Am I mean telling my daughter about Santa Claus?
Her best friend has made the remark that my daughter allready knew, and I felt that she allready knew, but wanted her to hear it from me, so that she would 1.)trust me and 2.)not get made fun of at school, if she did talk about it there.
My question is, did I do the right thing? She is almost 11, and I knew at 7?
Answer:
Best to hear it from YOU so you can choose how to explain (even if she "already" knew). I "think" I was about 8 or 9--too long ago to remember!--& kids were teasing me at school because I still believed. My older sister told me first, & then I asked my teacher who very diplomatically said Santa Claus was a "spirit" & I do recall feeling victorious! However, my dad found out my sister had told me, & he felt it was "about time." You are NOT being mean. The wonderful "fairy tale" kids so love--of Santa Claus--should properly be explained by a caring parent, which you obviously are.
Edit: Just a moment of whimsy; if I had a fireplace, I MIGHT be tempted to believe even now. Seriously, I'm very glad that I had as many years "believing" because it was wonderful fun. "Santa" came in to hang my stocking on the foot of the bed, & I squinted my eyes tight because I knew he didn't want me to see him. That was such a thrill; to "feel" his presence & not look at him! I believe my mum would have let it go longer--she'd even whisper late Christmas Eve as if talking with him. Santa Claus was perhaps the most magic thing I recall of my childhood. AND. I did NOT lose trust in my mum, because of the way she explained it to me. Merry Christmas!
you're fine. you did the right thing.
yes you did the right thing. I would say to tell them around 9 or so. so its good that you got to hold of for a little while. like you said you dont want kids to make fun of her if she did talk about him.
Yes you did the right thing. I didn't give it up to my daughter unitll she was 11, and she was upset that I hadn't told her sooner. She said that all her fiends had already told her that it wasn't real, and that she had been made fun of by her friends foe still believing in Santa. I guess I should have told her a little sooner. Maybe 9 or 10
Yes, I think you did the right thing. I was one of the kids who found out in first grade and told everybody else and then made fun of them. Then, I got my younger brother in on the secret so we all could make fun.
My daughter is four and knows there's no such thing as Santa.
And what makes you think she'll trust you after you lied to her for eleven years?
Only you know if it was the right thing. But she probably 'knew', just wanted to hang on to the fantasy. My older kids became the BEST elves in the world - they had soooooo much fun keeping Santa going for their younger siblings. They would jingle bells during the night and cupped their hands and 'ran' accross the walls (reindeer hoofs). Good Memories!
Yea, I think you did. My son is 9 and we told him this year, though I think he already knew.
Frankly as harsh as this sounds, I think you did her a favor because when she gets to junior high next year you will have saved her from a lot of embarrassment by her peers. Kids can be really rotten to each other. Know what I mean ?
At 11, you should have done it a while ago.
Just tell her that if she believes in Santa then he exists!
Telling the truth is never the wrong thing. Especially when not knowing the truth can bring harm; in this case the emotional hurt of being ridiculed by her classmates.
Sure Its okay to live a fantancy life. We all do it for the fun and keeps our spirit up and happy
I think so. I was a bit younger. But she is just leaving the age of believing for adolescence. So you did good.
yea.. always tell them before they leave primary school
I'm sure she probably knew but enjoyed the fantasy. My mother told me when I was 12 but I didn't completely believe her for a long time because of an experience one year. I heard bells and saw "Santa" in full wardrobe going in the neighbor's back door. When I looked in our door, there were gifts under the tree that weren't there when my dad took us out back to pop firecrackers. After that, even though I even helped put my sister's gifts under the tree, there were still a few years that I didn't make the connection that it was the man next door that did the Santa thing.
Another thing I'll add, I didn't "teach" either of my children Santa in the same way I was taught (that he brought gifts after we were asleep, etc.), and they were always both just as excited about Christmas as I was believing in him. They will tell you that themselves. I even let them go see "Santa" at the mall if they wanted to and write letters to him. We played along with the other kids, but they were taught the real meaning of Christmas and still got gifts. Many of the traditions we started then, we still do to this day and one is grown and one is a teen.
We also gave to charities and made boxes for the Samaritan's purse.
I think you did the right thing. Even though I wasn't sure about what my mother told me all the way, I appreciated that she took the time with me. She even showed me how Santa started in the Encyclopedia that day and it is a special memory.
Its cool you had made the decision to let her know about the true MEANING of Christmas and that it will always be in our hearts. Especially even after the fact that her best friend had told you she already knew. You still went out of your way to let her know so this will help her to trust you even more now so she will never wonder "Why did my mom never let me know that Santa was real and I had to find out through friends, school etc.."? If for some reason, she still wanted to believe thats her own doing but probaly would of had got made fun of in school. I kind of knew but played off with my mom for a little while cause I didn't want her to know that I knew....so look it that! =)
My twins are almost 8 and still believe 100%, but I do think you have done the right thing, as I will probably do the same for mine next year. You are lucky to have kept the fantasy alive for so long! I will miss this utter trust in Father Christmas when it goes!
wait a min...what are you talking about in the 1st place? Santa is real isnt it? OH MY GOD! he's fake? ok ok...anyway,u did the right thing...just like my dad used to tell me wrestling was fake back in the 80's(WWF) n i didnt believed him...
why do you parents lye to your children???
tell her the truth.
no prob im 11 just tell ur daughter staright foward maybe after christmas i kinda figured there was no santa so I asked my dad and he told me the truth! its easy ur not mean maybe u could say like the easter bunny start off with that
I believe you did the right thing. Although I told my children from the get, that Santa Claus was more a symbol for giving, sharing, and caring and having Christmas spirit. Would a mother who really cared about her children do anything mean, I think not, you did not want her to be made fun of at school, and words can hurt worse than anything sometimes, saving your daughter from this pain is not mean it is just being the Mom.
WHAT? Santa isn't real?
Are you serious?
Seriously?
OMG!! OMG!!
You did the right thing telling your Daughter.
Good for you!
No, i think you did the right thing.
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