Need help thinking up an excuse for Santa

quidsy

you will see & contrary to your little digs earlier on this thread, I also didn't lead my son to the idea. He was introduced to santa in the same way as your child, I never took him to a santa grotto until he was into it already, he experienced it first time at nursery but I don't get hung up on the concept. it is a perfectly normal part of child hood.

So you can hope your child wont be interested, good luck for you if she isn't but if she is you may find her "leading" you to a different viewpoint this time next year.

Brighton_belle

quidsy wrote: »

So you can hope your child wont be interested, good luck for you if she isn't but if she is you may find her "leading" you to a different viewpoint this time next year.

I doubt it, because notanewuser's viewpoint already is that her DD can believe in whatever she wants.

poet123

notanewuser wrote: »

Are you talking to me?

No, I've never ever taken her to a grotto. The mother and toddler group she went to with my mum (not me) invites a santa in each year. She was 14 months the first time and couldn't get away fast enough. Last year she cried when she saw him (and she never cries) and refused to go near him. This year she's at the playgroup so is there on her own and they'll have the same guy in. I'm expecting to hear that she carried on playing and wouldn't go near him again. We'll see, won't we..........

The concept of "Santa" and the reality of a strange man in a red suit are not necessarily both received the same way though.

Small children will often shy away from being the centre of attention, or people they are unsure of because they look different, doing that doesn't mean she wouldn't like the abstract concept and the magic that goes with Santa.

quidsy

I doubt it, because notanewuser's viewpoint already is that her DD can believe in whatever she wants.

as is ours, so not really sure what the point she is trying make then?

Torry_Quine

Until this was discussed last year I thought that other than a few 'extreme' parents believing in Santa was the norm in this country. :xmassmile

When I was a child my sister and I got presents from Santa and also one from our parents, no stockings. We realised that Santa wasn't real when we noticed that items circled in mum's catalogue matched what we got but didn't say anything to keep it going for another year. . I have fond memories of going to Santa's grotto.

However it's up to the parents how they bring up their children and not believing in Santa will not have a detrimental long term effect.

GobbledyGook

My elder daughter found her presents a few years ago. She announced that Santa was clever sending the presents to Mummy to check he'd got the right things

We have a slightly different set up to some in that my children believe parents pay for the presents, but Santa delivers them. That's what my grandparents did with brother and I to stop us asking for too much. Younger daughter said that was good as it meant I didn't have to stand in all the queues

Santa and the magic of it - visiting a grotto, wondering what we'd get and trying to stay awake long enough to hear him is one of the nice things I remember from childhood. I never felt cheated or lied too - I just wish I'd spotted my Grandad taking a bite from the carrot as he absolutely hated them and it'd have been really amusing!

balletshoes

as always, the perpetuating santa debate is an interesting read.

I remember being disappointed to have it confirmed, when i was about 9, that santa was really your parents, even though all through my childhood we knew that our parents paid santa for the pressies he brought. But it didn't scar me for life, it didn't make me distrust my parents, it didn't make me want to tell everyone else there was no santa, and i was always quite happy to keep the story going for my younger siblings, then my nephews, and then my daughter and nieces. I loved the magical story of santa on christmas all through my childhood, and i wanted my child to feel the same magic.

I love the magic of christmas, including santa, his elves, his sleigh and the reindeer. I'm a sucker for santa movies too - I want to hear the bell (Polar Express ).

Young children who challenge whether santa exists aren't always doing so out of malice or anything untoward - they may be from families for, whatever reason, don't have santa. My daughter has always had friends, since she was in reception at school, who don't get visits from santa, because of their religion or culture. They (and my daughter) were taught some people believe in santa, some don't, they have other beliefs. And thats fine.

stir_crazy

notanewuser wrote: »

I was criticising those that use Santa as a way to get their children to "be good".

My apologies, my spell check is set to US English.

notanewuser wrote: »

I haven't told her - or anybody else - to do anything!

No, I phrased it incorrectly. You've just made it very clear that you do not approve of anyone who seems to have a different opinion to yours. This thread was started to ask for advice, not whether you think the OP is inflicting long term damage to her child and their relationship because she told him all about Santa.

Anyhoo (deliberate typo), I'm off. I don't want to derail the thread any longer.

iammumtoone

balletshoes wrote: »

as always, the perpetuating santa debate is an interesting read.

.

I wasn't on MSE last year and must be honest I am a bit shocked at what I have started :eek: still like you say it has been interesting and informative - certainly to myself. However next year I will know better and keep any questions I have regarding Santa firmly to myself

Torry_Quine

Vicar apologies after saying a very differnt version of the Santa story

http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/headlines/10872312.Chippenham_vicar_says_sorry_for_Santa_gaffe/