Posted on 09/27/2023 4:47:00 AM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?
There is absolutely no excuse for telling a child about Santa Claus. None. Not one. Let them believe for as long as possible, I say. So what was one grandmother thinking when she decided to come clean about Saint Nick and totally ruin Christmas for her 4-year-old granddaughter?
The woman's daughter-in-law (DIL) shared the whole upsetting story in a now viral post on Reddit's r/JUSTNOMIL forum.
The Original Poster (OP) really believes this all stems from the fact that her mother-in-law (MIL) doesn't really like her — like at all.
"She’s one of the typical moms who doesn’t want her son to be stolen away by another woman, so my existence alone is enough for her to resent me," the OP explained in her post.
She's also quite religious and doesn't like that the OP and her husband have decided to raise their kids secular. But that doesn't give her the right to do what she did.
"My daughter (4) loves Christmas," the mom explained. "She loves decorating the house and helping bake the cookies and she gets to pick the tree out this year. She’s so excited it’s literally so adorable, she’s been talking about it since July."
Her daughter is also a "very firm believer in Santa."
"She already has a mile long list of things she wants him to get her," the mom added.
"My MIL was over today and my daughter was asking me to add another random item to her Santa list," the mom continued. "As my MIL heard her say it, she immediately responds to her saying that Santa isn’t real, and that me and my husband are who buys the gifts under the tree."
"This obviously went over like a lead balloon with my child, but my MIL looked pretty happy with herself for the s—t storm she just created for me and for breaking my daughters heart," she added.
The mom was livid. When she told her MIL off, the woman responded that the OP should be thanking her "and [said] that our child shouldn’t be thanking a man who doesn’t exist for the nice things we do for her."
The mom thought this was "rich" coming from someone who believed in God.
"I also told her I was very sorry she let the devil breed hate in her heart, then I slammed the door in her face," she wrote.
Most people agreed that the OP's MIL was out-of-line. "Your MIL is a monster. You are 10000 percent not-the-a—hole," one person wrote. "Tell your daughter MIL doesn’t know who Santa is because she never got presents from him!" one person suggested. "Shame on her!!! How dare she ruin your daughter's happiness and innocence by telling her that Santa isn't real!" another commenter exclaimed.
Although we really love the suggestion that one person had for her. "Tell your little girl that Santa is the spirit of giving and Christmas; of course he’s real. He acts within human agents and comes to life over and over again, every year," they wrote.
"There’s no reason to let MIL spoil the magic for her," they added. "You can restore the faith in numerous ways."
The son needs to step in and cut off contact with his narcissistic Mom.
The only thing these creatures understand is being ghosted.
I tell random kindergartners that Krampus is going to kidnap them on Christmas.
At 4-YO, there is still time.
I’d begin by telling her, her grandmother is not real.
Transgenderism, drag queens, CRT, AGW. Spoiling childhood has become a growth industry
Personally I don’t see any benefit to lying to kids and destroying trust but it’s also the parents’ decision. MIL needs to stay out of it.
Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy are all very valuable lessons to children not to believe stuff that authoritative appearing people tell them.
Like politicians and clergy.
MIL is out of line, no doubt.
However I do question how secular anyone is if they celebrate Christmas.
I’ve always said I’ll believe an atheists convictions when they show up for work on Christmas and Easter.
My MIL, who grew up in the 20’s, was scared witless of Krampus. Her uncles would rattle a chain outside her window on Christmas eve to get her wound up.
“... that Santa isn’t real, and that me and my husband are who buys the gifts under the tree.”
OP should pay more attention to boning up on her grammar skills than worrying about the existence of Santa. It might be more beneficial to her daughter’s future.
“I’ll believe an atheists convictions when they show up for work on Christmas and Easter.”
My boss, HR Director, got all ticked off when I said I wanted to work on MLK Day.
Santa isn’t real?!?!?!?!?!?!?.....................😢🤦♂️😢🤷♂️
When my son was 5 he began suspecting a problem because he noticed Santa was using the same wrapping paper as Mom and Dad.
Mothers cutting off her husband’s family from seeing the kids. That’s always a bad sign.
Psst...it’s really the government
Here we go... How many FReepers are going to need therapy today? ;-)
Sounds like the kind of person that would run over your dog out of spite.
Elf on the shelf = when LYING to your kids about santa isn’t enough.
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