Cutting back when you still have a "believer"...

[Mouse House Mama]

Maybe, since so many folks have lost their jobs, Santa has to bring those children an extra present or two, so he's cutting back on kids he knows will be getting nice things from their parents. (In this way, kids are sacrificing/giving to others - isn't that what we want them to learn anyway?)

I think this is the best response.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

Innocent also means unaware and in that sense she used the word correctly.

1 a : free from guilt or sin especially through lack of knowledge of evil : blameless <an innocent child> b : harmless in effect or intention <searching for a hidden motive in even the most innocent conversation — Leonard Wibberley>; also : candid <gave me an innocent gaze> c : free from legal guilt or fault; also : lawful <a wholly innocent transaction>
2 a : lacking or reflecting a lack of sophistication, guile, or self-consciousness : artless, ingenuous b : ignorant <almost entirely innocent of Latin — C. L. Wrenn>; also : unaware <perfectly innocent of the confusion he had created — B. R. Haydon>
3 : lacking or deprived of something <her face innocent of cosmetics

What I do not understand is why some people have to hijack a thread and belittle others or start a heated discussion about whether or not their children still believe at 10.

The OP asked a question about what to do when you could not afford as many gifts this year as previous years when your child still believes in Santa, she did not ask if you really thought her child did.

 

[momx2]

Innocent also means unaware and in that sense she used the word correctly.




What I do not understand is why some people have to hijack a thread and belittle others or start a heated discussion about whether or not their children still believe at 10.

The OP asked a question about what to do when you could not afford as many gifts this year as previous years when your child still believes in Santa, she did not ask if you really thought her child did.

Ah, there is at least one nonoffensive definition in the list you provided. You are correct. I guess me and the others were thinking of the vast majority of the definitions that would be offensive.

I didn't realize that one couldn't post in response to other posters who call our non-believers less than innocent. I should have pm'd you for permission I guess? BTW, if you wanted to stay on topic why did you respond and throw gas on a very small flame that was basically out?

 

[PixiePlanner]

I'm sure your 10 year old knows there's no Santa and is possibly playing along for YOUR benefit.

My DS, just turned 11 on Saturday. DD asked him if there really was a Santa. He said, "I'm not sure, ask Mom." So of course they called me into the room. When DD asked, I sat down in a recliner and said, "Well, I believe there really is a Santa because(at this point, DS ran over and sat in my lap just like when he was 5!) someone tracks in magic snow every year AND I don't know who in their right mind would ever buy a 7 yr old a TV for Christmas." DS responded by remembering when he got in trouble (DH did a great job pretending to be upset) for making a mess by tracking in something downstairs by the fireplace.

I don't think he completely believes. I do think he has doubts. I definitely think he WANTS to believe. However, this summer when in WDW, he had no clue who left him notes and gifts each day so who knows.

 

[abcboys]

I may be in the minority here but I was glad when my oldest at age 8 learned about Santa and my middle this year at age 7 learned the truth. When they come right out and ask me about it I tell them the truth. I have never been one to say "if you don't believe you don't recieve" I make them feel like a "big kid" and they are in on the secret. Just my opinion (and it means nothing) I don't understand why people must insist on 10/11 years old believing in santa. My oldest says his cousin who is 11 1/2 still wholheartedly believes. I always thought Santa was a "little kid thing" and don't understand how perfectly smart 10 year olds still believe or that their parents still let them believe.

Having said that we still play along for the 4 year old. We all have fun watching him on the norad radar and leaving reindeer food out. We all have fun "pretending" him but I'm glad they know the truth. My 7 year old read Superfudge and it talks about it in there. So when he came right out and told me in the book he wasn't real, I knew it was time to come out with the truth.

OP, if you don't have the heart to tell your son the truth, I think your idea of the wii from you and games from santa is fine.

 

[momx2]

I don't think he completely believes. I do think he has doubts. I definitely think he WANTS to believe. However, this summer when in WDW, he had no clue who left him notes and gifts each day so who knows.

