Help! Daughter Surrounded By Santa Doubters!

[FourFlans]

DD8 came home yesterday saying that most of the kids in her 3rd grade class think parents are Santa. And she said this in front of DD5! Went on to ponder how parents could possible do all that shopping on Christmas Eve, when stores are closed, and put all the gifts out without making a sound and eat all the cookies without getting a tummy ache........I knew this would be an issue eventually, but I'm not yet prepared!

 

[sleepyone]

Last year, when dd was in second grade, Santa was at her school for a dinner with Santa. After dinner, the kids lined up in the library to have their picture taken with Santa. Dd was excited that Santa had come to her school. A little boy sitting on a sofa near the front of the line was chanting "my daddy is Santa...Santa is my daddy". It totally ruined it for her. She was sad and she decided that he wasn't the real Santa and that Santa must have helpers. She wondered how the real Santa would know what she wanted for Christmas since she wasted her time with the fake Santa.

I didn't try to make her believe or not believe in Santa (although, I still do) but, I asked her vague questions like "what do you think?", "What do you believe?", "If you think that was a fake Santa, how do you think the real Santa could know what you want?", etc...

HTH

 

[wvjules]

I think you have to go ahead and tell her the truth about Santa but tell her its a big responsibility to keep the magic alive for her little sister; she can help you shop as Santa for her, etc.. If she keeps insisiting to the other kids that he is real they might make fun of her so its best to fess up now IMO.

 

[FourFlans]

I hadn't thought of the other kids making fun of her. She's pretty independent. And she hasn't asked me outright--if she does I won't lie. I think she's right on the edge, thinking the other kids might be right but wanting so badly to still believe. I do tell both my girls that I still believe in the magic of Christmas, which includes both Jesus and Santa. Maybe I can make it through one more year without a direct question from her. I'm hoping, especially since we're counting down to our first Disney trip at the beginning of December and I've made big plans for Santa to visit a little early, leaving them a stash the morning that we set out on our drive, with a note saying he'll be back Christmas Eve.

 

[Castlebound]

I know that truly believing in Santa has either already ended for our DS8 or will end very soon. He has always been very analytical. He was in kindergarten when we went on our first trip to WDW. While the rest of us were mesmerized by the magic of Disney our DS was saying things like, “those were great animatronics on that last ride.” He hasn’t said anything to me yet about Santa but I can tell he isn’t really “into” Santa this year. I will be a little sad when he tells me that he knows, but at the same time it will be nice when he realizes that his parents are the ones who have been getting him the “just what he wanted” gifts all these years. Our DD6 on the other hand still believes and loves the magic around it. So we at least have a few more years with her.

 

[CheshireVal]

This is now happening with my cousin's children (I call them nieces, but I guess they're not, really. )

One is 8 (almost 9), the other 6. The older one told me last month that she now knows the truth about Santa but that her sister (and she rolled her eyes here ) still believes, so she's pretending just for her sister's sake.

It was too funny-- she acts so grown up sometimes!

 

[ReggieB]

Nope, don't believe it. My parents couldn't possibly be Santa. My Dad is no longer on this mortal coil, and my Mum lives 3500 miles away. No way she could get over here to US and leave my presents under the tree each year....AND go to my sisters in UK AND brother in Singapore in one night...nope don't believe you.

 

[Lil_Tink]

I remeber when I was 4, I tried to hide under our glass table for santa. I almost got away with it to.

 

[mark&sue]

Are you sure this thread should be on a family board!!!! You never know who can be reading!!!

Joking aside. My DD told me she knew there was no santa for a couple of years but thought if she told us she knew she would not get any more presents!!!



Susan

 

[corie161]

I think this could be the last year of "Santa" for DD7. She came home one day and said some kids at school think the the Tooth Fairy, Santa and the Easter Bunny are Mom and Dad. I just replied with "What do you think" She said I think they are real. I just replied with "it's all in what you believe". She accepted and the last comment was..."besides if you don't believe you won't get presents." . I then followed up with you would still get presents from your mom and dad, etc. so she won't be too upset with the fact when she doesn't "Believe".

I think when that time comes she will be ready to keep Santa alive for her little Brother

 

[thelionqueen]

DS is 8 and started telling me last year that kids in his class don't believe in Santa Claus.

I told him to believe what is in his heart. I asked him if he knew love was real, he said yes. Then I said, show me love. He gave me a hug, I said "no, show me where love is, I want to see it" He looked very confused then said, I can't. I asked "why" he said "you can't hold it or touch it, but it is there."
I said "HMMM, sounds like Santa Claus and love have the same problems."

He smiled and walked away. I believe in the spirit of Santa, and I want my son to believe whatever he is comfortable with.

As for ever coming out and saying "Santa claus is not real" I couldn't do it, I don't believe it.

 

[Sandy V.]

When my kids were younger, 3rd grade was "the year" when they realized the truth about Santa. So, unfortunately, it's just a matter of time. They grow up so fast, don't they?

 

[bigmerle1966]

If you really want to get technical about it there is such a thing as a Santa, he just doesn't come to your house, put out the presents, eat your cookies and leave reindeer hooves and droppings on your lawn.

One friend, when her oldest two got to that age, told them they better still believe in Santa if they wanted to get presents. They had three younger sibs and she didn't want it ruined for them.

Another friend, when her oldest son stole one of his brothers Tooth Fairy money, told him. He decided to be a smarty pants and insist that the Tooth Fairy had left him the money, she knew he had to have gone under his brothers pillow to get it because she had put it really far under the pillow. He was about 10 at the time and she told him about all of them, the Tooth Fairy, Santa and the Easter Bunny at the same time.

 

[FourFlans]

Another friend, when her oldest son stole one of his brothers Tooth Fairy money, told him. He decided to be a smarty pants and insist that the Tooth Fairy had left him the money, she knew he had to have gone under his brothers pillow to get it because she had put it really far under the pillow. He was about 10 at the time and she told him about all of them, the Tooth Fairy, Santa and the Easter Bunny at the same time.

Would love to have seen the look on his face when he realized he's been snagged by the "real" Tooth Fairy!

I'm will you guys.....I'm 37, with two great kids of my own, and I feel the spirit of Christmas and believe in Santa more now than when I was a child! I guess I'll just have to enjoy it as long as I can with DD8, and when the knowledge is there, bring her in on the joy of making the magic for her younger sister (she'll be great at that since she's the greatest big sis in the world!).