Why do people who don't believe in Santa Claus have to be so belligerent about it?

[Senusret I]

I, for one, see nothing wrong in kids believing in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy.

Why does it seem like the people who don't want their kids to believe seem so angry and resentful about it?

It's never "Oh, we don't have that tradition in my house" it's always OMGWTFBBQ AIN'T NO FAT WHITE MAN GONNA CLAIM CREDIT FOR MYYYYYYYY HARD WORK!

Like, chill out already.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I, for one, see nothing wrong in kids believing in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy.

Why does it seem like the people who don't want their kids to believe seem so angry and resentful about it?

It's never "Oh, we don't have that tradition in my house" it's always OMGWTFBBQ AIN'T NO FAT WHITE MAN GONNA CLAIM CREDIT FOR MYYYYYYYY HARD WORK!

Like, chill out already.

OMGWTFBBQ? BBQ? Ha! I've heard of people being militant anti-Santa Claus for religious reasons. I just hate when they try to ruin it for everyone else. If you don't want a Christmas Tree or Santa bringing presents to your own kids, have a boring Christmas, but don't screw up the fun Christmas spirit for anyone else.

[DaemonSeid]

Mr Garrison's answer to those who don't believe in Santa and Christmas

[agzg]

I don't know when I stopped believing in Santa but I do know that the Christmases that I remember I did believe were so much more exciting and wonderful than now.

My parents were awesome though, each year we'd get a note from Santa about the past year and we were always amazed at how well he knew us. We were religious, too. I don't see how the ideas are mutually exclusive, as long as you keep it all within boundaries. Saint Nicholas is a religious figure as well, and my parents made sure we knew his story.

[Benzgirl]

Even though I knew there was no Santa Clause (after about 7 years old), I never let on. I milked it for years because I knew I would get more presents if I still believed.

I too get mad at those that are high and mighty about being overly truthful to their children and don't let kids be kids.

[AGDee]

My kids found out because they had a baby sitter who doesn't believe in lying to children. So, when one of them asked her, she told them the reality. She had never "lied" to her kid about Santa. I have a hard time believing that she has never lied about anything to her child though.

[ADPiTigergurl]

Oh a don't forget the kids that don't believe. Their favorite thing to do isa to tell kids who do believe that there is no santa!!! Hello, if ur parents want to ruin your childhood; dont ruin eveyone elses!

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by agzg

I don't know when I stopped believing in Santa but I do know that the Christmases that I remember I did believe were so much more exciting and wonderful than now.

I agree.

and maybe, Senusret I, that is why those people are so angry and bitter. Maybe deep down they were disappointed when they finally realized there was no Santa and it just took the magic of christmas away for them. You never know.

[33girl]

I think the best ever explanation of Santa Claus is in Laura Ingalls Wilder's book On the Banks of Plum Creek. Ma has to explain it so the girls aren't pissed that the family is getting a new horse team and they're not getting toys or clothes.

http://www.janegoodwin.net/2009/12/1...t-santa-claus/

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

OMGWTFBBQ? BBQ? Ha! I've heard of people being militant anti-Santa Claus for religious reasons. I just hate when they try to ruin it for everyone else. If you don't want a Christmas Tree or Santa bringing presents to your own kids, have a boring Christmas, but don't screw up the fun Christmas spirit for anyone else.

I agree! Santa/St. Nick was actually a real person in history, though he obviously didnt fly around in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer.

I made sure my step kids didnt "believe" in Santa going in to the 5th grade. I then explained to them how is he alive in spirit and how it is a fun tradition, same as tooth fairy and the Easter Bunny. They were also threatened with harm if they went and told other kids who believed in them they didnt "exist."

[XAntoftheSkyX]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I, for one, see nothing wrong in kids believing in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy.

Why does it seem like the people who don't want their kids to believe seem so angry and resentful about it?

It's never "Oh, we don't have that tradition in my house" it's always OMGWTFBBQ AIN'T NO FAT WHITE MAN GONNA CLAIM CREDIT FOR MYYYYYYYY HARD WORK!

Like, chill out already.

Because they got coal one year.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I think the best ever explanation of Santa Claus is in Laura Ingalls Wilder's book On the Banks of Plum Creek. Ma has to explain it so the girls aren't pissed that the family is getting a new horse team and they're not getting toys or clothes.

http://www.janegoodwin.net/2009/12/1...t-santa-claus/

I like that. I loved reading those books when I was a kid.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Why does it seem like the people who don't want their kids to believe seem so angry and resentful about it?

Overgeneralize much?

Sure there are some (lots?) of people like this, but there are plenty others who are careful that neither they nor their children spoil things for others.

Originally Posted by AGDee

My kids found out because they had a baby sitter who doesn't believe in lying to children. So, when one of them asked her, she told them the reality. She had never "lied" to her kid about Santa. I have a hard time believing that she has never lied about anything to her child though.

We walk a line here. We answer questions like "Is Santa Claus real?" with "What do you think?" and then let the kid indicate how much he or she really wants to know. If asked if I believe in Santa, I will say yes, for reasons much like what Dr. Phil says.

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I do believe that "Santa" is a more spiritual entity that may exist in some fashion. It's just a matter of what "Santa" represents to you. Personally, I want my children to enjoy Santa when they are small but as they get through elementary school learn that it is their hardworking and lovingly generous family who buys the stuff for them. I'm not the only one who feels that way because I'm surrounded by kids who know to thank the gift buyers rather than Santa. (Santa's just the one who delivered the gifts your family bought for you. He's like UPS.)

I respect this approach, but we came at it a little differently. When son put it all together (despite trying not to for a while), we used it as chance to explain what Santa means to us -- the joy of giving for the sake of nothing other than making someone else happier, and particularly of giving without any expectation of "thank you" or recognition. Santa makes it all about the other person.

It was summer when son figured things out, or admitted to us that he had it figured out. It was really gratifying to me to see how the following Christmas, he really wanted to help be Santa for his little sister. He had as much fun as we did.

[AGDee]

My son was way too young when that babysitter told him "the truth". If she hadn't wanted to lie to my kids, she should have said "You should talk to your mother about that". After saying there was no Santa, she said something like "and your mom is the tooth fairy too". My son was very concerned when he asked me "So you leave us here alone at night and go collect teeth?" and "Will you take me to the house of teeth that you're building with all those teeth?" He thought she meant that I was the tooth fairy for the WHOLE WORLD! It was quite funny when I realized that's what he thought.

[KSUViolet06]

I was like 6 or 7 when I found out that there was no Santa. I caught my Dad putting stuff under the tree.

It was no big deal, he just told me to make sure I didn't tell other kids. I didn't.