[general_re]

Bitter, angry, and disillusioned children are properly prepared for adulthood, which is a long series of crushing disappointments.

[BigSkyFreeper]

In an economic downturn it's best to send the little ones to bed with a baseball bat, because the tooth fairy knocks the teeth out of their skulls.

[Tax-chick]

We've never concealed the fact that "Santa Claus" is one of the Knights of Columbus that we see at church every Sunday, but when the kids are 3-6 years old, they believe in "Santa" anyway. Whatever ...

[AVNevis]

So if your 4 year old asks where babies come from you will tell them the truth?

[BibChr]

I have never understand the "logic" that insistantly telling children a baldfaced lie is essential to childhood fun. It has never been so for my kids.

Dan
To Tell the Truth, Virginia...

[CzarNicky]

at around six or seven I came to the realization that it defied the laws of physics for Santa to deliver all the presents in one night. Of course I never was really driven into the Santa Claus is real phenomenon either.

I don't have kids, probably never will, but if I did I'd probably do the same thing they did and not bring the issue up at all and see how long it takes them to figure it out.

[flashbunny]

Did you lie to them and tell them christmas is the day Jesus was born???

[mtbopfuyn]

Hogwash! Neither I nor Mr. M ever needed therapy after learning about the "lie", but it seems Mr. Huntwork (now that's an appropriate name) does. One of the lil' M's found us out after sneeking a peek at the checkbook back in 2nd grade. There were no hysterics, no angst, no frantic call to Oprah or Dr. Phil. She was elated to know how much we loved her in wanting to make our Christmases as exciting as possible. Of course she immediately announced we had to be the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy as well. The very next year, she insisted on me making an elf costume so she could accompany Santa, aka Mr. M, on his visits during the holidays. Oh my, yes, she's still spreading the lie even today to innocent unsuspecting toddlers and is having a grand time doing so.

[AnnaZ]

Did you lie to your kids at Christmas?

We don't bother... besides we find the story, and the Who and Why, of Jesus far more fascinating (and His gifts far more enduring).

[muawiyah]

Yes, but December 24 should be used to welcome the coming of the Day of the Dead, that period exactly half way between the last Sun and the first Sun (above the arctic cirlce, of course).

It does not help Christianity a bit when an older religion with even better Sumerian roots is denigrated.

[drjimmy]

What little extra fun they may have had as small children with such a story is usually far exceeded by the bitterness and anger that an older child feels when they discover the inevitable truth. It is often a harsh experience to discover that the magical Santa Claus and all the hype perpetrated in the most complete of conspiracies is nothing but a big, bold, naked lie. Even I was surprised at the deluge of stories of disillusioned, supremely disappointed, and frankly, pissed off children who suddenly realize those they trusted the most have misled them.

Perhaps your own experience of learning there was no Santa Claus was a "harsh" one, but don't try to sell us on there being a "deluge" of pissed off children. With four children of my own ranging in age from 10 to 18, I have come to know lots of kids over the years, and the number who have become bitter and angry upon learning there is no Santa is exactly zero. By wagging your finger in moral superiority over those who choose to indulge in the Santa Claus myth, you commit the sin of hubris.

[HairOfTheDog]

Santa's not real? Who is this curmudgeon?

[sinkspur]

Something the hard right and the hard left have in common: insisting that children never be allowed to have a fantasy life.

[jwalsh07]

I've already raised my children. The tooth fairy, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny have not resulted in any hatred or distrust of Mom and Dad but they do get annoyed when others tell them how to raise their own kids.

[Mike Bates]

What little extra fun they may have had as small children with such a story is usually far exceeded by the bitterness and anger that an older child feels when they discover the inevitable truth.

I must have missed that part. And so did my own children.

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[sandbar]

>They insist on lying to their children that Santa Claus is >real.

Why I'm offended by these nincompoops!! Calling me a liar! Santa Claus is alive and well and in my house happens to look like me!

[1L]

Ever heard the name, St. Nick? Well, he's an actual person who really lived and isn't a myth. The guy in the red suit and the reindeer are based, in whole or in part, off artists' and poets' work, but there is no myth to St. Nick.

He was born of some means, but his parents died when he was fairly young. He became a minister and started a habit of giving to the poor. He gave almost everything he had, and everything he could get, as gifts. He did indeed dress up in a disguise and, while I'm not sure exactly about climbing down chimneys, he at least in one instance, did leave gifts in stockings that were hanging to dry by the fire place.

I'm told that more churches in Europe are named after Nicholas than any other person other than Biblical characters. I send out a letter every year at Christmas retelling the (entire) story. You don't have to lie.

[Baraonda]

There is a sanity clause, Virginia.

And this author needs it.

[Colonel_Flagg]

No, because sometimes I believe in Santa Claus too.

[TheConservativeCitizen]

Boy, can you imagine if I had the audacity to question the tooth fairy or the existence of the jolly green giant? All hell might of broken loose. Relax people. Santa really is 'just pretend'. I know that is a hard pill to swallow. Maybe no one actually got to the part where I talk about the trips to the mall Santa and the tooth fairy pillows. One can have fun with the character of Santa without having to spin some attempting to convince your children with fantastic yarns about how he and his eight tiny reindeer will undoubtedly be making a landing on the roof Christmas Eve. I do enjoy the discussion though. (:

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