Off topic: 8 year old found out Santa doesn't exist

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So I live with my parents and my niece and nephew. Long story short, mother died 4 years ago, so now 8 year old and 6 year old is our responsibility. Father (brother) doesn't care, so he only sees them every weekend.

She came to us saying that she doesn't believe in Santa anymore. My mom automatically looked at me and told me she was disappointed in me to make her not believe, I told her I didn't say anything. We asked her and she said because since the tooth fairy is us (She saw us put money under her pillow one night and that's how it happened), then Santa is us (because the kids in her class say so too) and started to tell us she went online and figured it out. Well we told her fine, but not to tell her brother this and her father because while he doesn't care about the important things, these things he cares deeply about.

I didn't know about Santa being fake until I was 10, so is this a little too young or is this age okay for them not to believe in anything anymore?

WHAT?????? Santa doesn't exist??????? Stop with this foolish talk right now!!!!!

Next you'll be claiming that the next US President is an odd-haired billionaire and that hospitals put finances above quality patient care!!!!

Specializes in Pediatrics, school nursing.

The rule in my house is that people who believe in Santa receive gifts from him. My son is 15, and he is helping to keep the magic alive for my 9-year-old. Now, I do wish she'd stop believing in the Elf on the Shelf. I'm sorry we ever started that at my house; it is such a pain!

Now, I do wish she'd stop believing in the Elf on the Shelf. I'm sorry we ever started that at my house; it is such a pain!

Agreed, I dread that darn elf coming back this year!

All 4 of my kids figured it out at 3 or 4 and asked us. We told them the truth.

But . . . Santa still brings presents every year and my oldest kiddo is 33 and youngest is 15.

It is fun to play the game but kids are pretty savvy and many figure it out. My rule is if they ask me if Santa or Easter Bunny is real, I won't lie to them.

We never did Elf on the Shelf :nono:

Next you'll be claiming that the next US President is an odd-haired billionaire and that hospitals put finances above quality patient care!!!!

*(laughs and then sighs heavily)*

The rule in my house is that people who believe in Santa receive gifts from him. My son is 15, and he is helping to keep the magic alive for my 9-year-old. Now, I do wish she'd stop believing in the Elf on the Shelf. I'm sorry we ever started that at my house; it is such a pain!

Stupid elf.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
My son held on until 4th grade even though I told him that Santa is not free, he helps parents get the popular gift of the year, but we still have to pay him.

Oh, I like that model ... Santa as a "personal shopper"

I think I found out Santa wasn't real when I was 3 or 4, although I never really believed or cared. I knew the tooth fairy and Easter bunny weren't real, because I saw my parents hiding things ;)

I'm not happy that I log on and this thread is on the first page while my 8 year old is standing next to me. Luckily he was easily distracted.

Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
How do you do the gifts from Santa with them knowing it?

I will be 31 this year and my parents will still give me a gift or two that says, "From: Santa." It's just kind of their thing and it's not that big of a deal. They've always done it. So, you just do it.

Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
I think I found out Santa wasn't real when I was 3 or 4, although I never really believed or cared. I knew the tooth fairy and Easter bunny weren't real, because I saw my parents hiding things ;)

I think I hoped the Easter Bunny wasn't real. It was a weird concept and I think I was moderately afraid of it. Plus, there was a lot of Jesus-died-on-the-cross guilt so it wasn't a very celebratory holiday for me.

Specializes in ER.

I believed until I was about ten and my parents told me. Then the same year they told me about sex and periods, and that was a shocker too. Well, since Santa wasn't real, I figured the rest of it wasn't true either. Just adults playing another scam on all the kids of the world. I played along, but reality was a bummer when I got a bit older.

If I had children I wouldn't be doing the Santa myth. The difference between reality and stories is so hard to define in childhood. I'd want my kids to be able to trust that what I tell them is true.

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

My kids are 18 and 22. I have never ever admitted to them there is no Santa. Now it is a fun thing between us.

When they would ask me, I put it back on them. "well, what are YOUR thoughts?" "What do YOU think about it?" They always chose to continue to believe, so i let them. Somewhere around age 10 they stopped asking.

Without getting into a philosophical conversation, I do believe in Santa. I never considered it lying to them.

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