Not 'doing' Santa

jellyhead

Idiophreak wrote: »

...hang on!? Milk and cookies!? What kinda snack's that for Santa Claus? Everyone knows he prefers mince pies and sherry.

You'll be saying you didn't leave carrots out for the reindeer next...

I'm so boring! When I was 5 I worried that FC would get drunk on all that sherry, and insisted that everyone in my street leave him some orange squash instead

maman

quinechinoise wrote: »

I am religious but I don't "do" the santa thing either. However, nursery and school have other ideas so my kids are constantly going on about it. (How they pair up "santa" bringing gifts with mommy buying gifts, I really don't know - but they seem okay with it.) If they ask me, I tell them about St Nicholas of Myra and the nativity story and giving gifts in the same tradition. I don't actively tell them school is rabbiting nonsense but I equally don't actively go against what their teachers tell them. It's a tricky situation that I mostly manage by ignoring it!

Which I'm sure you manage as an adult, although as you say it's tricky.

I think OP's daughter is potentially going to have a hard time as she gets older. She can either 'go with the flow' at school and any other organisations she's allowed to join or she speaks up and says 'my mum told me that's not true'. For most children their class teacher is a real adult focus for a few years and OP's DD may find it hard to cope with the conflict. It's not going to just happen at Christmas (over both Santa and Nativity) but throughout the year when bible stories are told which mum is encouraging her not to believe. To learn such tact and tolerance at such an early age is a big ask.

I must question OP's real conviction to atheism if she's already decided that she won't be withdrawing her child from assembly and will be allowing her to visit Santa with grandparents. How important is this belief/lack of belief to you?

peachyprice

jellyhead wrote: »

My mum has a tree stump in her garden, and I've bought her a little wooden door from the farmer's market so she can have fairies in her garden :T

Aww, cute! They'll be able to find the way in now.

Nicki

shegirl wrote: »

I've never known kids to COMPARE presents. Yes they will talk about what they got,but they're kids,they have magic they don't sit their getting upset that somebody got a more expensive present and think they must've been naughty!

My experience is that at the age kids believe in Santa (ie up to about 8/9), they either like a present or they don't. The price doesn't come into it at all. So the kid who has the annoying novelty toy which cost a tenner from a cheap Toy shop but which amuses the heck out of a 6 year old is far more likely to be getting the attention than the kid who got an ipod.

It is the ADULTS who are materialistic and compare the values of gifts and end up imparting that to the children. My OH earns a salary which is well above average, and we sometimes worry that maybe we spoil our kids at Christmas, until we read threads on here, or articles like the one in the Daily Mail today where parents on benefits or very low salaries are literally spending thousands of pounds on presents for their children. If my children had £200 each spent in total on their presents from my OH and me and Santa combined, they would have had a very exceptional year, and yet they love Christmas and we have never ever had a complaint in our house that a gift was not liked or that a friend has been given something significantly more expensive (youngest is 3, eldest is nearly 13)

marleyboy

Nobody is forced into doing the Santa thing, just as nobody is forced not to. My Son (3) will one day be old enough to choose whether or not he wants to do the Santa thing. Until such a time, he will continue to get a sackload of gifts under the tree as part of the family tradition to celebrate Christmas in such a manner.

When the time comes that he says "Dad, I dont want any presents for Christmas, as i dont want to celebrate it.", I will happily oblige him. It wont stop Mum & Dad from opening their gifts under the tree every year and celebrating Christmas together. .

pulliptears

LMAO, my Parents didn't drink (the odd snowball on Xmas Eve) and OH and I don't really drink either so it was Milk and Cookies along with a carrot for Rudolph. We used to get the dog to half eat the carrot while OH took care of the cookies

My Dad had a set of bells he'd jingle on Christmas Eve, I can still remember now sitting in bed in my new Christmas jamas thinking I'd heard him!

OrkneyStar

pulliptears wrote: »

Not at all, but I do take issue when you attempt to tell me what a pivotal part of childhood is. This is your opinion as I was merely pointing out, and yes, I used capitals because I see you struggle to understand the difference between opinion and fact

Again, you initiated a comment telling us you thought that Santa was a pivotal part of childhood, I responded with what I proposed to be pivotal parts of childhood.
I don't see how pointing out something obvious, like it being my opinion, really makes sense, when clearly your post was also your opinion? As for 'taking issue', with what? A different opinion.
On your last point, I am not sure what you mean- are you suggesting my opinion is merely an opinion, yet your opinion is fact? Confused.com.

peachyprice

katiejones wrote: »

Psssst..........its mince pies and Baileys xx

No, no, no, no, no. Finest single malt whiskey and a mince pie, but he's never that hungry by the time he gets to us, only thirsty.:D And of course a carrot for the reindeer, or they have been known to eat broccoli at a push

One year I even brought fake snow and made footsteps up the stair, I soon regretted that om xmas day when it took ages to hoover it up.

OrkneyStar

Happy Christmas everyone, however you celebrate it
:xmastree:

marleyboy

katiejones wrote: »

Psssst..........its mince pies and Baileys xx

No no no no, Its an Apple pie (Kiplings) and a glass of Jack Daniels...........I....I mean He hates mince pies!!!