Why do People think its okay to ruin Santa for kids? Update - p. 21, post 307

[marcyinPA]

Sorry, but I do NOT agree. I went to CCD every year through 8th grade, and had Nuns in my younger years and not once did one ever tell me "Santa isn't real." Nope, just as other PPs have said, explained the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus, etc. You can explain it that way without even mentioning the word "Santa" and without making a classroom of 7 year olds cry.

I haven't read the whole thread, but I endured many years of CCD as well, and my experience was similar to yours.

My mom's cousin is an "almost priest"...I don't know what they are called in the Catholic church...deacons? Anyway, he has a statue of Santa holding the baby Jesus. It IS possible to teach both and still put the emphasis on Jesus' birth.

 

[hambirg]

Yes. . he's a deacon.

Btw. . apparently Santa is a drunk too:

http://www.truecrimereport.com/2010/11/video_drunken_santa_gets_a_lit.php

Sorry. .. not kid friendly. . .but I thought it was dang funny!

 

[marcyinPA]

Yes. . he's a deacon.

Btw. . apparently Santa is a drunk too:

http://www.truecrimereport.com/2010/11/video_drunken_santa_gets_a_lit.php

Sorry. .. not kid friendly. . .but I thought it was dang funny!

rephrasing...

I'd drink too if I were around screaming kids all day! Oh, now wait! I AM around screaming kids all day! I teach preschool! hahahaha

 

[hambirg]

rephrasing...

I'd drink too if I were around screaming kids all day! Oh, now wait! I AM around screaming kids all day! I teach preschool! hahahaha

Pass the Jack.

 

[Disney Doll]

A couple of points - this is a catholic church. I have never seen catholics assert that santa is not allowed - in fact they also talk about St. Nick. And it is very easy to discuss teh religious aspects of Christmas without even mentioning Santa at all, which is what should have been done.

Christmas Eve Mass at my church includes Santa walking up the aisle to pray in front of the manger at the altar before he goes on his trip to give all the kids toys.

How's that for mixing it up?

Brilliant on the part of the pastor as it shows Santa paying homage to Jesus, but still allows for the magic of Santa.

You know, it's funny nowadays how we have to make kids grow up so fast. They have to hear and know everything, nothing can be magical or mystical. I grew up Catholic, know the story of the birth of Christ as told in all of the gospels, and also believed in Santa...a belief that was encouraged by my parents. There was never any big defining moment of "Oh my God my parents lied to me about Santa I can never trust them again". At some point I figured out that while Santa was not a real person who came down the chimney, he represented a spirit of the season of goodness, giving and love...reminiscent of what I believe about Jesus, come to think of it....

I feel sad because kids don't get any simplicity anymore...they are hit with al lkinds of adult things long before they are developmentally ready to handle them and then we wonder why they are so screwed up, shooting up their schools,doing drugs and so forth....

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

Christmas Eve Mass at my church includes Santa walking up the aisle to pray in front of the manger at the altar before he goes on his trip to give all the kids toys.

How's that for mixing it up?

Brilliant on the part of the pastor as it shows Santa paying homage to Jesus, but still allows for the magic of Santa.

You know, it's funny nowadays how we have to make kids grow up so fast. They have to hear and know everything, nothing can be magical or mystical. I grew up Catholic, know the story of the birth of Christ as told in all of the gospels, and also believed in Santa...a belief that was encouraged by my parents. There was never any big defining moment of "Oh my God my parents lied to me about Santa I can never trust them again". At some point I figured out that while Santa was not a real person who came down the chimney, he represented a spirit of the season of goodness, giving and love...reminiscent of what I believe about Jesus, come to think of it....

I feel sad because kids don't get any simplicity anymore...they are hit with al lkinds of adult things long before they are developmentally ready to handle them and then we wonder why they are so screwed up, shooting up their schools,doing drugs and so forth....

Agreed, kids don't get to just be kids anymore. I believed in Santa til I was 10 and I think I played with Barbies til I was 12, I'm not sure kids really "play" that much anymore after 10 lol.

 

[moon]

Sorry, but I do NOT agree. I went to CCD every year through 8th grade, and had Nuns in my younger years and not once did one ever tell me "Santa isn't real." Nope, just as other PPs have said, explained the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus, etc. You can explain it that way without even mentioning the word "Santa" and without making a classroom of 7 year olds cry.

I went to Catholic School and the nuns NEVER mentioned Santa. And when I asked one I was told in a nice way to talk about it with my mother and the nun changed the conversation.

