Santa: How long is too long?

one way street · 12-17-2006, 02:49 PM

How old should be when they're told Santa's not real? I know people who are going to be freshmen in high school next year, and they still belive in Santa (and the tooth fairy!) Is it just me, or is that way too old?

ETA: This wasn't meant to offend anyone who doesn't celebrate Christmas.

Ab-star · 12-17-2006, 03:39 PM

Do they really, truly believe?

I never told my mom I didn't believe...I thought I might not get 'Santa' gifts anymore! My kids are 16 and ten. I know they don't believe but they have never told me that!

CGNYC · 12-17-2006, 05:59 PM

I can't imagine anyone that old who would still believe, I do know some kids who are so socially maladjusted they'll say anything for attention. And also rumors go round that have no basis at all in truth. So-and-so is so dumb she still believes in Santa, Such-and-such is such a ho, she had four abortions last summer. Blah.

But in general, I don't think anyone should be "told." I think people tend to figure it out when they are ready.

mrspoppers · 12-17-2006, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CGNYC

But in general, I don't think anyone should be "told." I think people tend to figure it out when they are ready.

I agree.

Fiona · 12-17-2006, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrspoppers

Quote:

Originally Posted by CGNYC

But in general, I don't think anyone should be "told." I think people tend to figure it out when they are ready.

I agree.

Me too. I know my 12 year old doesn't believe any more, but she has never explicity told me so, and I know I never discussed it with my parents either.

bushyhead · 12-17-2006, 06:45 PM

Do the highschoolers really believe? I still talk about Santa coming at Christmas, but I obviously know he's not real. I'm 26 years old and I still get gifts from Santa, the reindeer, and even Mrs. Claus sometimes. My mom gets a little crazy around holiday time.

RedCatWaves · 12-17-2006, 09:54 PM

My daughter is 8 and still believes in Santa. I'm thinking I may tell her the truth after xmas is over. She's the type who will be upset with me if she finds out elsewhere. My older boys never admitted that they didn't believe, probably because they didn't want Santa to stop leaving gifts.

fig jam · 12-17-2006, 10:00 PM

WHAT??????!!!!!!!!!!!! Santa isn't real?????!!!!!!!!!

Ack!:#$*(#$)(#

Seriously, dood, you should have put ***SPOILER*** in the thread title.

shellibean · 12-17-2006, 10:51 PM

I don't remember when I figured it out... I remember the day i foudn out about the Tooth Fairy though. i just had a hunch adn went and asked my mom about it. She said to go look in the medicine cabinet in a certain prescription bottle. I looked and in there were a bunch of teeth! (GROSS!) I wonder why in the world she KEPT our teeth?!

A friend told me about the Easter Bunny...

I think I just figured that if thsoe weren't real then neither was Santa. But yes, I am 22 years old and get gifts from Santa and when people ask me where I got my long black jacket, I reply that Santa Claus brought it to me last year.

If you want her to find out on her own- make it really obvious. Same wrapping paper for Santa gifts as from Mom & Dad gifts, same handwriting on the tags, etc... I'm sure she will figure it out on her own. Try not to play up the Santa thing this year. no more: "I think I heard hooves on the roof last night" or "Dont;t forget to leave Santa milk & cookies". This will help her to figure it out on her own.

gekko422 · 12-18-2006, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bushyhead

Do the highschoolers really believe? I still talk about Santa coming at Christmas, but I obviously know he's not real. I'm 26 years old and I still get gifts from Santa, the reindeer, and even Mrs. Claus sometimes. My mom gets a little crazy around holiday time.

I bought myself a new car a couple Christmases ago and I told people Santa brought it to me. My parents bought me used car around Easter one year when I was in college and I told people the Easter Bunny brought it to me.

M2LR · 12-18-2006, 10:49 AM

I say let them figure it out on their own.

Who Me? · 12-18-2006, 12:52 PM

I think at some point it just becomes too much work for the parents to keep all the "parent gifts" and the "santa gifts" separate, and to wrap them in separate paper, and to put them under the tree after the kids are asleep, and leave milk and cookies out, and write the letters to santa clause, etc. I think 8 is a good age to start minimizing the shenanigans.

Although, my mom has always signed "from santa" on most of the gifts, and always brings them out as a surprise on xmas eve or morning! Actually, this year for the first time we will have a kid around on Xmas (my brother's girlfriend's kid is 5) and he can read, so we had to be careful about what we wrote on the tags!

curly_princess · 12-18-2006, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M2LR & Co.

I say let them figure it out on their own.

I agree. I don't think it's necessary to sit down and tell them. They'll find out some way or another, and then move on with their life.

YolyC · 12-18-2006, 02:17 PM

Quote:

I say let them figure it out on their own.

Yep. My daughter is 13 and I think she was about 7 when she figured it out.

jeepcurlygurl · 12-18-2006, 02:30 PM

My parents never told us kids that there wasn't a Santa. Older schoolkids were happy to pass that info along.
But my whole family still "believes". I'm closing in on 50 and Santa still leaves me presents at my boyfriend's house, my parents' house, and my aunt's house.

asleep to audio · 12-18-2006, 04:25 PM

That seems a bit old to me. I figured out when I was around 8 or so, when I realized Santa and my mom had the same handwriting

A friend of mine figured out the same way, but when she confronted her mother about it, she said that since Santa is so busy, she writes the cards for him. Teehee

Rheanna · 12-18-2006, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curly_princess

Quote:

Originally Posted by M2LR & Co.

I say let them figure it out on their own.

I agree. I don't think it's necessary to sit down and tell them. They'll find out some way or another, and then move on with their life.

I agree with this too, but what about kids who are a little... immature.... for their age? My sister in law is 14 and last year she still believed in Santa for sure. I remember kids being made fun of at school that truly DID believe in Santa. I think it's cruel to not tell a kid that is 'too old' to still believe, and let them get made fun of as well. If that makes sense...?

hayseedlady · 12-18-2006, 04:51 PM

I think Katie was around 7 or 8 when her and my niece went snooping for presents and they both found the Santa stash. I tried to tell them that Santa had dropped things off early since we lived in the boondocks and he was soooo busy. They figured it out though.

Now she will point out what she wants from "Santa" while we are shopping. This year she wants 1000 tc sheets, 4 new super fluffy pillows, and new quilt set.

She's came home laughing about other kids still believing in Santa, Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and God. I just point to her collection of Unicorns and Fairies and tell her everyone has things they wish were real or don't know the truth about. It is very insensitive of her to laugh at other's beliefs and Karma will snack her good for distributing other's good will.

three rivers curly · 12-19-2006, 06:04 AM

I can remember being a little girl - don't know how old. My brother (older) had decided that he was not sure if Santa was real and a conversation with my mother ensued. My mother tells my brother that if you don't believe in Santa, he won't bring you anymore presents. Finally my mother turns to me and asks if I still believe, I replied, "As long as he keeps bringing me presents, I'll believe until I'm 35."

I have 2 more years...

2happy · 12-19-2006, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hayseedlady

It is very insensitive of her to laugh at other's beliefs and Karma will snack her good for distributing other's good will.

I say that to my daughter and her friends ALL the time