Do your kids believe in Santa?
This is what I’m wrestling with this Christmas season — trying to decide whether or not our kids are going to “believe” in Jolly Old Saint Nicholas. And by wrestling, I mean struggling… really struggling.
While we have taken our children to get pictures on Santa’s lap every year, we haven’t pushed the modern idea of Santa. Not yet… mainly because I had not decided what to do about the ol’ guy.
I didn’t grow up believing Santa Claus was real; sure, we sang songs about him and had Santa Claus decorations in our house, but he wasn’t real. He didn’t live at the North Pole. And he certainly didn’t bring us presents. (Mommies and Daddies, Aunts and Uncles, and – of course – Grandmas and Grandpas did that.)
Instead, we focused on Baby Jesus and the true “Christmas Story.” We had Christmas programs at our church, where my sisters and I took turns being Mary … and where I, at a mere FIVE years old, had MY head measurements used to make the Wiseman crowns for the THIRD and FOURTH grade BOYS who had those parts. Yes, my head was that big and I still haven’t gotten over the humiliation.
(and, yes, it is STILL big. . . sigh)
Hubby, on the other hand, BELIEVED in the white haired old man, and Santa was (and is) a very, very, very big deal in his family and to my sweet mother-in-law. Santa Claus is everywhere in their Christmas and the threat of Santa NOT giving out presents was an excellent motivator for Hubby and his brother to be on their best behavior.
(kinda wish it still…. just sayin’.)
Because he has so many great memories involving Santa and the traditions of his family, Hubby wants to carry the fantasy on with our children. But, I’m worried. How will they react when they learn it’s all fake? A sham? A fairy tale?
Sure, we can tell them about the original St. Nicholas… but will that make it any better?
Sigh.
Come December 1st, a little Elf will be sitting on our shelf — watching us while we read daily scriptures from our Advent calendar. Yes, I’m torn but plowing ahead with merging my Christian Christmas traditions with Hubby’s Santa Claus traditions…. and hoping my kids don’t hate me when the illusions fade away.
Hoping it all works.
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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Hugs!! I am in the EXACT same boat as you and your family! I did not grow up doing the whole Santa thing. We sang, decorated, and visited Santa… but Christmas was about CHRIST. My husband grew up believing in Santa and all the magic that goes with it. I was and still AM torn on how to instill the magic of Christmas without being a buzz kill or trust in the future. Man… this parenting thing is hard!
Rachel´s last [type] ..Motivation Monday!
I grew up believing in Santa, but also putting on Nativity at family Christmas parties (I was oldest so the part of Joseph was mine) and our church.
I remember knowing Santa want real at some point, but I never let that devastate anything. My parents still continued helping Santa thru our high school years. It became the fun part of a beautiful holiday focusing on the Savior’s birth in our home.
Good luck with this.
Megan @mnmspecial´s last [type] ..Thankful Moments
yes, there is a Santa Claus
Barbara Platt´s last [type] ..Beauty and the Beast returns Jan.13
we still teach it as Christ’s birthday and celebrate it as such, too
Barbara Platt´s last [type] ..Beauty and the Beast returns Jan.13
I still believe in Santa Claus! That is why I keep telling my nieces and nephews that Santa will be coming over this Christmas to deliver hid gifts for them, and asked them to be a good children.. They are all excited for the Holiday!
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Our son knows the “true” meaning of Christmas, but we also do the whole Santa is real thing. I think my son knows this year, but he wants to still believe in Santa. I personally see no harm in believing in Santa… I’m a big believer in building the imagination. But every family is different, and I’m sure whatever you decide will be just fine for you.
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I’m not going to do Santa…the focus will be on the meaning of Christmas and the birth of Christ for us.
Penelope´s last [type] ..Mushroom Calzone Recipe
(and to be honest, I was raised with Santa, and never understood what it had to do with Jesus, but I was very mad if I thought I wasn’t going to get everything I wanted from Santa and the whole focus for me was presens…I don’t think presents should be a central part of Christmas celebrations, even though they have some part in it). As someone who grew up with Santa, and hears the arguments for him, I think they are lame. Threatening kids to be good to get gifts, pretending a strange man comes into your home to give you gifts when it’s not your birthday, focusing on commercial and myth over Jesus…nah.
My focus is Jesus, family, church, singing songs to honor the birth, a nativity, etc. Santa has been evicted from our house.
