I remember being so sad when I found out there was no Santa Claus. But, even before that, my parents asked me to donate some of my toys to Toys for Tots for Christmas because “some little girls and boys are poor and don’t get toys for Christmas.” Talk about being confused! I didn’t understand why Santa would leave them out because they were poor. When I asked my parents about that, they didn’t answer me because they didn’t know what to say. I was a bit precocious and looked at things very deeply even as a small child. I’ll admit, I loved the fantasy of Santa, but it was crushing to find out he wasn’t real in the form I had been told. I kept some of the magic alive by “believing” for my little sister until she, too, found out the truth. I struggled with what to do with my own children…do I play along with the Santa myth or do I tell them the truth for fear they would wonder what ELSE I was lying about. It was such a difficult decision for me. But, since all of their friends believed in Santa, I let them, too. And when they found out the truth, I told them that Santa was real in our hearts because we love and give at Christmas time and we are Santa by giving those gifts of love. More importantly, I told them Christmas was truly about the love God has for us and the gift of salvation Christ gave to us and that was when we celebrated His birth and that was the REAL Christmas. They could relate to that.

brannon – It’s not lying – it’s believing. And it’s not disappointment, its discovery. Both are equally magical – very nicely said and I agree.

Bren – I also agree with you.

Karen – Even though I knew Santa was really Mom and Dad I still put out cookies for Santa and carrots for the raindeer. Christmas to me is about family and traditions, and Santa is one of those traditions! – I agree with you also …. and I did the same thing. I like the idea of traditions more than anything.

I think it’s great that children can have a imagination to believe in Santa, The Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy etc ….. it shows great innocense.

My daughter is 8 years old and still believes, I will continue to let her believe for as long as possible. Because in my family guess what Santa is real. He might not be the jolly fat guy that lives at the north pole that drives a flying sled with magical reindeers but he’s real in a sense that he’s a “magical” presense that knows if your naughty or nice and rewards you for your good behavior.
At Christmas in my family we (the parents) don’t get your christmas gifts – we provide for you all year long – they all come from santa. To this day all of my presents from my parents come from Santa ….. he’s real as long as you believe. Once you stop believing, Christmas just isn’t the same. Why ruin that innocent harmless magical fun for your child (IMO)?

Children in my daughter’s class along with neighborhood kids have told her that Santa isn’t real, and she told them and her exact words …. “He’s real as long as you choose to believe in him, and I believe he’s real!”. – now how sweet is that…..

I was told, and I’ve told my kids- you stop believing, Santa stops coming. And all Mom gets you are socks and underwear….

I WAS BROUGHT UP KNOWING THAT THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS SANTA AND ANNOYED MOST OF MY PEERS BY TELLING THEM…IN RETROSPECT I GUESS THEY MUST HAVE BEEN CRUSHED, BUT THERE IS NO NEED FOR THAT REALLY. WHY LIE TO KIDS? JUST TELL THEM YOU BOUGHT IT FOR THEM BECAUSE YOU LOVE THEM, AND TELL THEM ABOUT CHRIST, WHO LAST TIME I CHECKED, IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE FOCUS OF THE HOLIDAY. LIE TO YOUR KIDS AND THEY WILL DISTRUST YOU IN THE FUTURE

When I stopped believing in Santa, it was because that year when I was about 7, I didn’t receive anything from Santa, and I was so hurt, nobody said anything about, he didn’t come that year and he never came again.

It is harmless in a way, but can be really hurtful, and I tend to see it a little more on the lying side myself, although it is a magical thing. At that age its hard to see the whole thing as we do now as adults, and I know I never would have thought of finding out that he doesn’t exist as a “discovery”.

I guess maybe if I have children one day I’ll let them believe for a few years. To me imagination is one thing, because nobody is ever disappointed from imagination, but they are dissapointed at the realization of fake Santa. So I can’t see it as the same thing myself. It was good while it lasted though.

I remember growing up believing in Santa, it was so magical and exciting. I would count down the days to Christmas for weeks. I always tried to wait up for Santa but my Dad told me Santa wouldnt come until i fell asleep hehe. We would leave carrots for the reindeers and milk and cookies for Santa. I discovered myself he wasnt real about age 7 – and i admit Christmas just wasnt as magical as it was before – but i had younger siblings i pretended with and it brought me so much joy to watch their excitement!I would defintely want the same for my children.

Santa comes from Saint Nicholas who was real and took his inheritance from his parents at an early age and gave to all the children in his village. The idea of Santa Clause is the idea of giving and the magic of Christmas.

hmm I would like to add that when I found out there was no Santa I was crushed…yet I got over it!! Kids will find many disappoinments throughout life and the best lesson you can teach them is to be able to put things behind them and move on. It didn’t not change Christmas for me. It just becomes a different kind of magic after.

I don’t disagree with those that choose to not tell their children about Santa that’s a personal decision but I think looking back had I been told there was no Santa I would have been more crushed knowing I never had a few years of that magical belief.

I will def. tell my children about Santa and my nieces and nephews love and talk about Santa with a great big smile and a sparkle in their eyes. They also know that Santa brings them presents and so does mommy and daddy and other relatives.
on a lighter note, Santa is a great excuse to get your children to listen to you, “Santa’s watching you so don’t misbehave!” lol…but on a serious note I don’t think it’s harmful to allow children to have special beliefs in things that don’t exist. For me Santa is still something I look back on and have fond memories of growing up.

We believed in Santa as kids, i remember finding out when i was about 8 when i saw my mum putting the stocking on the end of my bed. In our house Santa only delived the stocking, which were only little bits (stationery, socks etc) plus a nice shiny coin and orange. The presentes under the tree where always labelled and they were gifts from friends and family.

Santa Claus was so magical to me. When my sister told me (I think I was 7 or 8), I admit that I was sad but briefly because I then loved playing the part of believing and pretending for my younger siblings. It continued when my nephews were born. It is even better now with my 3 young girls. To me, it is just as okay to believe in Santa as it is to pretend play.