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Post by bunsy on Dec 26, 2012 12:04:34 GMT -6
I don't think any of my kids wanted to "see" and talk to Santa much after they started elementary school. It was a "little" kid thing to them.
As for believing? I have NO recollection.
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Post by bumblebee23 on Dec 26, 2012 12:26:59 GMT -6
The boys had been saying for a couple years that they thought mom & dad where really Santa. We gave it up last year so the boys where 8 & 10 yrs.
Before that we had gone to see santa at Northtown when the boys where probably 3 & 5yrs. We waited in line for over an hour and finally got up there and it was just a photo op. We left with DS1 being all upset because Santa didn't ask him what he wanted for xmas. So after that we never went back. I was pissed!
We had DH & a friend dress up like santa one year too and that was a big hit. Otherwise one year we went to the Macy's display and dropped off letters to santa. I wanted to do it again this year and told the boys they had to write a letter to Santa and they asked me why since they already know he isn't real and I explained that they donate money to the Make a Wish foundation for every letter they collect so they could play along and help sick kids.
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Post by jlschlangen on Dec 26, 2012 16:01:01 GMT -6
We didn't go see Santa this year. Though my dd's bus driver looks like santa. My kids believe. THough ds says this year that santa's writing looks like moms.
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Post by lilmermaid on Dec 26, 2012 16:10:01 GMT -6
DD1, 3rd grade has been questioning it a lot this year. Her teacher said it's about 50/50.
I found a really cool way to explain it to her on Pinterest. I'll see if I can find it to post here.
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Post by cakemakermom on Dec 27, 2012 9:59:07 GMT -6
We don't go to see Santa. But the way I explain Santa is that he is the Spirit of Giving, which resides in all of us and as long as we want to give to others Santa still lives on within us, which is why we as the parents enjoy giving the kids Santa gifts.
I still believe in Santa.
My kids haven't really brought up the "there is no Santa" thing, my son (age 6) keeps telling me that I'm Santa, which I haven't replied to yet, anything more than to not tell other kids about what he thinks as they may still believe in a physical Santa.
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Post by cakemakermom on Dec 27, 2012 9:59:52 GMT -6
Oh and also if they stop believing in Santa completely, they won't get any Santa gifts anymore.
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Post by sharon on Dec 27, 2012 10:11:08 GMT -6
No idea about visiting but my niece who is almost 10 still believes ( or says she does) and a cousin who is ten just figured it out this year. Ian is anxious for some of his favorite cousins to figure it out so he doesn't have to be so careful or deal with their questioning but we aren't there yet.
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Post by lilmermaid on Dec 27, 2012 10:27:27 GMT -6
Here is what one parent said in a letter to her DD. I thought it was really neat. I have another letter too that I liked when I decide to break the news to DD1.
I'm with Cake....I still believe!
I'm also going to tell her that now she is a helper that has to keep the secret! She can't tell her sisters, etc!
Dear Lucy,
Thank you for your letter. You asked a very good question: “Are you Santa?”
I know you’ve wanted the answer to this question for a long time, and I’ve had to give it careful thought to know just what to say.
The answer is no. I am not Santa. There is no one Santa.
I am the person who fills your stockings with presents, though. I also choose and wrap the presents under the tree, the same way my mom did for me, and the same way her mom did for her. (And yes, Daddy helps, too.)
I imagine you will someday do this for your children, and I know you will love seeing them run down the stairs on Christmas morning. You will love seeing them sit under the tree, their small faces lit with Christmas lights.
This won’t make you Santa, though.
Santa is bigger than any person, and his work has gone on longer than any of us have lived. What he does is simple, but it is powerful. He teaches children how to have belief in something they can’t see or touch.
It’s a big job, and it’s an important one. Throughout your life, you will need this capacity to believe: in yourself, in your friends, in your talents and in your family. You’ll also need to believe in things you can’t measure or even hold in your hand. Here, I am talking about love, that great power that will light your life from the inside out, even during its darkest, coldest moments.
Santa is a teacher, and I have been his student, and now you know the secret of how he gets down all those chimneys on Christmas Eve: he has help from all the people whose hearts he’s filled with joy.
With full hearts, people like Daddy and me take our turns helping Santa do a job that would otherwise be impossible.
So, no. I am not Santa. Santa is love and magic and hope and happiness. I’m on his team, and now you are, too.
I love you and I always will.
Mama
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Post by lilmermaid on Dec 27, 2012 10:32:49 GMT -6
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Post by dara1012 on Dec 27, 2012 22:08:20 GMT -6
In my family we always talked about Santa in the context of "The Magic of Christmas". Christmas is a magical time of giving, hoping, peace, joy, family, helping, faith etc. We incorporate all of those concepts into our celebrations. i work to help DS understand Advent and the importance of Christmas from a Christian perspective and then also the magic that goes along with the whole season.
Growing up I always had younger cousins (I was in high school when my youngest cousin was born), we were told that we had to believe in the magic of Christmas in order to get "Santa gifts" and we also were not allowed to spoil Santa for the younger kids. As adults we all stuff each others stockings and look at Santa as a way to share in the spirit of Christmas.
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