There's NO way the teacher was right. Things like this are up to the parents, and telling the kids was not only unprofesional, but also cruel and mean-spirited

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Agreed, kids don't get to just be kids anymore. I believed in Santa til I was 10 and I think I played with Barbies til I was 12, I'm not sure kids really "play" that much anymore after 10 lol.

You gotta see our house when we have the neighborhood kids "Playing School" they pick a teacher and then give them all a math or english lesson! But that was until I bought them learn to draw books, now its been transformed into an art school....

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If Godzilla and King Kong had an epic battle who would win?

Chuck Norris. He ALWAYS wins.

Naturally. That is because Chuck Norris is Santa.

 

[Disney Doll]

I would expect that people don't act like gossiping hens. If you were to tell the truth about it then so be it. If I was asked directly about it. I would tell the truth. I did what I did.

Happy C. Ann? I now fully expect you to answer each and every question asked of you on these boards now.


How about the ACTUAL magic of Christmas or Easter? Not some marketing campaign initiated by the Coca-Cola or JC Penny advertising departments?

HOORAY! Most of you chose to lie to your kids. While at the same time, looking down on those who choose not to. Telling people they are stealing the magic of Christmas from their children. Implying children cannot have imagination when the myth isn't forced upon him.

There are people calling for this teacher to be fired? Really? And I'M the one on the high horse?

I'm still not seeing a direct answer to the question. You're quite good sat diverting, deflecting and insulting others though.

It is a yes or no question that was asked.

 

[moon]

I don't think it's about being bitter, I think it's about not wanting to lie to your kids. Or telling them that bribery ("be good and Santa brings you gifts") is OK.

My wife and I decided to go the whole Santa route, but I questioned it quite a bit when we were pregnant. What if my kid distrusts me when he or she finds out the truth? What if my kid questions the existence of God since Santa isn't real, either.

It's not black and white or simple. It's not bitter vs. fantasy. It's actually a really important thing to think about. Do you decide to play the fantasy? If so, how do you explain the truth once it is discovered?

Did you distrust your parents and questioned the existence on God after you found out? I always hear this argument for not letting kids believe in Santa, but I find it overly dramatic. I've yet to know one person who became an atheist or had a bad relationship with parents because of Santa; if fact, if finding out was so traumatic, I doubt anyone would set their children up for such a difficult experiece.

I for one am thankful that I believed. The joy and fantasy it provided enriched mi imagination and my childhood in general in a unique way

I believe that parents who bring Santa to their homes do it beause they want to share and have their children experience the same joy their parents gave them through Santa Claus. It's a lovely, short but magical time which I still treasure. And the love, selflessnes, efforts from my mom to make it happen for me still move me to this day. Thank you Mommy

 

[Kathi OD]

I don't think denomination has any thing to do with it. Now as a rule my the teacher at my church will not come out and say to kids there is no such thing as Santa but if a kid in our religious education class ask is santa real? they will get the truth.

At most the teacher could have worded it a bit nicer or skipped the subject but I don't get sending your kid to a religious institution and then getting mad because ** gasp*** they teach religion.

I may be in the minority if you want your kid to believe don't send them some where where they teach the truth.

This teacher went beyond teaching religion. Teaching religion would have been explaining that the reason we have Christmas is to celebrate Jesus' birth. End of religion lesson. There is no reason for Santa to have been brought into the discussion.

 

[locolala]

IMHO, I respect other people's belief's and value systems and hope other people will respect mine. Even if you don't "do the Santa thing" celebrating Christmas at all comes with lots of controversies including the date itself which used to be a Pagan Festival before the celebration of Christmas. Mistletoe, Yule and Holly all have Pagan roots and there is much more symbolism from prior to Christianity incorporated into Christmas.

I hope we can all be tolerant of each other and not bash each other's belief's and celebrations. Ancient Pagan God's, traditions and mythology are incoporated into so much of our everyday lives. Perhaps we should rename all the planets in the solar system because most of them are named after Mythological Roman and Greek Gods.

Not to mention the Days of the week:
Sunday was named because it was the day sacred to the sun.

Monday was named because it was sacred to the moon.

Tuesday was named after Tiw, a god of war.

Wednesday was named after Woden, the leader of the gods.

Thursday was named after Thor, the god of thunder.

Friday was named after Frigge, the wife of Woden.

Saturday was named after Saturn, the god of crops and harvest.



We may not worship false gods, but they sure seem to be honored by a whole lot of people.

