[phoolove]

As most of you prolly do, I go to the parenting forum as well as this one, and lately there have been several santa posts, and feelings run STRONG on this subject.

I was wondering about this issue in blended fams. Like:

If your DP/H has kids who do/don't believe and you have kids that do/don't believe--what then?

Is this a deal breaker? If your kids are the non-believers do you teach them to keep quiet or do you just tell the believers or what?

Does anyone do Elf on the Shelf? I have only creepy feelings about that, but I know no one who does it, so I am open to being wrong on my creepy feelings?

 

[anitaj71]

I love Santa ! My oldest believed . . . when he was told otherwise and asked me what the truth was I told him: "Isn't it fun to believe?" He was old enough to understand the playfullness and not be devasted that santa wasn't 'real'.

With my youngest, he is three & 1/2, he is just starting to 'get' it. We went to see Santa in the mall and he waited in line for 40 minutes. Which is a huge accomplishment for a child that can't sit still for a minute. I'm not kidding. He gets impatient on car rides longer than 20 minutes.

I have a dss that is 12. I have asked him to please not ruin it for him and he says he won't . . . however if he does it's no big deal. I admit, I would be dissapointed because the magical faith of young children is so sweet and their wonder about life is truly precious. As shown when we went to see Santa. My lo was so excited. So cute!

But, on the other hand,

I grew up with older siblings and as soon as they realised Santa was not real they couldn't wait to tell me he didn't exist and it was Daddy dressed up. Again, there was no upset or trauma. As a matter of fact I was pretty relieved that the strange guy giving out presents was someone familier and not a stranger after all !

( In the Finnish culture Santa comes to everyones home on Christmas eve and visits the children and gives them presents )

My point being ( and I do have one) : If an older sibling ruins it so be it. That's part of life having older siblings step or biological.

Can't control every little thing ykim?

 

[Rev1053]

DS1 likes playing the game of Santa with DS2. I am not worried. DS2 will probably figure it out sooner than DS1 did but I am OK with that.

I would tell the non believers to not tell the believers. It can be still fun for everyone.