Status report Page 2,779

Quote: Lee Henman @ September 24 2010, 1:47 AM BST

We were in Tescos earlier on and they were putting Christmas stuff out. My excited 8 year old said "Santa really exists doesn't he Dad?". I asked him why he was asking and he said his friend told him that it's really Mum and Dad who put the mince pie and sherry out. I said yeah, that's true, but only to make Christmas more magic. He stopped in his tracks and said "So everyone's been lying, Santa's fake then?". Honestly, he looked so upset. Didn't know what to say so I just muttered something about him being the Spirit Of Christmas. He's been really quiet all night. I knew this day would come

I've said it before but I hate the way we have to lie to our kids about Santa.

View original

You're very lucky that he lasted til 8. My daughter was 5 and it broke her heart. My youngest is 5 and he's all about Santa this year...and he's in kindergarten...where all new and bad things are learned...we shall see.

Every little helps.

Xmas stuff out already? Bleedin' hell!

We had Halloween stuff out in July here...Christmas stuff is on it's way.

I do enjoy the holidays, but by the time they come around I'm sick of em because they get dragged out for so long.

Quote: AndreaLynne @ September 24 2010, 1:53 AM BST

You're very lucky that he lasted til 8. My daughter was 5 and it broke her heart.

View original

I'm glad you told me that Andrea because most people seem to think kids are fine with it. He didn't look fine at all.

Quote: Lee Henman @ September 24 2010, 1:59 AM BST

I'm glad you told me that Andrea because most people seem to think kids are fine with it. He didn't look fine at all.

View original

It can be quite traumatic because in a lot of kids eyes it's the realization that their parents have really truly lied to them.

I think it gets more difficult the older they are. My brother and I were about 5 when we found the presents stashed under the back seat of the station wagon during the trip to my grandparents' house in Detroit. It wasn't a big deal.

Stop playing poker Leevil and go to bed.

OK me.

Night all.

Quote: Lee Henman @ September 24 2010, 1:47 AM BST

We were in Tescos earlier on and they were putting Christmas stuff out. My excited 8 year old said "Santa really exists doesn't he Dad?". I asked him why he was asking and he said his friend told him that it's really Mum and Dad who put the mince pie and sherry out. I said yeah, that's true, but only to make Christmas more magic. He stopped in his tracks and said "So everyone's been lying, Santa's fake then?". Honestly, he looked so upset. Didn't know what to say so I just muttered something about him being the Spirit Of Christmas. He's been really quiet all night. I knew this day would come

I've said it before but I hate the way we have to lie to our kids about Santa.

View original

Tell him Santa circumcises kids aged 9

But disapointment is part of the growing up process or else we'd never leave home

Lee has a fair point. The realisation that parents are lying to them about Santa means that they immediately question what else they have been lying to them about.

I still believed in father Christmas (as he was known back then) until I was about 10. I was prepared for the reality of the situation very gradually. That is I gradually ran down the stairs following my younger siblings to be gradually stopped in the hall by my mother who gradually told me that I was too old for father Christmas and that he had bought me a present instead. She gradually gave me the present.... which was a fishing rod and reel. It was December, what the f**k did she think I was going to do with that! THIS OBVIOUSLY HASN'T HAD ANY AFFECT/EFFECT ON ME!!

Quote: Lee Henman @ September 24 2010, 1:47 AM BST

We were in Tescos earlier on and they were putting Christmas stuff out. My excited 8 year old said "Santa really exists doesn't he Dad?". I asked him why he was asking and he said his friend told him that it's really Mum and Dad who put the mince pie and sherry out. I said yeah, that's true, but only to make Christmas more magic. He stopped in his tracks and said "So everyone's been lying, Santa's fake then?". Honestly, he looked so upset. Didn't know what to say so I just muttered something about him being the Spirit Of Christmas. He's been really quiet all night. I knew this day would come

I've said it before but I hate the way we have to lie to our kids about Santa.

View original

Awww! Well it had to happen some time.
I don't remember 'finding out', I think I just slowly realised. (Although I still believe in him a bit.)
At least you weren't one of those parents who refuse to let their kid believe in Father Christmas at all. My brother reckons if he had a kid he'd tell him about it from the start. What a f**king joyless, magicless childhood that kid'll have.

Quote: Lee Henman @ September 24 2010, 1:47 AM BST

it's really Mum and Dad who put the mince pie and sherry out.

View original

But they do? Father Christmas doesn't put it out for himself does he?
Or did you just write that wrong...?

Quote: bigfella @ September 24 2010, 7:00 AM BST

Lee has a fair point. The realisation that parents are lying to them about Santa means that they immediately question what else they have been lying to them about.

View original

Our kids started to doubt Santa when they were about 5. In a way, it's good for them to realise that society will attempt to deceive the individual, it breeds healthy cynicism. They're both now anti-religion, and they're still at primary school.

Maybe the next guy to be executed in the US could wear a santa costume?

Film it, job done.

Quote: Nogget @ September 24 2010, 8:49 AM BST

Our kids started to doubt Santa when they were about 5. In a way, it's good for them to realise that society will attempt to deceive the individual

View original

It is a lie for their benefit though, not to hurt them. It's important for kids to learn the difference.
All lies are not equal.