Santa Claus

[sjuder]

My parents never instilled a belief in Santa Claus in me as a child. It was never a big deal to me and I respected other children's belief. I don't feel that I missed out on the spirit of Christmas or a belief in the fantastic. It had always been my plan that when I had children that I wouldn't teach them about Santa either. My husband however thinks that it is important that our son believes in Santa. I guess to some extent I feel like, why would I instill a belief that will inevitably be dashed? Is there something that I'm missing? Why is it important that a child believes in Santa? I feel like I don't get it. Is there anyone else that feels the same way that I do?

[MomRenee]

Both my husband and I are doing the same thing. Christmas is too commercialized these days. Our daughters, 3 and 6 know that Santa isn't real. It just depends on your beliefs and how you were raised.

[soozin58@yahoo.com]

Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus! Might be tough for the little ones to be among the "doubters." Can't imagine not believing in Santa, but, hey, each to his own.

[allisonb]

I've got to say, nothing against your personal beliefs on Santa Claus, but I LOVED the idea of Santa when I was little. It was SO exciting to think that Santa had come during the night and brought gifts. Was I disappointed when my older sister told me the truth? Of course, but I wouldn't have wanted to never have had that belief. I don't think there's anything wrong with letting kids believe in things like that for at least a little while. I say, let them have a little "magic" in their lives before they have to deal with the real world. I definitely want what I had for my daughter.

[byronsmom]

yes i agree christmas has become very commercialized, but you don't have to make it that way. i was raised christmas is a time to get together with family and have some great times.

as for santa i believed in him so did my sis and my niece is 9 and still does. i believe santa is the small part of magic that lies inside of us. that we can a simple present turn into the biggest thing since sliiced bread. the wonder in a small childs eyes when they see the cookies and milk that they left are all gone, how they lay awake so excited. all that is why, our family does santa.

[kare.bear]

We all knew Santa wasn't real, but we still had fun "playing" the game. Just like the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, and Halloween...we knew they were pretend traditions, but we had fun participating. Santa always put one gift under the tree for us... We ALWAYS knew it was my mom because gifts from her and dad were practical (like socks, pj's, etc.) and the gifts from "Santa" were the ones that mom told us would spoil us rotten (like dolls, trucks, etc.) We had fun with the traditions and didn't feel cheated that we didn't believe it was real, but probably would have felt cheated if we couldn't have participated at all....

[Zack_Jenn]

I want my kids to have the magic of Santa Claus. When we were little me and my sisters would all crowd in one bed on Christmas Eve and spend most of the night trying to sleep. We'd get up close to 4 am and go peek to see what Santa had brought. It was such an incredible experience to walk into a room barely lighted by the Christmas tree and see the gifts he left behind.

My mom and dad fed the belief in ways that weren't lying or deceitful and when we approached them and wanted to know the truth they told us everything. I feel that the magic they created for us gave me the desire to be create that magic for others.

[lismom2]

We all knew Santa wasn't real, but we still had fun "playing" the game. Just like the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, and Halloween...we knew they were pretend traditions, but we had fun participating. Santa always put one gift under the tree for us... We ALWAYS knew it was my mom because gifts from her and dad were practical (like socks, pj's, etc.) and the gifts from "Santa" were the ones that mom told us would spoil us rotten (like dolls, trucks, etc.) We had fun with the traditions and didn't feel cheated that we didn't believe it was real, but probably would have felt cheated if we couldn't have participated at all....

This is us with the exception of a few years of believing that Santa was 'real'. We don't play up the santa aspect of Christmas, but we still play. Besides, I always like what 'santa' gives me . Right now, we're trying to decide if Santa wraps his presents or not (at my house growing up, Santa wrapped, at my husbands, Santa did not...).

[Aquarius68]

Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus!

The actual newspaper article "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" is a very good way to approach it methinks ... that Santa Claus is the spirit of love and generosity (and to point out that this spirit is wholly appropriate the other 364 days of the year as well).

http://www.newseum.org/yesvirginia/

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

[moonemaiden]

I am with you. I grew up with the stories of Santa Claus, but ended up being Santa more often than not by the time I was 12 (for my younger siblings). I didn't want to deal with all that again when I had my own children. So we don't have Santa at our house. We have always told my daughter (and now my son) that Santa is the spirit of giving. Everyone should be Santa all year long. Some people just feel more like Santa than others, especially around the holidays, so they dress up like him for the little kids who need to see Santa as a real person. That act though, is also the spirit of giving.

My daughter is soon to be 8 and understands this very well. She has actually started making a joke of it, with her own sense of humor. Last year she wanted to celebrate Mr. Grinch (he learned the spirit of giving) and this year she wants to celebrate Mr. Mouse (who she decided she will teach the spirit of giving). Mr. Mouse is a made up character for her, she writes up a background story for him, and discusses with us his behavior and how she will teach him about generosity. She still has the fantasy, but it's in her hands. This also gives her a chance to work on language skills and get a deeper understanding of character traits and ideals.