Need help thinking up an excuse for Santa

Georgiegirl256

poet123 wrote: »

The Santa fantasy is not a trust issue in my book. It is a piece of childhood magic, nothing more.

Totally agree. Tbh I can't even remember at what age I realised that Santa didn't really exist? But I know for certain that I didn't suddenly distrust my parents, I was probably like oh ok!

Lunar_Eclipse

My initial thought was to see if you could swap some items for different gifts (at shops, with friends etc) but then I thought I might just carry on as if he told you the truth but try to avoid it happening again (ie hide things better, discuss privacy etc.)

I definitely wouldn't make up a lie to cover up your son's lie (if he is lying), as I would be most upset by his lie as opposed to him accidentally finding his gifts.

Hope it works out okay!

mumps

We all have different traditions, every time a new family is formed they make their own (maybe taking some from each family and maybe making some of their own.) I have never heard anyone I know saying they had a problem with their parents "lying" to them about Santa. My own four have never actually admitted that they don't believe, the eldest is 41 so I think he might have figured it out, I guess they never told me they didn't believe in case the presents stopped.

I used to work with someone who had been brought up without Santa or Christmas, but they were Christians. She had huge issues about what she missed and her kids had it all with bells on. I think it caused big problems in her family. I don't know if there were other problems in her family but missing Christmas was one.

iammumtoone

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

I definitely wouldn't make up a lie to cover up your son's lie (if he is lying), as I would be most upset by his lie as opposed to him accidentally finding his gifts.

Hope it works out okay!

You actually raise a very valid point about my son lying to me, something to be honest I hadn't even though of addressing, probably due to the "tricky" circumstances.

I asked him if he had seen anything he shouldn't have in my room, he said "no" I left it at that, if he had found his birthday presents I would have pushed it by asking him again and reminding him that he is always to tell the truth and I will never be angry as long as he tells the truth. This normally works, to be fair he is a good boy and I am as certain as I can be that he would have then told the truth.

You have left me with something to think about, he has now got away with lying to me :eek: due to my reaction rather than his actions.

I think I will leave it, I do not want to spoil the magic for the sake of pushing the point on this one.

Emmylou_2

I was always told that, for people with mummies and daddies and grandmas and aunties and uncles and big brothers (etc) who loved them, Santa only gave stocking presents (which were ALWAYS new jammies, undies, tights, and sweeties). For people who don't have those people, or who don't have any money, then Santa sends them their big present.

Santa, however, operates a Christmas delivery service for mums and dads, and he sends the bill in January. He has two companies (they used to be) called ... Access and Visa, and these companies send mum and dad a bill in January for your Christmas presents.

That was why I couldn't ask for anything really expensive...cos I knew mum couldn't afford a big bill in January for a computer or a horse or whatever.

themull1

notanewuser wrote: »

Is it kind to tell blatant lies then?

Are you telling me Christmas can't be "magical" for children without Santa?

I don't think its as magical when the kids don't believe in Santa anymore, and I would never have told my kids he didn't exist. Sometimes you have to lie to your kids to protect them. I remember the first year I didn't believe in Santa and it wasn't as good a Christmas.

themull1

poet123 wrote: »

I know, but he was 13 and it had shag in the title!!;)

He is 29 now and we were laughing about it just the other day.

I must be a bad parent because my daughters 11 and wants the boxed set of Austin powers for Christmas! I never really policed what my kids watched, my parents didn't with me. I think if kids are told they cant watch something, they will just watch it at a friends house.

notanewuser

themull1 wrote: »

I don't think its as magical when the kids don't believe in Santa anymore, and I would never have told my kids he didn't exist.

Another one that can't read.

We're not telling DD he doesn't exist, we're just not telling her he does!

themull1 wrote: »

Sometimes you have to lie to your kids to protect them. I remember the first year I didn't believe in Santa and it wasn't as good a Christmas.

What are you protecting kids from if you tell them Santa is real though?

poet123

themull1 wrote: »

I must be a bad parent because my daughters 11 and wants the boxed set of Austin powers for Christmas! I never really policed what my kids watched, my parents didn't with me. I think if kids are told they cant watch something, they will just watch it at a friends house.

As it was a film, he couldn't, at that time, watch it anywhere other than the cinema. He may have watched it since, oddly, I have no idea, I must ask him.

seven-day-weekend

I take the point about them maybe watching unsuitable things at friends' houses. However, that would still not mean I would let him watch them at home. I would not want him to think that we thought them suitable things for him to watch.

You may as well give him a shot of heroin if he asks for it, as he could get that from his friends too