 

[AnnetteF]

I agree - there is no reason for Santa to be brought into the discussion. I completely disagree with those who say why enroll your kids in religious ed if you're worried about that. We are Catholic and my DD6 attends a Catholic School. No teacher has ever announced that there is no Santa Claus to the children, and if they did, I think I and other parents would want to have their head on a platter if they did! Each year our school even sponsors a "Pizza with Santa" night at the church hall. A wonderful, very real looking Santa is there, pictures are taken, and it's a wonderful night for children and parents.

Honestly, I think that teacher should be sued or something! What next? No Mickey Mouse???!!!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Were my kids the only to attend a Catholic School where Santa Claus and Christmas parties were not allowed. There was reason for the conversation to be a problem since the month of December was dedicated to the birth of Christ. As our Monsignor aged, we did have some Christmas Carols (church based carols) and a cookie day. But that was it.

Our children's Mass was based on the honor of the children to perform the Living Nativity scene and being the first in the congregation to see Christ in his manger.

I really wish that the OP could confront the teacher and get their side of the story. I dislike the condemning without hearing both sides of the story. No I wouldn't not believe my child, but I would confirm it, and then take proper actions.

 

[FayeW]

And in Chinese.

He can speak Russian...

...in French.

 

[Kathi OD]

Were my kids the only to attend a Catholic School where Santa Claus and Christmas parties were not allowed.

I went to Catholic school. My husband and children all went to Catholic schools. I taught in several Catholic schools. All of them stressed the real meaning of Christmas. However, they also allowed for the secular celebration by tying Santa Claus to the St. Nicholas legends & traditions practiced in Europe.

There was reason for the conversation to be a problem since the month of December was dedicated to the birth of Christ. As our Monsignor aged, we did have some Christmas Carols (church based carols) and a cookie day. But that was it.

Our children's Mass was based on the honor of the children to perform the Living Nativity scene and being the first in the congregation to see Christ in his manger.

I don't necessarily have a problem w/ Santa and Christmas parties not being allowed in a Catholic (or any other religious school), but this is about a teacher telling the children that Santa doesn't exist. That's not her place, especially given that Santa Claus is derived from a religious feast day.

A living Nativity is a beautiful tradition.

I really wish that the OP could confront the teacher and get their side of the story. I dislike the condemning without hearing both sides of the story. No I wouldn't not believe my child, but I would confirm it, and then take proper actions.

Since the OP's children weren't involved, I doubt she'll be confronting the teacher. I'm also not one to believe everything my children have told me about their teachers without a little investigation, but IF what the OP has related is what happened, the teacher was wrong.

One thing I'm not sure that many people realize is that those teaching these classes are usually volunteers. They may or may not have experience working with small children. They may or may not have training in either the subject matter or how to interact with children. If this happened to my child, I would probably have a talk with the teacher and then maybe the director of the program, but to pull out of the church because a teacher told a child there was no Santa Claus IMO is a pretty drastic reaction.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Since the OP's children weren't involved, I doubt she'll be confronting the teacher. I'm also not one to believe everything my children have told me about their teachers without a little investigation, but IF what the OP has related is what happened, the teacher was wrong.

One thing I'm not sure that many people realize is that those teaching these classes are usually volunteers. They may or may not have experience working with small children. They may or may not have training in either the subject matter or how to interact with children. If this happened to my child, I would probably have a talk with the teacher and then maybe the director of the program, but to pull out of the church because a teacher told a child there was no Santa Claus IMO is a pretty drastic reaction.

Holy Moly, miss one word and the whole first post makes so much more sense. I really missed the co-worker when I first read the post. Goes to show you shouldn't FB and Dis at the same time. Thank you for pointing that out to me.

 

[luvsJack]

Hey OP, it's time you had a frank conversation with your children. It could go something like this:

Oh, sweetheart, I'm so sorry I have to tell you this but...your religion teacher drinks.

love it!! But, hey it would work!

 

[aprilgail2]

Curious....why do parents feel the need to lie to their children about something mythical?

Technically the same could be said for telling kids about Jesus.

?

That is exactly my thoughts on the whole thing....I feel BOTH are mythical beings so why would it be ok for people to teach about one but not the other.....
I don't believe in religion at all but I sure don't walk up to my my daughters class or my girl scout troop and teach that jesus is a mythical being. People should keep their own opinions to themselves and not shove them on anyone else. I don't even tell my daughter my thoughts on religion because I want her to be free to choose for herself and not be swayed by my opinion.