Over the years my two have asked me many, many times if Santa was really real and I’ve always given them the answers I think they wanted and needed to hear.
Miss Frugal for example stopped believing years ago, before most of her friends did, and although I tried to tell her otherwise, she just knew that Santa wasn’t real. She’s a very logical child and lots of things just didn’t make sense to her so we had the talk about that quite early on.
It didn’t stop Christmas being magical for her though and she became my helper to keep the Santa magic alive for Master Frugal.
And then last year, at age 9, Master Frugal started having his own doubts but he seemed to want to continue to believe so happily accepted our explanations to his questions.
This year though has been a different matter – he’s 10 now and in Year 6 at school and I was a little bit worried about how his belief in Santa would affect him at school seeing as he’d already told us that many of his school friends were no longer believers and had been told by their parents that Santa wasn’t real. Children can be cruel and I didn’t want him going to school defending the existence of Santa when his friends knew otherwise.
I didn’t want to be the person who told him Santa was real and sent him off to school knowing that I’ve always said that the kids can ask me any question and I’ll tell them the truth (albeit in a way suitable for them).
So when he asked me this year if Santa was real, I told him the truth.
He was a little upset at first which is how I knew he was a definite believer before but I explained to him that Santa represented the magic of Christmas and just because the man himself didn’t exist, it didn’t mean that Christmas wasn’t magical. Santa represents the love that parents have for children by making Christmas special and that the magic of Santa will continue as long as he keeps believing in the magic of Christmas.
All very corny I know but it helped him to deal with his new found knowledge and we finished up our Santa conversation with a hug and all was good. No trauma or ruined childhoods here!
But then it all went downhill very quickly….
Mast F – Oh well, at least the pyjama fairy will still bring us pyjamas on Christmas Eve, that’s proper magic isn’t it?
Me – Erm
Mast F – Are you kidding? You’re the pyjama fairy too!
Me – Erm
Mast F – I don’t believe it, next thing you’ll tell me you’re the tooth fairy.
Me – Erm
Mast F – (Close to tears) And the Easter Bunny?
Me – Oh no, that’s not me.
Mast F – (Relief apparent on his face) Phew.
Miss F – No, that’s Dad!
The above conversation did happen unfortunately although I’d love to say it was embellished for dramatic effect – between Miss Frugal and I, we pretty much cleared up any confusion around all fairies and bunnies! He thinks it’s hilarious now but he did have a two minute wobble when it sunk in (don’t tell him I told you that).
We’ll still be getting a visit from the pyjama fairy and leaving out treats for Santa on Christmas Eve although the tooth fairy and the Easter Bunny may well be retired now!
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A friend of mine told her son that Santa can only come to those who believe and when a child no longer believes his parents must do the Santa thing otherwise there would be no presents. It's not exactly a lie as if you believe in Santa, he is real and it covers the 'my friends say he doesn't exist' as non believers don't get a visit. I thought it was rather neat and used it on my kids too.
Aw bless him, that conversation did make me giggle. I am dreading when we get it with ours!! X
Oh gosh Cass that conversation must have been heartbreaking!!! Funny but sad at the same time. I'd love for POD to believe in Santa for years but I can see that won't happen. She'll be five on Christmas Day so we're hoping we can go with it for a while yet. She asked if he could have supper with us the other day LOL!
I'm still not too sure if my 10 year old believes in Santa, but he's sussed the tooth fairy (which is a tooth mouse in France!)
Aww bless him, I don't remember believing in Santa – I decided he wasn't real at a very young age but always played along with others. I sometimes wish I had.
Sorry but I did laugh at this! It's an age old parenting question isn't it… I've never been comfortable with lying, but it is a special kind of magic!
My youngest is very on the ball and worked it out ages ago and doesn't seem bothered as long as 'Santa' visits. My daughter on the other hand believed so much and until quite late, it all ended terribly with lots of tears when she got told. It still makes me sad to think of it 🙁
Isaac is starting to question it but I am dragging it out a bit longer – my older ones still get stockings and happily play along
Cass, Emma is 6 and she has started already but I can''t tell her the truth yet as the other P2 parents will probably kill me :-)!
I answer her question with a question for now, "well, what do you think?" which makes her state her belief in santa and reassures her somehow.xx
Oh bless him! tbh I'm 35 and I still a part of me believes ins Santa so hopefully the magic will last a little longer for him. x
I was gutted when my oldest found out and so was he, I remember finding out too… my mean big sister told me! It really does take the magic away x
My eldest is 'in the know' and my youngest believes. I think I may get a few more years of believing out of him, he's quite happy with his knowledge of it all and hasn't started asking me for the truth yet!
My eldest got to 11 and was in high school before her Santa illusions were shattered! My youngest is 10 and is starting to ask questions. I imagine her reaction will be much the same as Master Frugal when she also realises, the pyjama fairy, birthday fairy, Easter bunny, Chinese red dragon (who comes on Chinese New Year to deliver red envelopes filled with chocolate gold coins), Cupid (Valentine's Day), leprechaun (st Patrick's day) are all me!!! Love your explanation to him, I am going to use that one when the time comes.
My son is 5 and in primary 2 and he is starting to ask questions about Santa being real and I want to tell him the truth but his little sister is only 3 and I dont want to ruin the magic for yet xx
This made me laugh. I think both my boys still believe. I am pretty sure that Maxi can hold his own if someone at school tells him Santa isn't real!