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

[BetteDavisEyes]

I've always found the whole Santa thing irritating but always went along with it because the kids in my family love it and I teach kindergarten so I have to keep up the pretense. It doesn't bother me to smile & talk Santa with the kids because it means a lot to them so I just shove my personal beliefs aside & keep them smiling. It doesn't hurt me to do this so I don't see what the big deal is.

I never believed in Santa & it didn't affect me in any way. What's funny is that my mother-in-law has insisted on keeping the Santa tradition & still puts the presents out after we've gone to sleep & signs all the tags from "Santa". It's funny but always made me roll my eyes. This year was the first year she didn't do this and to my surprise, I kinda missed it. Go figure I didn't appreciate it when she did it but now that she isn't, I miss it. I'm an idiot sometimes.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by BetteDavisEyes

I never believed in Santa & it didn't affect me in any way. What's funny is that my mother-in-law has insisted on keeping the Santa tradition & still puts the presents out after we've gone to sleep & signs all the tags from "Santa". It's funny but always made me roll my eyes. This year was the first year she didn't do this and to my surprise, I kinda missed it. Go figure I didn't appreciate it when she did it but now that she isn't, I miss it. I'm an idiot sometimes.

You're not an idiot. Many people I know love to "play" Santa for others. It's fun, and exciting, and there's something completely childlike and innocent about it, even if the person playing Santa drives you up a wall most of the time. Perhaps your mother-in-law really really likes to play Santa and gets a kick out of it, and not doing it this year somehow diminished her Christmas experience, which is why you would miss it (because maybe she was a little sad).

I don't know her or the rest of her family, though, so I can't say for sure. My dad loooooooooved playing Santa, and it was a little sad for him when my brother and I stopped believing because Christmas wasn't as fun for him. He's mentioned that a lot recently, because this was his very first year at home with no one (his kids) there. It was also hard for him last year because he was here (at not at home with both his kids). I indulged him and got him a gift "from Santa" and then let him pass out any gifts to the three of us and our dog. I think he liked giving the dog gifts best.

FWIW, he spent a very lovely morning with his girlfriend, then had brunch with my aunt and cousins (who all have a mess of kids) which he said was great.