Ok its not xmas making orientated but . . .

jakes-mum

My 10 year old son admitted he doesnt believe in Father Christmas anymore :eek: im heartbroken . Ok I still have DD who is nearly 4 and firmly believes that Father Christmas is coming and is bringing her a skipping rope, but :eek: my baby isn't a baby anymore

It was quite a depressing conversation and all started with a tooth that came out, he said about putting it under his pillow for the 'tooth fairy' with a little knowing smirk on his face, and also having in mind he goes to secondary school next year and the fact we are struggling a fair bit money wise, I decided to tackle the belief of the tooth fairy. Nope he doesn't believe, and then it all came out! Father Christmas is really . . . . ME!!!

Am I alone in this feeling of depression that the magic for my eldest is gone, the dragging of the feet christmas eve as they cant wait till tomorrow then the frantic dash up the stairs from the words 'Father Christmas doesnt come for children that are still awake'

I've had to swear him to secrecy for the sake of DD, tell him to play the part perfectly for her, but . . . . you know . . . . its gone for him

LalaGomay

It's gone for him for now, but it'll come back when he has his own kids!
Also, it's not like ALL the magic of Christmas comes only from the Father Christmas part, I'm sure it will still be magical for him in all the other ways.

I TOTALLY understand why you feel sad though.

Savvybunny2009

Sorry to hear that you had to tell your son, but I don't think the magic of it is over at all, . I think I was 5 or 6 when he was around 7 and to be honest it didn't change anything for us, we appreciated the honesty, we were always grateful and it felt much more personal having our parents bring the gifts rather than a stranger if anything we appreciated it more. For us it was about the waking up and playing with the toys in our stockings that were left by our bedside before our parents got up (that was a great trick to get a few more hours in bed), eating chocolate for breakfast, playing with toys, roasting chestnuts on an open fire and the beautiful decorations and meal.

My daughter is only two so this year she may get the concept of Father Christmas so we have all of this to go through so sadly I don't really know how you feel but I do think that winter in itself is magical and there are many ways to keep it a magical experience for both of them x

LalaGomay

P.S. I pretty much still believe in Father Christmas, and I'm 30.

jakes-mum

LalaGomay wrote: »

P.S. I pretty much still believe in Father Christmas, and I'm 30.

Lol! im 32 and exactly the same

I think its just the start of the loss of his innocence, he's growing up, God help me when DD stops believing if they ever have kids I might have to force them to live with me every christmas :eek:.

I suppose on the upside, all the growing up bits from now on are firmly his dads department, ive already said once he's 13 im not entering his room again till he moves out! I just dont want to know :rotfl:

pinkflop

I know what you mean and understand why it is upsetting... my DS is 8 this christmas and I am DREADING when he no longer believes..

BUT when I was little and found out it wasn't true, myself and my brothers and sisters all still 'played' along. We all knew there was no father christmas, my mum and dad knew we knew, but noone discussed it! Just gave each other a 'knowing' look! I don't ever remember being any less excited at christmas.

At the age of 31, my sister and I still do stockings for one another and although we know it's each other, still play along!

I know that when my DS finds out he doesn't exist, he'll still enjoy the magic of christmas and play along with it all. You'll probably find that your son does the same thing, especially if he has a sister that still believes and gets excited.

Once you see the excitement of christmas growing for him (and it will as it gets closer), the depression will lift hopefully!

MaggieBaking

One of my fondest Christmas memories was aged 13 long after I knew the "truth" about Santa Claus was helping my Aunt and Uncle set up Christmas for their son, really helped me understand the magic of Christmas!!

Help your son think of lovely Santa things for your little one, getting him to eat the mince pie you leave out etc!

p-pincher

I'm now 34 and my mum has never actually said that Santa doesn't exist anymore, I think i'd be heartbroken!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really feel for you, its probably one of the first signs they're growing up and actually thinking for themselves.

2 years ago i took my dd who was 5 at the time to visit santa at the shopping centre. When we got to the front, for some reason she decided to voice her opinion that she didnt think Santa was real, I was absolutely mortified. The little elf lady came over to try to calm her down but she was having none of it. She said it was impossible that Santa could do all the work on his own and be able to but or make all the toys so he couldn't be real. All the other parents looked fuming. Two years on and she seems to believe in him now but to be honest I'm not so sure, but even if she doesn't I don't think id actaully say that he doesnt exist, I can admit to myself x

Beetlemama

jakes-mum wrote: »

...also having in mind he goes to secondary school next year

Every year for the past three we've braced ourselves for our son to tell us he knows, but so far he hasn't - we're thinking we're going to have to tell him too eventually, he'll be 9 by Christmas, showing no signs of doubt, and as you say, they can't go up to "Big" school believing in Santa.

On the plus side, we've really put in the effort to make it extra special thinking it might be the last time Father Christmas comes, so he's had three magic Christmases, we even put Reindeer food on the lawn in the snow (it was oatmeal and glitter) - my parents never did cool things like that, so we're grateful to have had the chance.

However, on the downside, it's really expensive to not be able to say "We can't afford that...." Santa, presumably, has unlimited funds! His birthday is a month before Christmas so we're giving him money "in case Santa brings him a 3DS" so he can get some games.

In my realist periods I wish he'd guess but then I am happy when I am feeling good that he still believes. Trust me, when he does tell us he knows I'll feel just like you, and he's our one and only

Sambucus_Nigra

Son, sometimes even if you think you know something, just believing is part of the magic.

Spendless

I think it was a bit optimistic to think a 10yo would still believe- sorry.:o Especially a boy, they are not usually into fantasy and make-believe, well not unless it's star wars and dr who.

I've a son a year older, he stopped believing around 8-ish but he's since told me he didn't believe for a year or 2 before that. I've found that quite common. My sil swore my neice believed till she was 11-12, till neice put her straight and informed her she'd been humouring her for a few years.

I find it's the parent/s (usually mum) who is more upset than the child. Mine is still excited at the thought of coming downstairs and unwrapping gifts whoever put them there and about the rest of the day, grandparents visiting, a special dinner, watching fab stuff on tv, playing with new toys.

You still have your 4 yo to believe. get excited about being taken to visit him and convinced she hears reindeers on the roof.