telling the *truth* to your kids about Santa

[kacaju]

I see so many threads here about how to tell the kids, what to say when the kids ask, etc..
Does anyone have kids who just stopped the whole *Santa thing* and just never mentioned it?
I have 3 girls and I have never had to answer the dreaded question as so many here have. My youngest who is just 10 today, I have noticed this year is the first year SHE has made no mention of the guy in Red and in turn I have not said anything to her about him. It just becomes a nonissue in the house and yes, they still do get a Santa gift.
So do I have weird kids or are there others who also just stop without having to ask or be told?

 

[ICF]

My 9 1/2 year old this fall told us that he didn't think he was real since he and a friend "did the math" and there is no way that he could get around the world and do all the houses in 1 day. He then asked the question to us directly, and we gave him the truth.

Some here may disagree, but at this age we weren't going to continue on with the lie that he really came to the house every Christmas Eve. He asked us a direct question and we wanted to be honest so we told him how it really works.

We also have a just turned 7 year old and for her benefit we still discuss Santa and my son plays along and it's not been much of an issue. We'll see if it plays out any different on Christmas morning.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I am not going to tell my kids. My oldest is 14 and obviously he knows but he would never tell the younger 3 the truth. My dd is 10 and the twins are 8 I know that day is soon but I still believe so I won't let it die

 

[momof1princess]

my DD12 heard Dr. Phil say "santa is not real" last week. so i told her that no, santa isn't a real person, but saint nicholas was a real person who lived centuries ago, and he was a very generous, kind man who loved children and left them gifts, and now moms and dads carry on the tradition of saint nicholas and keep his generous spirit alive. i hated to do it, because she was still trying to believe, in spite of what her classmates said, but she understands.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

So do I have weird kids or are there others who also just stop without having to ask or be told?

This was me. There was never any discussion about whether Santa was real or not. The tradition just fizzled out naturally over time; no heartbreak, no tears, no talk. It worked for us. When I have children, I'll probably allow it to happen this way as well.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

I am not going to tell my kids. My oldest is 14 and obviously he knows but he would never tell the younger 3 the truth. My dd is 10 and the twins are 8 I know that day is soon but I still believe so I won't let it die

 

[taximomfor4]

I don't tell my kids, per se. Only my oldest asked specifically. I figure if they are asking me, they are ready to know (or already know and are testing me on my truth-telling).

My third child (10) "knows" too, according to oldest dd. I don't know if he is just doubting, or if he is SURE about Santa. If he doesn't ask, I won't say anything. But I will say, it's a pretty sure thing that my second kid (dd in middle school) knows too...ESPECIALLY if my 10 yo old knows.

I know for a fact that neither my oldest sister, myself, nor my younger brother ever asked a parent. My youngest sister may have but the majority of us figured it out and never asked. I think most kids are like that, realizing and then NOT bringing it up.

 

[cheermom1]

I have never had the talk with my kids - my kids are all teens but the youngest he is 10 however they all "know" but we have never said anything kinda like if you say it than you don't get a gift from him so they don't say anything

 

[sue1013]

so i told her that no, santa isn't a real person, but saint nicholas was a real person who lived centuries ago, and he was a very generous, kind man who loved children and left them gifts, and now moms and dads carry on the tradition of saint nicholas and keep his generous spirit alive. i hated to do it, because she was still trying to believe, in spite of what her classmates said, but she understands.

This is the same thing I was told when I questioned Santa as a child. When my kids asked they were told the same thing.

 

[mickeyboat]

DDs 9 & 10 ambushed us this year and asked us straight out. We told them the truth.

 

[fluffycow333]

I just stopped.

 

[dopeysgirl01]

My 8 yr old DD told me a few months ago that she knew I was Santa. I asked her if she was sure and then started asking her questions. She told me that she wanted me to tell her the truth, so I did. She couldn't wait to tell me 10 yr old DS. We decided to keep things the same as always for the holidays. All of the gifts sent from family members are under the tree already. On Christmas Eve after they go to sleep we'll put out their presents. This way they still get to wake up and be surprised.

 

[carmiedog]

I don't know think it's necesssary to stop when our kids get older. Santa always came to my parents' house, even when I was in high school. One of my kids "knows" and the other suspects, but I still tell them there really is a Santa Claus. I can't imagine a day when Santa doesn't come to our house. The Santa spirit is a big part of our Christmas and not just for little kids who believe in the literal Santa in the red suit.

 

[Nennie]

I'm never telling the truth! They can learn it on the streets, like I did! LOL!!!

 

[lemondog]

My neighbor wrote an amazing book about this, called "Kristin and the Santa Secret" He actually wrote it for his DD when she was 9yo and questioning everything about Santa. I highly recommend it!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Kristin-Santa...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261517237&sr=8-1

 

[tink20]

I'm never telling the truth! They can learn it on the streets, like I did! LOL!!!

This made me laugh.

My sister (who did not have kids at the time, told my DD the truth I think she was 8, because my DD ask her, but my DD didn't tell me until years later) (my other sister told her where babies came from )

DS seems suspicious, but hasn't asked the dreaded question. I think I will always put their gifts out Christmas Eve, so they will be surprised, I don't care how old they are.