(no subject)

[weaktwos]

I overheard a proud Parent in the cafeteria talking about how she and her husband put on a whole production to fool the child into hearing Santa coming to their house. Her husband was outside with sleigh-like bells. The child of course believed all of it, and even thinks he saw santa’s silhouette outside of his window. The child was filled with wonder and amazement.

Part of me thinks it is cute. However, I remember feeling rather bummed that Santa wasn’t real when I finally became old enough. I felt badly for my parents, for I made them cookies, etc., and they weren’t always in the mood to eat them. And hell, I wasn’t the best of cooks then, anyway.

In retrospect, I don’t think I would have wanted to be mislead into believing that entities like the tooth fairy existed, or Santa Claus. Yeah, I’m being a bit of a party pooper, but finding out the truth later on detracts from memories. Now you experience something once, but memories last until you get Alzheimer’s.

What do you folks think?

Comments

[myasma.livejournal.com]

I always have looked at it as a rite of passage. Figuring out santa isn't real was a gradual process for me, and once I figured it out, it was like I had grown up a little. But my folks never went out of their way to reinforce the myth beyond the cookies and milk thing.

[reannon.livejournal.com]

I figured out that Santa wasn't real when I was about nine years old and found my parents' present list, hidden in the piano bench. I was bummed, but not so much about Santa. Now I knew everything I was getting for Christmas. Santa not being real wasn't that much of a surprise, but I realized that the fun of Christmas was the excitement, the anticipation. It was like knowing the end of the story. No fun.

So I decided to assist my parents in making my little sister believe in Santa Claus. Watching her believe, watching her excitement, was almost as much fun as when I believed. And I never went looking for my parents' secret list again.

Now, I help the Kiddo believe in Santa. I tell him Santa stories, we leave out cookies and fudge, plus reindeer food - oatmeal with a dash of glitter ("magic") in it, in a bowl on the front porch. After he goes to sleep, I take a bite out of each cookie and scatter the reindeer food around as though animals had been at it.

Watching the Kiddo's apoplectic excitement - "Santa was here! Santa ate the cookies! Mommy Mommy Mommy lookit the reindeer food!" - was MORE fun than when I believed. You lose that innocence, but you regain it with your own children. It's life's compensation for growing up.

[tunskit.livejournal.com]

Long-time reader, first-time poster. :-) My parents are religious, so they took away the Santa myth before I ever had a chance to believe, because they thought it detracted from Jesus. At three, they told me the earth-shattering truth. For my part, I'm still somewhat bitter over this, and I'm envious of my niece and nephews who get the joy of Santa.

But there's also my mother's experience to consider. She was six when the kids at school told her there wasn't a Santa. She cried, and they made fun of her.

Kids suck. LOL.

[whysoblue.livejournal.com]

Denver and I talked a little about this last week, when I asked him if either of his kids (10 & 12) still believed in Santa. He said he wasn't sure. The topic has never come up. His guess was that the boy (12) probably knows better but doesn't say anything, either to not ruin it for little sis or because he's afraid if he admits it he won't get 'Santa' gifts anymore.

I can't recall when I realized the truth. Apparently it wasn't a big shock. Or maybe it was such a big shock I repressed the memory. Shrug. But I remember it was fun and exciting -- watching the Santa tracking on TV. Trying to stay awake so you could catch Santa's visit. Getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and seeing more presents under the tree than when you went to bed.

And although I know that Santa isn't a real person and all that jazz, there's still something fun about 'believing' in Santa, you know? The whole spirit of it.

I've debated the topic in my head about what I'd do if and when. I guess I think that the whole Santa deal isn't a bad thing, for reasons I've said above -- but taking it to an extreme, like the example you present, is ridiculous. Making a big production of it like that seems like the parents are just setting the kid up for a hard fall when s/he learns the truth.

[annessence.livejournal.com]

I always wonder how appropriate it is to tell children not to lie and then fill their little heads with stories of Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, etc.

[almjbs.livejournal.com]

I held onto Santa for as long as I possibly could...and when I was told the truth I was explained that actually - Santa WAS the spirit of Christmas and it's even in me.

After that, my sister and I began giving *my* parents stockings...so we could act as Santa and have a secret together that my parents weren't aware of.

So depending on how you do it, it could be a good experience.