Should parents stop pretending that Santa is real?

GLaDOS

I've never heard of anyone resenting their parents over Santa. Most kids figure it out themselves.

Mint Sauce

whoopsadoodles wrote: »

Resent my parents?

On the contrary.

I am so grateful for all the memories of magical Christmases.

I still believe in santa and always will.

So whats Santa bringing this year Whoopsy?

jimgoose

This is the kind of thing that crops up when you run out of sabre-tooth tigers to run from. :pac:

Omackeral

He's no less believable than God and yet we're made to swear an oath on the bible and in weddings and such. Let kids be kids!

mickoneill31

Those psychologists must have had a **** childhood.
I don't know anybody who resents their parents because they believed in santa. I have fond memories of Christmas in my childhood and have nothing but love for my parents as they tried to make my Christmas special.

In the article it talks about a North pole intelligence gathering service. What planet are they on that they think that this is something a 7 or 8 year old worries about.
Sure if they worry about that wait till they start thinking about religion. The worst santa would do is give you a lump of coal.

Pherekydes

My brother (older by 6 years) gave the game away one Christmas, but I had found out the year before but kept quiet about it.

Funny, the nice pressies dried up after that.

None of my own believe any more...:o:





...which is good as the youngest is 17. :pac:



But now we have to keep up the charade one more time, as our 3 year-old grandson will be in the house on Christmas night.

Mortpourvelo

I found out when seeing me dad putting together the brother's train set.

Says he "I'm Father Christmases apprentice".

Not falling for that one!!!

Yes. I told the younger brother. I'm evil

osarusan

If Santa Claus was good enough for our ancestors 10,000 years ago, it's good enough for me.

newacc2015

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

No.It's a bit of harmless fun that shouldn't be over analysed by people who could be doing something productive.

I don't think it is harmless fun though. There is plenty of studies that find children develop their spending habits at a very young age. I dont think it is particularly helpful for someone to be telling their 10/11 year old that a non-existent man brings them whatever they want rather than their parents hard work. How is a child supposed to be conservative around money when they dont know where it is being spent?

It is important to keep Christmas magical etc. But it is more important that your children learns from a young age how to manage money. Christmas is a few days a year, bad spending habits **** you up for life.

whisky_galore

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Children love presents.

Fixed.

Goya

I budget very well - always have done, and I believed in Santa until I was 10. It's up to parents to teach this (and the person themselves). Santa doesn't have to have a bearing on this at all.

Wow the bit in the article about the North Pole intelligence gathering :pac: looks like an Onion satire.

Arne_Saknussem

GreenFolder2 wrote: »

Being a sceptic since a very early age, I basically ridiculed my parents for suggesting that an enormously fat man could fit down a narrow chimney.

Also, I caught them putting Christmas presents under the tree.

I didn't really believe in Santa once I got past the learning to talk phase.

We're all very impressed with you.

Olishi4

No I don't think people would resent their parents for letting them believe that Santa is real. I have some really great Christmas memories. I think I just started to cop on at about 9 or 10 and then said it to them and it really wasn't that shocking.

Part of growing up is slowly realising that your parents are people too and not the "guardians of wisdom and truth" but just doing their best.

marcbrophy

A friend of mine was telling me what her son wanted from "Santa" this year.
In quotes because he's a teenager and doesn't believe anyway.

Honestly, the sheer cost of the items alone was probably more than my disposable income for the year

When I was growing up, Santa got me A present, and a surprise if I was good!
I was always good!

razorblunt

I've just had my yearly call with my Dad asking how Santa will know I'm not at home but at my Dad's house this Xmas.


I'm 31.


31 years of lies and hurt and awesome, awesome presents.

seamus

As far as I can tell the article is all philosophising about what "could" or "might" happen, with absolutely no evidence to back up any of their suggestions. Go and gather some evidence before making suggestions about what should and shouldn't be done.

The fact that they think a child will consider an "intelligence gathering agency" goes to show how utterly out of touch these people are. Children don't think at scale. How does he do it? Magic, innit.

