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

[DisneyMissy318]

People like you amaze me..... My kids believed in Santa. They also believed in Jesus and knew full well the "real" reason and meaning behind Christmas. At a certain age they both came and asked if Santa was real and we gently explained that he wasn't truly an elf-type creature who wore a red suit but that was a good way and fun way for people to picture him because he was just a special magical part of the holidays.. And they still believed.....

Years later as my then high school aged daughter was standing with me at our front door accepting another huge donation to a holiday program we were running for under-privileged children and families out of our home I turned her around and directed her attention to our family room at the farthest end of our home. You could barely see the tree in that huge room. We were taking care of 65 families with over 200 children that year and in our family room there were groceries for a whole week for each family and a gift for each child and their parents piled in there. I quietly asked her if she saw Santa and she nodded yes.

Two years ago one of the children who received a gift in the program walked up to me in a local bar. He is now a dad and all grown up. He is and always was one of my son's dear friends and when he got a special gift one year, it was very hard for my son to say nothing when he showing his friends that special present in school. That night in the bar, he came over and gave me a huge hug and whispered in my ear...."thank you Santa Claus". Why then after all those years is beyond me, but he still remembered and it was amazing. I've got the chubby part down but I am no elf but for him I was. He saw Santa.....

I guess it is all in how you choose to view it. Be the cynic and insist that magic and the goodwill of the holidays can't be embodied in the likeness of a jolly old fellow in a red suit but don't assume the right to tell anyone else's child that something a parent shares with them is not real.

Thank you - for all you have done for those less fortunate - as well as for touching my heart on this day before Thanksgiving!

 

[C.Ann]

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.

Very well put..

 

[CathrynRose]

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.

Bingo!

We are *not* religious, but have always celebrated Christmas (Yes, yes - I know "Christ" mass).

I wouldn't have had my children in a religious school, however if anyone else along the line ruined the Santa thing for my kids, I would have been fuming. They figure it out quick enough, as it is. They only understand it (Maybe 3-ish??) until maybe 8-ish?? - so you have 5 years of "Santa" - big whoop.

Am I the only one who remembers staring out the window, driving home from our family's house on Xmas eve, just hoping to catch a glimpse of him in his sleigh? Or the OVERWHELMING butterflies in their stomach, just *trying* to fall asleep? Or waking up at 4am and wondering "Is it to early to get Mom up???"

It was ****exciting!!!!**** Anyone who wants to ruin that for a child is a complete ***, IMO.


ETA - One of my best g/f's is Jewish. Just last week, I was telling her 4 y/o son I had a gift for him for Christmas.....from Santa. He said "But we're Jewish, we don't DO Christmas..." So I answered "Oh, okay... I'll just call him and let him know forget it. It was a good gift too.... whatta shame" My g/f and I started laughing when he quickly changed his tune "Wellll, wait, wait.... wait.... I think it's okay....it's okay Mom, right?? It's okay??" Hahahahaha!

Anyone can believe in Santa.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

...Am I the only one who remembers staring out the window, driving home from our family's house on Xmas eve, just hoping to catch a glimpse of him in his sleigh? Or the OVERWHELMING butterflies in their stomach, just *trying* to fall asleep? Or waking up at 4am and wondering "Is it to early to get Mom up???"

It was ****exciting!!!!****

I remember - I still feel that way every year. I hope that I never lose that feeling.

 

[tlbwriter]

So if you don't believe in Jesus, you aren't able-minded??

No, that's the opposite of what I said. Having reading comprehension problems? I am easily distracted today as well. Thanksgiving on my mind.

Anyway. Let's try that again.

Many able-minded people believe that Jesus and God are real. Many other able-minded people believe Jesus and God are mythical.

All able-minded adults know Santa is mythical.

Therefore...

If you believe Jesus is real, telling your child that Jesus is real is NOT the same as telling your child that Santa is real. Because if you believe it's true, you're not telling one of those "lies" that you're so concerned about. So you cannot correctly say that encouraging your child to believe in Jesus is exactly the same as encouraging your child to believe in Santa.

Understand now?

 

[tlbwriter]

The fact that some people really believe in a thing does not make it any less mythical. How many people really believed that the world was flat or that the Sun revolved around the Earth?

We're not talking about whether or not it's a myth. We're talking about whether or not it's a "lie." And if you believe it to be true, it's not a lie. It may be wrong, but it's not a lie.

 

[CathrynRose]

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.

Awww.... we could have been BFF's!!! I played with them until about 12, too! And would hide them away when friends came over, as they were seriously *uncool* by that age.

I *gulp* sold my Barbie's on eBay a few years ago. I brought in a big chunk of money, for them. But, even at 33-ish.... I was totally okay with selling them, until I packed them up. I cried. Not sobbed...but teared up, big time.

I saved 2 of them. My favorites. "Jennifer" and "Peggy" (as they were named) are in my Disney Collectable's Bookshelves. I wanted to keep "P.J.", too... and I regret I didn't. She had tan lines. She was the most popular one with "Bruce", who was a mega stud. Everyone wanted to hang with "Bruce". Had a lot of money. He was a professional athlete. But he was sold too. I'm sure they're living a happy life together, now.

 

[RadioFanatic]

I find it interesting that those who say it should happen in a religious class haven't answered my question as to whether their religion specifically is against santa or not.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

...If you believe Jesus is real, telling your child that Jesus is real is NOT the same as telling your child that Santa is real. Because if you believe it's true, you're not telling one of those "lies" that you're so concerned about. So you cannot correctly say that encouraging your child to believe in Jesus is exactly the same as encouraging your child to believe in Santa...

But what if you believe that Santa is real?

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

We're not talking about whether or not it's a myth. We're talking about whether or not it's a "lie." And if you believe it to be true, it's not a lie. It may be wrong, but it's not a lie.

Ah, so it is okay to misrepresent the facts and claim ignorance? Gotcha.

 

[tlbwriter]

But what if you believe that Santa is real?

Then you're not lying to your children when you tell them Santa is real. Do you know someone who fits that description, or are you making a straw man argument just for fun?

 

[CathrynRose]

I remember - I still feel that way every year. I hope that I never lose that feeling.

I don't know how old your kids are, but for me - you kinda lose it after your kids know about Santa. It's not the same having to wake THEM up, as it is when they ask "Can we go see what Santa left, pllllllleeeease???"

They grow up entirely too fast, which is why hearing things like this (Santa ruined) is sad, for me. It's not long enough, as it is.

 

[luvmy3]

Bingo!

We are *not* religious, but have always celebrated Christmas (Yes, yes - I know "Christ" mass).

I wouldn't have had my children in a religious school, however if anyone else along the line ruined the Santa thing for my kids, I would have been fuming. They figure it out quick enough, as it is. They only understand it (Maybe 3-ish??) until maybe 8-ish?? - so you have 5 years of "Santa" - big whoop.

Am I the only one who remembers staring out the window, driving home from our family's house on Xmas eve, just hoping to catch a glimpse of him in his sleigh? Or the OVERWHELMING butterflies in their stomach, just *trying* to fall asleep? Or waking up at 4am and wondering "Is it to early to get Mom up???"

It was ****exciting!!!!**** Anyone who wants to ruin that for a child is a complete ***, IMO.


ETA - One of my best g/f's is Jewish. Just last week, I was telling her 4 y/o son I had a gift for him for Christmas.....from Santa. He said "But we're Jewish, we don't DO Christmas..." So I answered "Oh, okay... I'll just call him and let him know forget it. It was a good gift too.... whatta shame" My g/f and I started laughing when he quickly changed his tune "Wellll, wait, wait.... wait.... I think it's okay....it's okay Mom, right?? It's okay??" Hahahahaha!

Anyone can believe in Santa.

I remember, and now my kids do it, except we don't look out the Window, we track him online We even leave the fireplace door open, and leave a red string on the door so it looks like it came from his suit. This year only my youngest still believes but my other ds is convinced one year he heard something on the roof, even though he knows Santa isn't real. Now thats magic I hope never dies.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Then you're not lying to your children when you tell them Santa is real. Do you know someone who fits that description, or are you making a straw man argument just for fun?

Me - I believe.

I am 43 years old and I believe!

Yeah, my kids think that I am crazy, too.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I don't know how old your kids are, but for me - you kinda lose it after your kids know about Santa. It's not the same having to wake THEM up, as it is when they ask "Can we go see what Santa left, pllllllleeeease???"

They grow up entirely too fast, which is why hearing things like this (Santa ruined) is sad, for me. It's not long enough, as it is.

My youngest is almost there. He is 10. But I will do my best to keep the spirit alive for them.

 

[CathrynRose]

And my mom used Santa as a threat, too.

I don't know if you guys knew, but he has spies. I rode with one on a train to the city, to see window decorations when I was maybe 5-ish. I was acting up, I'll admit it. My mom finally told me that I better knock it off, as a Santa spy was on the train.

Baffled and scared, I asked "Who?". It was a Santa Spy, undercover. He looked like a business man, reading a newspaper. Who knew?

 

[tlbwriter]

Ah, so it is okay to misrepresent the facts and claim ignorance? Gotcha.

Don't understand what you mean here. It's not misrepresenting the facts if you honestly believe it to be true. Just like the people who said the earth was flat. That wasn't a "myth" in any sense of the word - it was the best scientific knowledge available at the time. And it was wrong. But that happens. So, if you can find an able-minded adult who honestly believes that Santa Claus is an actual real-live person who lives at the North Pole and delivers toys on Christmas Eve, this person is not lying when they tell their children that Santa is real. They are wrong, but they are not lying. It's not "claiming ignorance" if you believe it to be true. It's simply being ignorant.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

No, that's the opposite of what I said. Having reading comprehension problems? I am easily distracted today as well. Thanksgiving on my mind.

Anyway. Let's try that again.

Many able-minded people believe that Jesus and God are real. Many other able-minded people believe Jesus and God are mythical.

All able-minded adults know Santa is mythical.

Therefore...

If you believe Jesus is real, telling your child that Jesus is real is NOT the same as telling your child that Santa is real. Because if you believe it's true, you're not telling one of those "lies" that you're so concerned about. So you cannot correctly say that encouraging your child to believe in Jesus is exactly the same as encouraging your child to believe in Santa.

Understand now?

The reality of Jesus's birth is different from the myth of Jesus's birth, based upon historical research. There is conflicting research that he was actually born when the bible states. We base Christmas on this story.

So, in essence you are believing in the spirit of the birth of Christ (unless you are 100% literal Bible believers) and not the acutal facts of the story, since we are not 100% positive from a provable historical timeline.

So in essence you are actally lying to your children about the details with Christ's birth because afterall you cannot be 100% certain the details are 100% correct.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

So in essence you are actally lying to your children about the details with Christ's birth because afterall you cannot be 100% certain the details are 100% correct.

Well, I don't know about anybody else, but I have told my kids "Jesus was not born on December 25th. He was probably born in the spring. But because the Romans had a holiday during the winter, the early Church decided to celebrate Jesus's birthday during the same time so that the little Christian kids didn't feel left out."


"For that matter, the number of wise men is not mentioned in the Bible. They also didn't appear on Christmas, but probably 3 to 5 years later, after Joseph and Mary returned from Egypt."

 

[tlbwriter]

The reality of Jesus's birth is different from the myth of Jesus's birth, based upon historical research. There is conflicting research that he was actually born when the bible states. We base Christmas on this story.

So, in essence you are believing in the spirit of the birth of Christ (unless you are 100% literal Bible believers) and not the acutal facts of the story, since we are not 100% positive from a provable historical timeline.

So in essence you are actally lying to your children about the details with Christ's birth because afterall you cannot be 100% certain the details are 100% correct.

Once again, it's not a lie if you believe it's true. It may be wrong, but you are not lying if you think it's accurate. Seriously, using your logic, if my daughter asks what time The Simpsons are on and I tell her 6:30 and it turns out they've been pre-empted by a baseball game, I was "lying."

BTW, I've never told my child that Jesus was actually born on Dec 25, and if/when she asks, I'll tell her exactly what you said here - that we can't be sure exactly what happened, that evidence suggests he wasn't actually born on Dec 25 (and that some people believe he was never born at all but is a mythological figure), but that's the day we choose to celebrate. Truthful enough for ya?