trust you because you made them believe in Santa then you have bigger issues on your hand.
If your kids don't trust you because you made them believe in Santa then you have bigger issues on your hand.
BouncyFrag
Member
I would ask for permission.
Lynd7
Member
This. If a kid held a massive grudge over lying about Santa, there's something bigger going on.
Thinking Santa and magic were/could be real as kid was super fun and felt magical. No need to not let kids not enjoy that.
Lollipop Dave
Member
I have very fond memories of when I was a nipper at my Grans house and she would dress up and pretend to be Santa for me and my siblings, handing us all one present and we would give Santa some cookies. As I got older that tradition slowly died out and by the time my youngest sister was 'too old' for Santa I was well aware that he wasn't real but now that my cousins and nephew are old enough the family tradition has came back and seeing the excitement, joy and enthusiasm on those kids afterwards is amazing and when I have kids I will let them believe in Santa so they hopefully have similar moments like that (and create great memories like it had done for me).
Of course, why should I tell them anything else but the truth?
I'm kidding of course. Yeah I would do that if I planned to have children, part of what made my childhood so great was that I was sheltered mostly from what a shitty place our world can be, and you know even tho it's a weird concept, it gives the children something to look forward to and introduces at least a little bit more wonder to their world, something I would definitely try to do since reality hits you like a brick later anyway as you get older.
I'm kidding of course. Yeah I would do that if I planned to have children, part of what made my childhood so great was that I was sheltered mostly from what a shitty place our world can be, and you know even tho it's a weird concept, it gives the children something to look forward to and introduces at least a little bit more wonder to their world, something I would definitely try to do since reality hits you like a brick later anyway as you get older.
OmegaTreeFish
Banned
I would say I am surprised by just how many joyless anti santa people are here but im not lol.
Its just some fun. Kids love it. Just adds to the magic and fun of the holiday.
My son is 3 and he is getting very excited about christmas and that santa will be coming etc etc. Its all over the TV anyway so its not like we really need to work hard on building up that thought process.
The only thing we are doing differently is telling him that some presents are from santa and some are from family so he get excited on both fronts and as he learns its just a fantasy he will even quicker realise its just family and everyone enjoys the fantasy even us adults.
If you cant see the point in fantasy and fictional characters then i guess you hate fiction books as well? As an adult you know they are fake of course but they can still feel real to you and thats not that different.
Its just some fun. Kids love it. Just adds to the magic and fun of the holiday.
My son is 3 and he is getting very excited about christmas and that santa will be coming etc etc. Its all over the TV anyway so its not like we really need to work hard on building up that thought process.
The only thing we are doing differently is telling him that some presents are from santa and some are from family so he get excited on both fronts and as he learns its just a fantasy he will even quicker realise its just family and everyone enjoys the fantasy even us adults.
If you cant see the point in fantasy and fictional characters then i guess you hate fiction books as well? As an adult you know they are fake of course but they can still feel real to you and thats not that different.
MarkMclovin
Member
You shield kids from all the bad shit going on in the world until they ask about such things. Then you be careful with what you say.
And you lie, make up stories about father christmas, the easter bunny and the tooth fairy right up until they call you stupid. Then you carry on because it's fun.
And you lie, make up stories about father christmas, the easter bunny and the tooth fairy right up until they call you stupid. Then you carry on because it's fun.
even the dumb white kids? whoa
curiouscharles
Member
No fucking way am I lying to my kids about shit like this.
Magic isn't real ffs.
We'll still have fun and play pretend about the whole thing but no way am I perpetuating silly fucking myths that will only contribute to an already-inevitable sense of disillusionment and depression they're bound to develop because of shit like this.
For reference - raised hardcore Roman Catholic, have nothing against my mother's faith etc. but I'm not a religious adult.
Actually fucking love Christmas, it's my favourite holiday and we will celebrate every single part of it - except with the knowledge that Santa is just a fun story we tell ourselves to make it all more fun.
(It's all about family, food, and good vibes after all).
Magic isn't real ffs.
We'll still have fun and play pretend about the whole thing but no way am I perpetuating silly fucking myths that will only contribute to an already-inevitable sense of disillusionment and depression they're bound to develop because of shit like this.
For reference - raised hardcore Roman Catholic, have nothing against my mother's faith etc. but I'm not a religious adult.
Actually fucking love Christmas, it's my favourite holiday and we will celebrate every single part of it - except with the knowledge that Santa is just a fun story we tell ourselves to make it all more fun.
(It's all about family, food, and good vibes after all).
Infinite_Daremo
Member
Damn right I would. There was nothing greater than the run up to Xmas knowing Santa was coming. Xmas Eve looking out the window at the rooftops at 2am because you can't sleep hoping you'll see him, fighting back every bodily urge to get some rest until you eventually pass out.
Then waking up the next morning, running to your parents bedroom to ask if he's been (we were told we had to ask our parents if he had been incase he was still putting out the presents and we would scare him off, in adult speak go away we were up till 5am assembling your fucking Ninja Turtles Sewer)... At this point my dad would make us all wait at the top of the stairs as he slowly walked down to check if he had delivered the presents eventually signalling us to run down and open them.
Those were some of the fondest moments of my childhood and i'd never dream of depriving those moments from a child of my own all for the smug pleasure of letting them know i'd worked hard to buy them presents or I didn't want to lie to them. I doubt i'd have anywhere near the appreciation for Xmas I do nowadays without those magical memories.
The Santa Clause got this shit sorted.
Then waking up the next morning, running to your parents bedroom to ask if he's been (we were told we had to ask our parents if he had been incase he was still putting out the presents and we would scare him off, in adult speak go away we were up till 5am assembling your fucking Ninja Turtles Sewer)... At this point my dad would make us all wait at the top of the stairs as he slowly walked down to check if he had delivered the presents eventually signalling us to run down and open them.
Those were some of the fondest moments of my childhood and i'd never dream of depriving those moments from a child of my own all for the smug pleasure of letting them know i'd worked hard to buy them presents or I didn't want to lie to them. I doubt i'd have anywhere near the appreciation for Xmas I do nowadays without those magical memories.
The Santa Clause got this shit sorted.
Sixfortyfive
He who pursues two rabbits gets two rabbits.
Personally, it felt like I was on the receiving end of a mean and pointless practical joke.
I don't have any particularly strong opinions toward the practice itself one way or the other, though.
OmegaTreeFish
Banned
Equating religion to santa is kinda insane.
With stuff like santa you just roll with it for fun, You know your kid is going to clock on at somepoint and when they realise that you dont sware its true to there face and punish them for being a non believer. You just have fun with it. Most kids know its fake by a pretty young age and just carry on the facade along with the parents for fun.
Its the same result as you mention but with a few years being extra magical to the kids when they are really young.
If you think "lies" such as this "contribute to an already-inevitable sense of disillusionment and depression" there is something much deeping causing this, not Santa. You even follow it up about being raised "raised hardcore Roman Catholic". Pretty sure i know which part cause your negative feelings.
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