We’ve always played along with the Santa thing. They would take pictures with him and they get gifts from him, but we never used him is a way to discipline them (He won’t come if they’re bad) nor did we really hype him up. He was just one small part of Christmas.
Thus far the way I’ve gotten around this is if one of my kids ask me if Santa or the Tooth Fairy is real (we never introduced the Easter Bunny into the equation so he’s never been a problem) I would turn the question back on them and ask them what they thought. By the grace of God it’s always worked. They’ll answer that they believe he’s real and move on.
Until last night at dinner. Baby #1 asked me point-blank if he was real and I know he’s at the age (almost seven) where he’s starting to figure this stuff out. We already had a real conversation about the Tooth Fairy about a month ago so I wasn’t too surprised when Santa came up. I shot him a look and told him that we’d discuss it after dinner. I didn’t want him to ruin it for the girls just yet- I want them to be able to figure it out on their own.
We both actually forgot so we haven’t had a chance to talk about it, but when we do I’ll tell him the truth. I’m very blessed that I have a son that has some self-control and won’t ruin it for his friends. He’s been great about the Tooth Fairy thing since he found out and I think that he actually likes being in the “inner circle” of those of us who know that truth. When Baby #2’s tooth started loosening up a little he played along with the whole Tooth Fairy thing saying that she might visit Baby #2 soon.
It makes me a little sad that he’s growing up so quickly and starting to figure things out like this. But on the other hand I’m very proud of the boy he’s growing into.I think that one of the harder parts of parenting, for me anyway, is the fine line between letting my kids enjoy fun stuff like Santa and the Tooth Fairy without out right lying to them. I know that most parents don’t like lying to their kids, but will make an exception about these types of things. I’m more black and white when it comes to right and wrong so it’s been a struggle for me to lie about even something like Santa.
We’ve always played along with the Santa thing. They would take pictures with him and they get gifts from him, but we never used him is a way to discipline them (He won’t come if they’re bad) nor did we really hype him up. He was just one small part of Christmas.
Thus far the way I’ve gotten around this is if one of my kids ask me if Santa or the Tooth Fairy is real (we never introduced the Easter Bunny into the equation so he’s never been a problem) I would turn the question back on them and ask them what they thought. By the grace of God it’s always worked. They’ll answer that they believe he’s real and move on.
Until last night at dinner. Baby #1 asked me point-blank if he was real and I know he’s at the age (almost seven) where he’s starting to figure this stuff out. We already had a real conversation about the Tooth Fairy about a month ago so I wasn’t too surprised when Santa came up. I shot him a look and told him that we’d discuss it after dinner. I didn’t want him to ruin it for the girls just yet- I want them to be able to figure it out on their own.
We both actually forgot so we haven’t had a chance to talk about it, but when we do I’ll tell him the truth. I’m very blessed that I have a son that has some self-control and won’t ruin it for his friends. He’s been great about the Tooth Fairy thing since he found out and I think that he actually likes being in the “inner circle” of those of us who know that truth. When Baby #2’s tooth started loosening up a little he played along with the whole Tooth Fairy thing saying that she might visit Baby #2 soon.
It makes me a little sad that he’s growing up so quickly and starting to figure things out like this. But on the other hand I’m very proud of the boy he’s growing into.
We’ve always played along with the Santa thing. They would take pictures with him and they get gifts from him, but we never used him is a way to discipline them (He won’t come if they’re bad) nor did we really hype him up. He was just one small part of Christmas.
Thus far the way I’ve gotten around this is if one of my kids ask me if Santa or the Tooth Fairy is real (we never introduced the Easter Bunny into the equation so he’s never been a problem) I would turn the question back on them and ask them what they thought. By the grace of God it’s always worked. They’ll answer that they believe he’s real and move on.
Until last night at dinner. Baby #1 asked me point-blank if he was real and I know he’s at the age (almost seven) where he’s starting to figure this stuff out. We already had a real conversation about the Tooth Fairy about a month ago so I wasn’t too surprised when Santa came up. I shot him a look and told him that we’d discuss it after dinner. I didn’t want him to ruin it for the girls just yet- I want them to be able to figure it out on their own.
We both actually forgot so we haven’t had a chance to talk about it, but when we do I’ll tell him the truth. I’m very blessed that I have a son that has some self-control and won’t ruin it for his friends. He’s been great about the Tooth Fairy thing since he found out and I think that he actually likes being in the “inner circle” of those of us who know that truth. When Baby #2’s tooth started loosening up a little he played along with the whole Tooth Fairy thing saying that she might visit Baby #2 soon.
It makes me a little sad that he’s growing up so quickly and starting to figure things out like this. But on the other hand I’m very proud of the boy he’s growing into.
I, too, am very black-and-white about lying to our kids. We have 5 and they’ve all known about Santa since they were babies.
We take it from this perspective: we’re not ANTI-Santa, we just think he’s a fun pretend story to go along with Christmas. We always say, he’s like Spongebob or Bart Simpson. Fun to talk about. Okay to watch movies about. But, not real. Jesus is real. Santa is not.
I think kids like knowing they’re in on the “real truth” when their friends or not. Gives them that extra advantage. hee hee