A Santa Question For DU Parents.

[MarianJack]

How old were your kids when they got the silly notion that Santa isn't real?

Our son is going to be 6 in March. I think that we will have 2006, maybe 07 and remotely possibly 08.

ChicaAzul thinks that this might be the last year or maybe next year.

How about your kid/kids?

BTW, I NEVER admit anything to a child.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. It all depends.

You're probably in your last few years. Typically, they find out from other kids. Otherwise, it's a "parents get sloppy and get caught" kind of thing that helps them figure it out. I wouldn't worry about it though - hell, you can keep right on going with it well after they realize there's no Santa if you keep the right sense of humor.

[MarianJack]

3. WHAT? NO SANTA?

The heck you say!

I will always keep with the traditions, even when he no longer believes. It's fun!

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

20. Sounds like you're well prepared.

:-)

[MarianJack]

23. We Try!

:hi:

[July]

13. My kids enjoyed being in on the conspiracy to create magic for little guys

We talked about how amazing it is that adults and older kids are able to keep Santa real for little kids, and they enjoyed being in the know.

[MarianJack]

16. Knowing my son's sense of humor,...

...he'll do the same!

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

21. That's very lovely

:-)

[kick-ass-bob]

2. My now 10 year old believed last year.

I'm not sure about this year.
:shrug:

[MarianJack]

5. When my twin nieces were 9,...

...they had it figured out, but pretended for my sister's sake.

[Xithras]

39. Probably not.

Most kids figure it out between 6 and 8. If they don't do it on their own, they'll hear it from their friends. The thing is, LOTS of kids will continue to "fake" their beliefs to help out younger kids, or out of the belief that they'll lose Santa gifts if they admit they don't believe.

[malta blue]

4. My 6 year old asked me last night about the

african american Santa she saw me posing with as a 7 year old. She said that there must be people who dress up as santa because she had only seen caucasian santas, but there I was, in 1976 sitting on a black santa's lap.

I explained to her that he has people dress up for him to collect the lists, but you NEVER KNOW if the santa you are talking to is the real one or not.

She bought it...

[MarianJack]

8. Thats a line I use too!

I give them numbers. "Thats Santa's helper #733, and he's #859,..."

[Celeborn Skywalker]

6. I was 9.

I got suspicious when I looked at the back of the packages and noticed they were from Taiwan or Minneapolis and not the North Pole.

[MarianJack]

9. That's a giveaway!

:hi:

[eyesroll]

7. Most kids seem to "believe" for years after they stop believing.

(Otherwise, they fear they won't get the presents.)

I grew up Jewish, so I grew up knowing that some kids teach their kids about Santa and I wasn't to ruin it for anyone.

[MarianJack]

12. My Step Mother was Jewish,...

...so my brother and sister grew up with both Christmas and Hanukkah! It was fun for all!

[eyesroll]

17. Heh...my BF has decided he wants to celebrate Hanukkah because

his three-year-old will get Christmas with his ex, and he wants her to experience both. :D

[MarianJack]

22. Good Idea!

Exposure to all.

Since our son is African American, we'll have to learn something about Kwanza (starting with how to spell it).

[bigwillq]

10. I was in third grade

when I found out. Didn't bother me. I still got presents!! :evilgrin:

[MarianJack]

14. I Almost Got into a fight with the kid who told me!

He'da kicked my butt!

[July]

11. Eightish, if I remember correctly.

They gave cues before then that they were questioning the Santa story, but it was clear they didn't want to give it up at first, so we followed their lead. There was no big reveal, because they had pretty much worked it out and were seeking confirmation at the end.

[MarianJack]

15. No Questions from my son yet,...

...but they're coming!

[GreenPartyVoter]

18. Mine are almost 6 and almost 8. The older one did question

it a bit recently but I assured him the tooth fairy was real and that was the end of that. Not sure what he thinks about Santa.

[MarianJack]

24. The Tooth Fairy Has Changed His Name!

According to "Santa Clause II", he's now the Molinator!

[GreenPartyVoter]

33. *lol* Naw.. that sounds freakin scary to me.

[NNadir]

19. My oldest was 7. My youngest, 6, still believes, with the help of an

active conspiracy on the part of his older brother.

The oldest, now 11, still sits on Santa's knee to help keep his brother's illusion going.

[MarianJack]

25. He's a great kid for doing that!

He must have a great sense of humor!

[NNadir]

26. Especially when you see how tall he is. He is the tallest kid in the 5th

grade, or nearly so.

[MarianJack]

27. And isn't it nice...

...that you can share a little secret with your son?

[Arugula Latte]

28. My son was seven when some older kids ratted out Santa.

So, the Christmas of first grade was his last Santa Christmas.

My daughter is in kindergarten and still a believer.

[MarianJack]

29. A "Big" Kid Ratted Santa To Me,...

...but I still believe!

[SW FL Dem]

30. My son was 6 when he started questioning

Some of his friends at school heard from their older siblings that Santa wasn't real. I told him that Santa only comes to houses where people believe in him. That satisfied him for a while. I'll never forget the night when he lost a tooth and asked me if the tooth fairy was real. He was 8 and very serious. He told me he wanted the truth and that he would be disappointed in me if I lied. What could I do? I told him that I was the tooth fairy and had been the one putting the money under his pillow. He then said, I guess you are Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny too. I lost all three fantasies in less than 5 minutes :(. Christmas hasn't been as much fun since that day. We still hang the stockings, the first year, my son took great pleasure in staying up with me to fill Dad's stocking. Now that he's 14, we don't bother filling them anymore.

[MarianJack]

34. We'll Still Preserve The Illusion.

Stockings are my favorite part.

[displacedtexan]

31. My daughter was 8.

But she knows (even at 22) that if she stops believing, he'll stop coming... which means she'll only get the parental unit presents.

It's a family tradition at our house. She started adding gifts to our stockings when she was in Jr. High, too. Even the parents get Santa gifts now.

[MarianJack]

37. And Sharing Something Like That With Your Child...

...is great!

[Saphire]

32. why would you lie to your child and tell them Santa is real? Do you

also tell them that the Easter Bunny is real? How about the tooth fairy? You know it's going to break their heart when you tell the truth to them. Why, why do you set them up for such disappointment?

[MarianJack]

35. There's a Difference Between Tall Tales and Lies

Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy are fun and TOTALLY harmless tall tales that are part of the holiday.

If you've read previous posts here, it was actually kind of fun when people find out and many kids actually preserve the illusion for the fun of it.

Hardly a set up, and heartbreak for very few! If heartbreak, VERY temporary.

[redqueen]

36. Mine are 6 and 8, and they're beginning to suspect...

at least the older one is. When we were moving, she saw some wrapping paper and asked if that was the same kind Santa used last year. (HOW do they have such good memories?!) I just said no.

I don't remember how old I was when I figured it out... but I remember waking up and catching my parents wrapping the presents.

[MarianJack]

38. Many Will Eventually Put 2+2 Together,...

and I love how many of them just figure it out!