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

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

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?

I think my oldest daughter was 9 (she is now 12). She is keeping the magic alive for my 8 year old twins. I think they are suspicious this year. We'll see how the season goes for them. Once they don't believe, I will still do gifts from Santa. I'm certain I will miss the illusion but I will be glad to not sneak around.

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

How do you do the gifts from Santa with them knowing it?

Every kid come to this realization at their own pace. My daughter is 6, she has never believed in the tooth fairy and said that the Easter bunny is ridiculous. However, when they made leprechaun traps in kindergarten, she totally believed in the leprechaun. She believes in Elf on a Shelf, but not Santa Claus. When she asked, I told her the truth. (she too much like me! When she finally asks, she has already made up her mind). We have had a discussion about what is okay to tell other kids at school- No talk about how the tooth fairy, Easter Bunny or Santa Claus are not real and ABSOLUTELY no discussion of where babies come from!

How do you do the gifts from Santa with them knowing it?

I mark the gifts from Santa and deny any knowledge of how they got in our house, despite any eye rolling or blatant "MOM!! We know it's you!!"

IE:

(Xmas morning, 6am)

Me: OMG!!!!! Where did all this stuff come from?? Santa must have come!

Kids: We know it was you mom.

Me: Yep. Santa came.

Kids: Seriously, Mom?

Me: I love that Santa comes every year. Do you think anyone buys Santa a gift for Xmas? ...Oh look! The carrots are gone! The reindeer must have eaten them!

Kids: Quit it.

Me: I'm glad we don't have reindeer. I'd hate to clean up after them. Santa is so patient.

Kids: Will you ever stop?

Me: No.

I am 36 and my mom still gives us gifts from Santa. Tradition.

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

LOL, I love that.

I'm thinking of letting her write me a list of what she wants and it will be a surprise what she'll get.

Specializes in School Nurse.

Love it Kidzcare!!! My kids, 22 and 24, I still wrap presents that I put out Christmas morning, and go in there room at 6am (like they used to do to us) and proclaim "Santa has been here!" There is some sweet revenge as a parent.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I don't remember EVER believing. I was the youngest of 3 children in a neighborhood full of kids who were mostly a little older. Also, my Mom liked the look of presents under the tree: so we used to put them out about as soon as the tree went up. It didn't scar me. My nieces and nephews realized the truth at a young age, too. They participated in the making, wrapping, and giving of gifts from day #1 and were taught the "true meaning of Christmas" from the beginning. There were some gifts from "Santa," but they figured out where they came from by the time they went to school.

No big deal. Christmas can still be a wonderful time for your family. Involve the once who know in the giving and they'll feel "grown up" and "special." They'll feel like an insider -- then completely surprise them with some special gifts "from Santa" on Christmas morning.

LOL, our middle son believed for so long we were amazed. He said that there was NO WAY on earth, his parents would ever spend that kind of money on toys for them! I think he was 9 or 10. Even his younger brother didn't believe at that time...he was skeptical since he was 6.

Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

My oldest, at age 4, noted the discrepancy of gifts between rich and poor, we came clean. Our circumstances showed him that God answers prayer and Santa was given too many attributes of God, so we prefer he knows the truth early and not get confused by the lie.

I mark the gifts from Santa and deny any knowledge of how they got in our house, despite any eye rolling or blatant "MOM!! We know it's you!!"

IE:

(Xmas morning, 6am)

Me: OMG!!!!! Where did all this stuff come from?? Santa must have come!

Kids: We know it was you mom.

Me: Yep. Santa came.

Kids: Seriously, Mom?

Me: I love that Santa comes every year. Do you think anyone buys Santa a gift for Xmas? ...Oh look! The carrots are gone! The reindeer must have eaten them!

Kids: Quit it.

Me: I'm glad we don't have reindeer. I'd hate to clean up after them. Santa is so patient.

Kids: Will you ever stop?

Me: No.

I am 36 and my mom still gives us gifts from Santa. Tradition.

This.

Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

I believed in Santa as a child as did the hubs, but we as parents have decided we wont be doing Santa.

Not that "Santa" is taboo, or a word that should never be said. Santa in our house is the equivalent of Mickey Mouse or Doc McStuffins, something fun to hear about but not something we believe is real.

This is not to mean that others are wrong for doing Santa. You are the parent, it's your decision. One thing that we will ensure is that our kiddos don't ruin it for the others who still believe in the magic of Santa.

My family thinks we are ridiculous and are robbing our children of their childhood. Whatevs.

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