Reply #27: I have respect for your parenting --

[SmokingJacket]

and I certainly don't think someone who goes all out for Santa is a bad parent, at all. I happen to be an atheist, but I don't think religious people are bad parents. In fact, the best parents I know are devout Catholics. There are LOTS of ways to parent well.

This is more about thinking about what the role of the school is, and whether it should lie to kids. I happen to think not, but I seem to be in the minority. ;-) And I think that we really should think about the meaning of what we're telling them. I felt guilty that I had more presents than my poorer friends (yeah, yeah, lifelong liberal) and the belief in Santa means not thinking about that.

I never remember believing in Santa -- maybe that's why I feel I can take or leave it. When I was four or five my mother told me: "Don't tell the other kids, it'll spoil their fun!" I was like, Eh, it didn't spoil my fun! I'm a Christmas enthusiast -- make the gingerbread, play the carols on the piano. Who needs the fat man? Shopping malls, that's who.