This happened to me with my son two years ago... he had just turned six. It went like this:

He opened a gift from "Santa". He jumped up and down and said, "Thank you SOOOOO much, Momma!" Stopped. Then looked at me and said, "I mean, Santa." And, gave me a little smirk.

He let it slide by and I wasn't sure if he knew or not. The following year around the holidays, he came to me and said that he'd like it if I put "From, Santa" on some of his gifts because he didn't want to spoil it for his sister.

Haley is already talking about how Santa's deer ate our oranges last year and contemplating on what to set out for the deer and Santa this year, and my son is playing along so that she believes.

When I asked him how he knew, he explained to me that it was an impossible story to believe. Deer cannot fly, Santa cannot go to every house in one night, and Santa is at every mall and he never looks the same. He said it was a good story, but that they really should have tried harder to make it more "real".

So... when the time comes, it may not be that traumatizing for you. I think we as parents freak out about these things more than the kids do. And, if she does figure it out... you could always just shrug and say, "You caught me!".

When my daughter asked me: Mum does Santa really exist?

I just asked her, well hun, what do you think?
She said, no I don't think so.
Then I asked her why not, and how come, and why she thinks he might be maid up.
She answered all of the things her self but never got a straight answer from me.

So the first year she new, but was never certain.
I could still see the doubt in her eyes and as soon as the presents came in she fully believed again

I just saw father christmas in a bar in dublin, he was in his civvies drinking beer but it was him

i still believe

lollyp0p said:

Here he is after he left the bar:

Mach said:

Oh, you mean that "Yule" shit? Just pointing out that you shouldn't point out one's practices as "shit" just because you disagree.

applekisses said:

absolutely 100% agree with you sweetie

applekisses said:

Oops ... bad lingo ... bad bad Mach !!

you are 100% right

my apologies

thanx for calling me on it

call me crazy.... but, when my son asked at the age of 6, i told him that it was up to him to believe or not to believe. i know there is no "santa" - but obviously SOMETHING happens to us rational parents that makes us go nuts and spend money like there is no tomorrow... fight with other adults over that one toy that our child just "has" to have.... throw out the bills, and buy gifts instead..... and all to see that one moment in our childs eyes when they actually get to believe in magic.

i think its selfish of us to rob our children of that experience... true magic comes only one time a year... and if you believe, it can be a beautiful experience.

just let the child think what they like, the other kids love to tell them what they think is the truth.. little jerks j/k... but, for me.. its all about what makes them happy... and if they want to believe in santa forever, i will stand behind them 100%....

Mach said: