How did you tell your kids the truth about Santa?
By JoyfulOne
@JoyfulOne (6232)
United States
November 9, 2006 8:52pm CST
Some kids are devastated when they find out there's no real Santa. How did you handle it, or how do you plan on handling it when the time comes?When my first child found out at grade school about there being no santa, I told her I was glad she found out, and that now she was to be her younger sister's Santa. I gave her an $8.00 limit and told her that from now on, it was her job to be her sisters secret Santa and to take care of filling her stocking for Christmas morning. She had more fun trying to pick out items from the dollar store, etc, and learned how to spend money, plus learned the joy of giving anonomously just to see the joy in anothers face. When the youngest finally found out, she had the job of filling the older ones stocking. It was a very short disappointment when they learned that THEY were somebody's Santa. To this day, they still fill each others stockings and have fun doing it!
3 people like this
8 responses
@floramwaters (1595)
• United States
10 Nov 06
I am not sure how I am going to do when that time comes, I have been thinking alot about that. I really like how you did it. I would never had thought about it. The relagon (sp) I was raised in did not believe in santa or x-mas so I always knew the truth. But I am not raiseing my kids that why.
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@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
10 Nov 06
I know what you mean! I always thought that it was 'not right' to tell them about Santa, and then having them feel like it was an outright lie or something, lol. I also thought what's the harm when they're little, they get so much obvious joy out of the whole Santa thing. That's why I decided to handle it the way I did. The joy my first child felt when she knew that SHE was the spirit of Christmas, and her sister's secret Santa far outweighed the joy of the Santa myth itself. To this day we continue it, and we will probably handle it the same way with the grandkids! They're only little for such a short time! Enjoy it!
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@tarajthomas (100)
• United States
10 Nov 06
well the story about saint nicholas is true, so why not shift their perspective..
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@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
10 Nov 06
That's a great suggestion! Saint Nicholas was indeed a true person, and an interesting piece of history! Thanks for your response.
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@isasice (2015)
• Iceland
13 Nov 06
I didn't tell my son, he found out long before he admitted it to me that he knew Santa wasn't real. He was sure that he wouldn't get all the gifts from Santa if I knew that he didn't believe in him anymore so he kept pretending for years.
We have 13 Santa Clauses in Iceland and many children believe that some of them are just actors but that some of them are real. I have seen some who were so good that I had a hard time they weren't real lol.
A neighbour of mine always believed that his grandfather was a real Santa because he always played Santa in all local Christmas events. He was a very generous man and all the kids loved him. We all knew who was in the Santa costume but we still believed he was the real Santa Claus. It was a very sad day in the village when this wonderful passed away and I don't know if they were able to find anyone to replace him.
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@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
14 Nov 06
Aww, that's a cute story about your son. How sweet he was trying to protect your feelings! I never knew that about the Santas in Iceland. I'll have to do a search and see if I can learn some more about them...interesting:-) Thanks for sharing the stories, they were good to read!
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@Donnyboy8 (786)
• United States
10 Nov 06
I don't have kids but I was trying to think how I learned. I think it was that I came in to find my parents putting the presents under the tree.
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@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
10 Nov 06
I had forgotten myself how I first learned until you mentioned how you learned. I didn't find my parents putting presents under the tree though. My Uncle was always the guy in the Santa suit at our church functions. One time I saw him putting on 'the beard' and it was then that I knew for sure.
1 person likes this
@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
15 Nov 06
It seems like kids do that a lot to their other siblings. Bet your son was surprised when he caught you, lol.
@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
15 Nov 06
It seems like kids do that a lot to their other siblings. Bet your son was surprised when he caught you, lol.
@fav51013 (62)
• United States
14 Nov 06
i still haven't told my kids yet, although i need to tell my son..lol..he'll be 9 this xmas day and still believes..lol..they understand the true meaning of xmas, but santa just adds that "extra magic".my daughter just turned 8 and i plan on telling her too...but my youngest, 5 yrs old, will be heartbroken.she came home last week crying about a play they are going to do in schoolbecause it mentions how santa isn't real...she was so devestated she sat down to write santa to tell him she didn't want to be in the play cuz they said he wasn't real...i just told her that there are many santas in the world and left it at that...besides, santa was created in memory of a man who really did live, just not in the north pole with elves and reindeer....lol...and many ppl who donate toys to charities,etc are "santas" themselves...nothing wrong with keeping it magical for the younger ones....
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@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
14 Nov 06
I know what you mean, the magic of Santa is special! I know it's hard when they find out, that's why I had my kids be each others 'Santa'. It took some of the sting away from finding out. Good luck! They're only little once, so enjoy!
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@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
14 Nov 06
Must be I was sending a reply at the same time you were sending one, lol! How neat that your son was a Christmas baby!! That was one wonderful gift for sure. That's too funny about the trampoline. I laughed about you seeing Mommy kissing Santa Claus, I can imagine your first reaction as a child! Thanks for sharing fav!
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@fav51013 (62)
• United States
14 Nov 06
i would also like to add that the last couple of years i think my son may know but is keeping it secret to see if he gets more gifts under the tree...he also has an added bonus, his birthday is xmas day! my husband and i bought the kids a trampoline for xmas 2004 and told the kids it was from santa, later finding out that oldest 2 were watching my husband and i put it together xmas eve night in the 15 degree weather freezing our buns off...lol...they said if santa brought it, where was he? and i just told him he was with reindeer observing that we put it together right...lol....i found out by seeing my dad put gifts under tree, i guess i was about 6 or 7 years old...he was dressed like santa and everything..but when he went to bedroom,and not up the chimney, i got curious and basically saw mommy kissing santa claus..lol..and turned on the light to see santa was daddy...lol
1 person likes this
@tinkerbell3030 (189)
• United States
14 Nov 06
I think that I was told when I was very young like when I started school. My parents told me the truth and made it known that christmas was about Jesus birth not santa and getting presents, But even though I knew that there was no santa I still was waiting for the presents on christmas and I still had a good time. I think the truth is important young and that way they do more things for others instead of santa doing it. Having the true christmas spirit.
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@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
14 Nov 06
Your parents were right, Jesus is THE reason for the season! How wonderful that you try to teach your children the true meaning of Christmas, and how important the Christmas spirit, and helping others is. Bless you!
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@rawpoet (2046)
• United States
14 Nov 06
First of all, good topic.
I found out when I was 10. My step dad was walking down the steps in a red jogging suit with gifts in his hands to take down to the tree. Of course I was up. I was excited.
I ran to him, thinking it was Santa. I was only temporarily crushed, but I'll never forget it.
My kids all know now since they're older. I got busted being Santa, too. But I wasn't wearing red. Ha!
@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
14 Nov 06
It's funny how we all remember how we found out, or figured out, that there was no actual Santa. Thanks for replying and sharing with us!
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