Love it! Last year we were at WDW right before Christmas and I arranged for 2 disney stocking to be delivered to our room while we were out for dinner. They were beautiful, ordered from disney florist. Anyway, when we got back to the room they were there and my youngest DD was convinced Santa had been there. My oldest DD(11) who didn't believe, kept asking me how we got them in there and I just kept saying I had no idea. She was believing again! I never told her otherwise, so while she still doesn't believe in Santa, she beleived something very magical happened that night and still can't figure it out.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

Ah, there is at least one nonoffensive definition in the list you provided. You are correct. I guess me and the others were thinking of the vast majority of the definitions that would be offensive.

I didn't realize that one couldn't post in response to other posters who call our non-believers less than innocent. I should have pm'd you for permission I guess? BTW, if you wanted to stay on topic why did you respond and throw gas on a very small flame that was basically out?

right, what ever!

 

[mum4jenn]

BlueFairy2....THANK YOU for YOUR support!!!

 

[jemgumby]

Ah, there is at least one nonoffensive definition in the list you provided. You are correct. I guess me and the others were thinking of the vast majority of the definitions that would be offensive.

I didn't realize that one couldn't post in response to other posters who call our non-believers less than innocent. I should have pm'd you for permission I guess? BTW, if you wanted to stay on topic why did you respond and throw gas on a very small flame that was basically out?

Good points and I agree 100%!!!!!

 

[mcco5543]

this may be off topic but along the same vein..

When I got older and started questioning Santa, my mom explained that

"Yes, santa was real, but now that I was older, I was old enough to know about the "real" santa.


She went on to explain how the guy in the red suit who came down chimney's was therepresentation of what santa really is because littler children would have hard time with what she was about to explain to me.

She continued and explained that Santa is really the "spirit of giving" and we can't really see him, but we experience Santa when we give and recieve with others. I was completely satisfied and totally excited to know about the "real" santa and know that I could be a part of Santa being "real" by participating in the spirit of giving.

Maybe it wont' work for other kids but it worked in my family and I'm 30-ish and YES I absolutely believe in Santa -The spirit of giving!

 

[momx2]

BlueFairy2....THANK YOU for YOUR support!!!

Mum4jenn, here's the thing. I agree with 99% of what you are saying. If you read my posts I have an 8 yr. old 3rd grader that will probably beleive forever. I think that is great, I encourage her and I'm actually having someone write and answer her Santa questions that were in her letter to Santa. It is adorable! Where I disagree is your choice in labeling these believers "innocent" suggesting that the other children that don't believe aren't "innocent."

BlueFairy pointed out that one of the 10+ meanings of innocent is nonoffensive, but when I and the others read your post we didn't think of the one nonoffensive meaning, but thought of what most would, all of the offensive meanings. My response to you was that I thought you must have just chosen the wrong word because I didn't think you would mean to offend all these children. You became offended at that. I am truly sorry you became offended at my initial post. It was not intended in the manner in which you recieved it.

I truly don't think the OPs believer is going to mind not having as much since he is getting a Wii. If he mentions it I would just point out that Santa had to give the kids whose parents were out of work more this year to help out the family or something like that. If he truly beleives, he will probably not think another thing about it.

 

[momx2]

this may be off topic but along the same vein..

When I got older and started questioning Santa, my mom explained that

"Yes, santa was real, but now that I was older, I was old enough to know about the "real" santa.


She went on to explain how the guy in the red suit who came down chimney's was therepresentation of what santa really is because littler children would have hard time with what she was about to explain to me.

She continued and explained that Santa is really the "spirit of giving" and we can't really see him, but we experience Santa when we give and recieve with others. I was completely satisfied and totally excited to know about the "real" santa and know that I could be a part of Santa being "real" by participating in the spirit of giving.

Maybe it wont' work for other kids but it worked in my family and I'm 30-ish and YES I absolutely believe in Santa -The spirit of giving!

That is a great explanation! Better than my father who got mad at me and pouted because at 13 I had had enough of pretending to beleive. I still went along for my siblings of course, but he just couldn't accept I was growing up. It was the beginning of the same problem for the rest of my life until I had kids. He wanted me to remain a child....

 

[jodifla]

How do you do this? Money is extremely tight this year, and we decided to buy our boys one big gift...the Wii. I think we are the last people in our town to buy one, but that's another story for another day! lol

So, they are getting the Wii, the extra controllers, and a couple of games. It adds up, as you know, to quite a bit of money. My 14 year old obviously knows that the gifts are from us, but my 10 year old still believes in Santa. I was thinking about making the Wii system from my DH and I, and the games are from Santa. Santa has always brought more than that...my bad We teach our kids to be thankful no matter what, but you now, they are still kids. I wish I could just break the news to my 10 year old that Santa is US.

I've already told him that Santa is on a tight budget this year because of the economy, and his reply was that Santa MAKES the toys...he doesn't buy them. UGH. Well, Santa has to pay the elves, insurance has gone up, fuel has gone up, etc. etc. My DS wasn't buying it.

Anyone else BTDT with their kids? What did you do?

My answer won't be a popular one for the budget boards, but if it were me, I'd have more gifts under the tree. A lot of the fun at that age is opening up the presents, and what you describing will be over way too quick.

Now the rest of the gifts would be MUCH smaller, and would include some items that were needs (like pjs) instead of toys, but I still couldn't put that few gifts under the tree at that age.

 

[HDCooper]

OP - Would it be possible to cut some of the amount on other Christmas presents. Surely the adults on your list, would understand. Example, if you usually spend $40 on your brother... spend $20... that way you will have $20 more dollars to spend on DS. Just a thought.

 

[quentina]

My kids have always been told that Mom and Dad pay Santa for the toys he makes and brings. My oldest really believed that Santa sent us a bill.

 

[quentina]

Are you sure your 10 year old still believes? It is hard for a child these days to interact with other kids and NOT know by age 10.

We don't do Santa, but I haven't met any 10 year olds that still believe.

Dawn

Mine did...until 11. This is the first year he does not.

 

[eliza61]

I've already told him that Santa is on a tight budget this year because of the economy, and his reply was that Santa MAKES the toys...he doesn't buy them. UGH. Well, Santa has to pay the elves, insurance has gone up, fuel has gone up, etc. etc. My DS wasn't buying it.

Anyone else BTDT with their kids? What did you do?

We actually didn't do any thing. Even when my kids were big time believers we stressed that Santa was in no way going to bring them every thing on their list. Believe me, my sons had list 50 miles long.... When they went to "see" santa at the store and rattled off every toy known to God we mentioned that Santa was not bringing them every thing.

We made sure they picked the "one" toy that they reallly, really wanted. Sure they some times got disappointed that they were missing "XYZ" toy but that's when they got the " thankful for the lovely gifts" you got lecture.

 

[marcyinPA]

OP - Would it be possible to cut some of the amount on other Christmas presents. Surely the adults on your list, would understand. Example, if you usually spend $40 on your brother... spend $20... that way you will have $20 more dollars to spend on DS. Just a thought.

Yup...we've already worked it out with the adults in the family that we won't be exchanging this year. Everyone is in the same boat, some unemployed, some losing their jobs in a few months, and some like us, just trying to stay afloat.

The Wii, after all is said and done, with the extra controllers, the charger, the games (2 each) will be about $400...this is generally what we spend on our boys, but we usually have smaller items=more to open. I completely understand that the Wii itself is a very generous gift. I'm just wondering, since the system is shared for both boys, how my "believer" will react to only having 2 or 3 things to unwrap from both US and Santa.

I think we'll cross that bridge if we have to. I've already been planting the seed that Santa had to cut back this year due to the economy.

 

[momx2]

Could you wrap him up some pjs or some books or just a couple of things that are usable and not that expensive? I think I would wrap the Wii games from the parents and give him the Wii from Santa.

 

[Imzadi]

If my child was complaining after getting such a big ticket item as a Wii, I would be returning it. 10 is old enough to start learning the value of an item over how many items one gets.