Penelope´s last [type] ..Mushroom Calzone Recipe
I don’t play up Santa too much, but he is mentioned. There was a really great article on the internet a while back – which of course I didn’t save – that talked about the good part of believing in Santa Clause. It isn’t just about getting stuff from a strange guy. It is about belieiving in something that you can’t see. That isn’t really tangible. It is the joy and excitement of trying to discover the truth. In the end it is about faith. We are all little children in the end and the faith we have in Jesus Christ should bring us the same joy as we had when there was faith in Santa Clause.
When my kids discover the ‘truth’ about Santa, this is the message that I will give them.
Catie´s last [type] ..Advent Pocket Calendar
I totally think you can merge the two. I grew up in a Christian family that celebrated the birth of Christ AND we believed in Santa Claus. In our current household (kids are 6, 5, and 3), Santa will bring them ONE gift and a few little things in their stockings. I believe one of the best parts of being little is the wonder of magic, fantasy, faith, and belief. It’s FUN to believe there is a Santa and Mrs. Claus living with the busy little elves at the North Pole, making toys for all the girls and boys of the world. We don’t tell the kids they’re not going to get a gift if they’re naughty. Our kids are good people who sometimes makes bad choices – that doesn’t get them on the “naughty list”. When I realized that Santa couldn’t be real and that my mom was actually Santa, I was old enough that it didn’t devastate me. It was just a natural progression in growing up – the luster and wonder of being little and believing in fantasy wears off. We realize that the real world doesn’t have quite as many miracles as we thought and they don’t happen in the same way. BUT I have the wonderful memories of believing when I was little. And now I get to live vicariously through my own little believers
I come from a religious home as does my husband, however, we are both atheists. We celebrate Christmas by teaching our children it’s about love, joy, family, and friends. A special time to be together. Our children do believe in Santa, but he only leaves stocking stuffers & one gift that they ask for. The rest are from humans. Although I don’t like lying to them, it’s something that goes along with the short innocence of childhood. After a debate with myself similar to yours, I went for it.
Marcie W.´s last [type] ..Our Upcoming Weekend Vacation!
I’ve been worring about this for years. My daughter is 7 and she still believes in him but I just know one of these days some mean kids on the school bus will tell her otherwise. I’m not sure what I am going to do
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I have grown believing that Santa id really coming on the Christmas eve to deliver the gift for me… The same way now that I have my own children, I make sure I can have ways to make them believe that Santa will arrive on the Christmas evening to give them the gifts. I am kinda excited like my kids! Seeing them excited and happy will also make me happy and feeling young.
I’m sure you’ll find the right solution for your family. Our kids believe Santa is real, not from my encouragement but just because they do. It must be that whole “kids have imaginations” thing.
Cat Davis – Food Family Finds´s last [type] ..Avocados from Mexico Mini Chef Video Contest & Our Mini Chef Recipe
My daughter still believes.
Tammy´s last [type] ..Bumblebee Yourself Giveaway
Although the real meaning will always take precedence for me, I always enjoyed the holly jolly Santa part too, and kids do get such joy out of it.
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell´s last [type] ..Winter Wonderland – WW
I just want to say I am glad you are on the fence because you want to make sure they understand the true meaning of Christmas. I am so tired of hearing parents say they want the kids to understand the gifts come from mom and dad so they are grateful that their parents work to provide them these gifts. This too me is dumb. Sorry tired and 8 months pregnant no other word for it right now. We teach Christ in Christmas but the magic is still there with Santa and as with the way I was raised they will come to an age where Santa will no longer be believed but the memories of our family and the magic we made around him will be remembered. Oh check out the WHAT GOD WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS book. It is a favorite story around here.
We told them Santa is not real, They are 3 and 4. We’re worried they’re going to need counceling one day.
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they better or no presents. My 22 yr old humors me LOL
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I think it’s a beautiful thing for them to have this belief. I hate when people take that from children when parents try so hard.
Courtney´s last [type] ..Wordless Wednesday – My little baker
Ryan and I struggled with the same decision.
I was raised like you, he was raised totally opposite. After much debate, I gave in a little and decided Santa could bring one gift — we were bringing the rest
Crystal @ Simply Being Mommy´s last [type] ..Bacon Avocado Pasta
I’ve been reading more and more about the Elf on a Shelf thing. My daughter is still too young to understand the concept but I might try that as she gets a couple years older. Jesus is the reason for the season but I think allowing Santa is just a good bit of fun that’s only temporary.
Kelly´s last [type] ..Vanilla French Toast Casserole Recipe
We all need illusions, that’s why the movie and television business is so big.
Zippy Sandler´s last [type] ..Slow & steady…#NSNation
We do Santa, but I’ve thought about not doing it for sure. Tough one!
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