Is Santa Real??? - Rockwall,TX

I highly recommend the book "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." It allows me to say, without irony, that at the age of 35, I still believe! (and yes, my husband does laugh at me when I say this, but let him!) GL!

I would tell her the truth, but also tell her that she needs to keep the "tradition" of Santa going. I told my son when he asked that it is really M. and dad, but if he would like to keep getting "Santa gifts" that we should keep pretending and know that it is something that everyone knows but just not talked about.

At this age you might consider the actual truth but you can always add....IF YOU QUIT BELIEVING, YOU QUIT RECEIVING" so maybe they will hold onto this childhood treasure just another year. Good luck!

The next time she brings it up I would ask her "What do you think?" Her answer will tell you all you need to know about what to say. You'll know if she's just asking for confirmation about something she's already figured out or if she's just not quite ready to let go yet.

My answer to all of my children when they finally "knew" was the same. It's that Santa is real because he lives in all of us and that for the rest of her life, she'll be able to be Santa too.

From my experience, if she is asking, then she already knows. She just wants you to verify what she's been told at school by friends. The magic doesn't have to be over, now she can join in the fun for the little ones by keeping the secret. My daughter, 3 years older than her brother, enjoyed playing along once she figured it out and we talked. All is well. The truth is always the way to go. She will continue to trust you as long as you are always truthful with her.

Good luck!

I told my daughter the truth at 8 and she was devestated! Cried and cried and told me she felt someone she loved died! If I had it to do again, I would tell her Santa exists as long as you believe in him! And let real life come to her as she grew up. But, I would never, ever again tell my child the truth!!
Santa exists as long as you believe in him! I still believe and he still brings me gifts!! LOL
Good luck!!

I had a friend that told her son that she believes in the
"spirit of Christmas" and that includes Santa Claus. good luck.

Be sensitive to the issue. Ask her what does she think. Ask her why she thinks that. If she is done with the belief of Santa then so be it. Just use this as an opportunity and remind her why we celebrate christmas if that is what you believe. Remind her of the theme of giving.

I suggest telling her the story of St. Christopher and what a blessing his giving was to children in need. Then explain that Santa is fun way to remind us of how he gave to others.

When I was engaged to my husband he came to my parent's house for Christmas and the first thing my mother asked him was "Do you believe in Santa?" Fortunately, he had the good sense to say "Yes!" Santa is part of the fun of Christmas and adds a little magic. At age 8, I think it's ok to still have a little magic. You can start hedging your answers by saying that you believe in the spirit of Santa or any other phrase that comes to mind. But to just say "no" is a little tough.

When my two oldest asked me about Santa we told them the truth, sort of...We asked what else is Santa know as? They said good 'ol Saint Nick. Well, okay lets look up Saint Nick and see what the internet has to say. They were like, "so, he isn't real". We discussed it for like 2 days...lol We think they got it, but even if they didn't they haven't asked anymore...Maybe too educational...
They had a great time last year when Santa left his his big dirty foot prints all over moms clean floor...They led to the milk and cookies and to the Christmas tree...It's fun to see the reactions and to keep a little mystery there for them. Plus I had a then 6 year old we had to do something special for.
I'm sure she is getting kids at school telling her the truth because that is what led to my kids asking me at that age too. I tried not to tell them but they pushed the issue. Let her believe a little longer. I really wish that I would have.

Hi, M.. I know it's really tough when they quit believing. I know when my girls were growing up I wanted to carry on the tradition as long as possiable. I would always tell them as long as they believed that Santa would always bring them presents. When my youngest finally figured out at 12 that I was keeping the truth from her she liked to have never fogiven me. I wish I had told her when she ask at 8. She was teased at school because she believed.
Several years ago KLTY now 94.9 told the true story of St. Nicholas on the air. It was a beautiful story. I can't find it now but if you could read that to her she would understand that we carry on the tradition in his honor as we do the celebration of Christ (although a little different but something she can relate to). I think he was in Iceland maybe you could find the story on line or maybe in the encyclopedia. He really did exist.
From my experience with my daughters & now 7 grandchildren I would say yes be honest with her so you will never have a reason for her not to trust you.
God Bless you & your family. I pray that you have the strength to get through this. I know it's tough when it's the youngest. Do what you feel is best for you & your little girl.

I 100% believe in the magic of Santa! I know there is a time in kids lives where they stop believing; but just as sure as I am that will happen, I am just as sure that they will once again believe in Santa when they have kids.

I've told my kids that when they are ready to "not believe", to just let us know. But I have reassured them that it is okay, because they will find Santa again when they are older.

We haven't gotten there yet, but I know it's realy close. My daughter is 7 and she has several 8 yr olds in her class and I know one of them told her last year that he didn't exist. If/when it comes up again this year,I plan on asking her if she beleives he exists and going from there along the lines of what some of the other moms said; "if you beleive in your heart", " the magic of christmas", etc. etc. I think it's fine to keep the magic going until they're really ready to accept it.

Never tell her! I say always say as long as you believe in him, he will come. It is so sad when you find out differently. They will figure it out on their own eventually.

Personally, at eight I would go ahead and tell her. My daughter asked me at about the same age and I asked her questions back like...does it seem believable that one man can fly around the whole world and stop and every single house with a child and leave multiple gifts? She kind of laughed and said no so she kind of answered her own question. She wasn't hurt or anything, we laughed about it really. She still loves Christmas just as much (she's 11 now).

I always asked my children, as each one reached the age of questioning, "What do you think?" They would tell me what they really thought and I'd go from there. Mine all came into the reality of who Santa was gradually and accepted it w/o any regrets. The way I kept the older ones from telling the younger ones? I told them if they didn't "believe" they wouldn't receive from Santa. They never told!!!

"If you don't believe you don't receive" that is what my M. used to tell us....Gosh I feel sorry for you, and that is only because I'm right around the corner with that question...in fact my 6 year old hinted to it lastnight and I just told her "Why yes Maracyn there is a Santa Clause"...my husband laughed....Good Luck and let us know how it works out....