The one thing I find a bit depressing though is the amount of people who say that the "good" presents dried up when they found about Santa. It's like the parents felt obliged to stretch themselves to maintain the illusion, but when it was gone just reverted to socks and crap.
I always got decent pressies, when Santa left the pressies just became more focussed because I was asked exactly what I wanted.

gossamer

Do children in this day and age still believe in Santa anyway? More-so in the 5-11 bracket.The modern world continues to chip away at innocence and with such ease of access to the internet, I kind of thought that at this stage it was an act put on. Mostly to wrangle a decent present out of their parents that they wouldn't have a chance of getting otherwise. Or maybe I'm just a cynic.

vicwatson

osarusan wrote: »

If Santa Claus was good enough for our ancestors 10,000 years ago, it's good enough for me.

Huh? I thought Coca Cola invented him

Shenshen

Flimpson wrote: »

I budget very well - always have done, and I believed in Santa until I was 10. It's up to parents to teach this (and the person themselves). Santa doesn't have to have a bearing on this at all.

Wow the bit in the article about the North Pole intelligence gathering :pac: looks like an Onion satire.

I'm not sure how I feel about this, to be honest.
Perosnally, I'm from a country that doesn't do Santa, so it was never a big issue in our house. Santa was one of those odd yankee things you'd see in Hollywood films, nothing more.

But to believe in it until you're 10? I had my first period when I was 10...

vicwatson

Shenshen wrote: »

I'm not sure how I feel about this, to be honest.
Perosnally, I'm from a country that doesn't do Santa, so it was never a big issue in our house. Santa was one of those odd yankee things you'd see in Hollywood films, nothing more.

But to believe in it until you're 10? I had my first period when I was 10...

Well Merry Bloody Christmas to you too !

Winterlong

vicwatson wrote: »

Huh? I thought Coca Cola invented him

Well yeah.
But the stone age people had coca cola in the caves ya know.

givyjoe

Winterlong wrote: »

Well yeah.
But the stone age people had coca cola in the caves ya know.

The amount of buzz kills around here.. Christ.. must have been miserable and joyless around Christmas time in your houses.

whoopsadoodles

newacc2015 wrote: »

I don't think it is harmless fun though. There is plenty of studies that find children develop their spending habits at a very young age. I dont think it is particularly helpful for someone to be telling their 10/11 year old that a non-existent man brings them whatever they want rather than their parents hard work. How is a child supposed to be conservative around money when they dont know where it is being spent?

It is important to keep Christmas magical etc. But it is more important that your children learns from a young age how to manage money. Christmas is a few days a year, bad spending habits **** you up for life.

My parents had to send the money to Santy for the presents we wanted.

Nothing ever went on our list without checking if it was OK with mam and dad first.

_Jamie_

The reason why the myth of Santa Claus works so well is that children fucking love make believe. They want to believe it. Even when they are getting to an age to deduce that he might not exist, the belief goes on for a few more years. I remember feeling sceptical once I hit around 8, but on Christmas morning that year, I still felt that excitement when I saw my presents.

Lou Scaunt

You'd want to be some miserable prick to even suggest taking that away from children.

Father Hernandez

whoopsadoodles wrote: »

My parents had to send the money to Santy for the presents we wanted.

Nothing ever went on our list without checking if it was OK with mam and dad first.

Exactly, I was the same.

I remember when I was old enough to think like this (probably a few months before I stopped believing), I said f**k it, I'll make a list of everything I want, sure its Santa why wouldn't he bring everything.

The list of 20 something from Playstation games to a new United jersey got fairly diminished after a chat with the parents at the time. Pick one/two and Santa will be able to bring, all other children needs presents too.

The magic of that Christmas morning used to be amazing, still have home videos and seeing other kids so excited on Christmas morning is class.

Sure for a birthday or whatever, kids can get presents but there's a certain feel good 'magic' factor about Christmas, Santa Claus and everything else.

Stop pretending Santa isn't real?? My a**e

_Jamie_

My husband's brother believed until the first year of secondary school.

Winterlong

givyjoe wrote: »

The amount of buzz kills around here.. Christ.. must have been miserable and joyless around Christmas time in your houses.

What has that got to do with my post?!

givyjoe

Winterlong wrote: »

What has that got to do with my post?!

I had no idea what you were on about there.. seems like I accidentally quoted your post. My bad. :eek:

kfallon

Pherekydes wrote: »

But now we have to keep up the charade one more time, as our 3 year-old grandson will be in the house on Christmas night.

Enjoy it, it'll be great to have Santa back in your house again