Comments on Want What You Have: The Truth About Santa

Well said.

2010-02-15T14:03:09.317-06:00

Well said.

Heather, that was BEAUTIFUL the way you handled it...

2009-12-09T20:08:53.842-06:00

Heather, that was BEAUTIFUL the way you handled it. My 7 year old daughter is also starting to ask questions about Santa that is sometimes difficult for me to answer!
Stay warm!

There is so much wisdom in this post. I've been st...

2009-12-09T19:41:41.675-06:00

There is so much wisdom in this post. I've been struggling with the Santa issue and you've given me a very clear perspective that I can incorporate into our family plan. Thank you!

We have a cuddly toy Santa which we bring out in D...

2009-12-09T09:20:14.647-06:00

We have a cuddly toy Santa which we bring out in December and this year we told our daughter that he will put a present in her stocking for Christmas. (Well we told her the other years too but she didn't understand.) We decided to do it like that so that it obvious that he is not "real" but a) she still gets the fun of it and b) it doesn't make a big issue of him being real or not so we don't end up with her telling other children he isn't real.

I thought your explanation to Bee was very good and I also thought it was a good idea that you told her about the other things (tooth fairy and Easter bunny) at the same time because then it means she isn't left wondering what other things are just pretend. My mum is still upset about the fact that she found out he wasn't real when she was four because her sister told her.

I agree with cop mama! What a wonderful way to br...

2009-12-09T08:02:38.691-06:00

I agree with cop mama! What a wonderful way to break the "bad news" in a wonderful, compassionate way! You have officially given me my way to deal with it. I also like the idea of not treating Santa Claus like a god who knows everything :). Really, it's kinda creepy if you think about it. I told my two year old about Santa (comes down the chimney, etc) and showed her pictures, and now she's totally freaked out about the "Little man coming into her house"... Ha! We had to revise and tell her he'd knock on the door :)
Thanks for being such an open-hearted woman of faith :)

Wow, that was a great response! I would have NEVER...

2009-12-08T21:04:13.139-06:00

Wow, that was a great response! I would have NEVER thought of that. That is such a kinder response instead of just saying, no he's not real.

Great post - I'm so glad you were honest with Bee ...

2009-12-08T16:16:15.835-06:00

Great post - I'm so glad you were honest with Bee when she asked!
Our children know Santa is a fun story, but we chose to focus on Jesus' birth as well! When Ellie was at preschool last year she told everyone Santa wasn't real - sadly her teacher said that he was - Ellie just shook her head at me & said "Mrs W lied to us". It's easy for us not to do Santa as I grew up without Santa - but in saying that I like you approach. Have a lovely day!
Renata :)

I agree with you! It's so awesome that Bee was ab...

2009-12-08T13:59:17.618-06:00

I agree with you! It's so awesome that Bee was able to appreciate what you explained to her! My son is 12 and still claims to believe in Santa. I explained it kinda like you, about it being the spirit of giving. At our house Santa gives 3 gifts just like the wise men gave Jesus.

Children are little for such a short time. I think...

2009-12-08T12:47:11.519-06:00

Children are little for such a short time. I think it's a joy for the child and for the parent to participate in a little make believe.

My mother has many fond memories of her children enjoying "Santa." Around the holidays she tells us about them (again) and smiles and laughs and we all share in a little "moment." Don't you think that pleases God? Of course it does.

So I say, let them believe, They're only little once. But don't make "Santa" or the presents the center of attention.

Have I told you lately that you're a kick-ass mom?...

2009-12-08T12:16:54.246-06:00

Have I told you lately that you're a kick-ass mom? Cuz...you are :)

I'm going to share this post! You handled this be...

2009-12-08T11:50:29.226-06:00

I'm going to share this post! You handled this beautifully.

What a timely blog entry today. Thanks Heather. ...

2009-12-08T10:48:33.897-06:00

What a timely blog entry today. Thanks Heather. I have been struggling with this situation with my oldest daughter, who wants to believe, but hasn't decided yet. In a round about way, she has been asking me questions. (she is 10) I don't want to be untruthful to my children and I have struggled with the right way to have this discussion with her. I love how you handled this! Now I know what to do when we these questions pop up. You have such great insights. Thanks!

You handled Bee's question very well. Glad she did...

2009-12-08T10:32:49.534-06:00

You handled Bee's question very well. Glad she did not get upset. She is so mature isn't she!

Love this!! My parents didn't do the "Santa thing"...

2009-12-08T10:31:55.048-06:00

Love this!! My parents didn't do the "Santa thing" but I still laid in my bed "listening" for Santa!:) Even though my daughter is only 2 we have always put out milk and cookies and it is SO fun (for me obviously) and I'm hoping she will be more into it this year!

I agree 100%. Our son is only 2 1/2, so he doesn't...

2009-12-08T09:27:32.850-06:00

I agree 100%. Our son is only 2 1/2, so he doesn't really get Santa yet. As he gets older though, I think we will let him believe in Santa while emphasizing Jesus in the Christmas season. I didn't grow up believing that Santa was real and I would like him to have the fun of believing if only for a little while.

Thank you, Heather, for another of your wonderful ...

2009-12-08T09:14:55.737-06:00

Thank you, Heather, for another of your wonderful even-handed posts. I agree with the first commenter that if we all judged others less and accepted more, things would go more smoothly. I've said it before, but I'm a "to each his/her own" kind of gal. In my own house, only my youngest still believes in santa - a bit sad for me that its almost over, truthfully. The older two were both 10 when they figured it out. My oldest had the best response, "thanks for the presents all those years." :-) My daughter was a little sad about it, but they both still write their letters to Santa along with the younger brother. Plus, I now have the added benefit of letting my middle-schoolers know that if they blow it, there will be nothing from santa under the tree for them. Ah, bribery as a parenting tool... ;-) When the kids were little, all the gifts were from santa, but now mostly its from me and my husband with something small from santa. Like you, the overall gift quantity is small. We explained to the kids early on that (since we don't have chimmney) we stay up for santa, let him in the front door and then pay him for the gifts he brings. We live in such a multi-cultural area that there is not so much santa talk at school that this has ever been dispelled. I admit that it was more magical for the kids when it was all from santa, but its still fun to see their reaction on christmas morning when they open the gifts under the tree. I will definitely use the website you mentioned on the original Santa Claus when my youngest figures this all out. Happy Holidays! Kim

I loved this post. As a single mom I was taught i...

2009-12-08T08:11:10.131-06:00

I loved this post. As a single mom I was taught it was wrong to teach Santa so my first child always knew the truth. After marriage, my husband wanted our daughter to believe and this has caused disappointment from my mom who totally believes it is wrong. This has caused a riff in our relationship.. especially since my daughter also goes trick or treating. Thank you for sharing this!

If more Christians could get a grasp on whose plac...

2009-12-08T07:26:45.031-06:00

If more Christians could get a grasp on whose place it is to pass judgment.....we'd have a lot better reputation as a whole. God convicts us all in different ways. What is absolutely right for me is not necessarily right for my neighbor. I've never been able to figure out why some Christians get so bent out of shape by anothers convictions.