This did not happen to me but did to my sister......
Yesterday, 6 days before Christmas, my 8 year old nephew came up to my sister and asked if Santa was real.
My sister says "What do you believe?"
Nephew "I don't know, I just want to know the truth"
Sister "Some people believe, some don't"
Nephew "I guess I'll have to wait until I'm grown up to know"
At this point...what would you do? I understand her dilemma of it being so close to Christmas and he has a 5 year old sister. I also understand she wants to at least hold on for this one last Christmas. BUT, if my child said, I just want to know the truth, I would have a hard time not telling her the truth about Santa...
What would you do?
Thanks, I appreciate the responses. I am positive she will at least try to keep him believing for this year...and just see where it goes later.
I guess my feeling is, to me, he went beyond the simple questions about Santa. He asked last year and my sister told him if you don't believe Santa won't come and that tied him over last year. I'm not worried about him having emotional problems. I'm worried if he doesn't get the true answer he is seeking he might not come to her anymore with his questions. And the next question he might look to be answered could have big repercussions if he doesn't get the right answer. (And I admit I could be wrong about this, but it is just how I see it) And yes, I would definitely break the news by telling him the history of St Nick....I think that is the perfect way to share the news. I remember in my childhood when the time came and I really questioned it, my parents told me. I guess I just feel differently than her and some of you.
The truth is that some people do and don't believe. I believe in the magic of Santa - not in the man who drops gifts off at my house :). I know I drop the gifts under the tree myself.
My 8 year old asked me the same thing and I told her some people do and some people don't believe. It's the truth. There is no lie to that.
Honestly, at that point, I'd let him know. He's old enough to ask an intelligent question and is asking for truth... I asked at 8 too and my parents explained to me that St. Nick was really a person a long time ago and that parents like to remember him by acting as him and to please not ruin it for my younger brother and sister. From then on, I was "in on" the secret and got to help stuff stockings. It was awesome.
I think your sister handled it just fine.
Some people believe and some don't - that IS the truth.
Facts and belief don't have much to do with one another.
Sounds like you don't believe.
I do.
Which made what your sister said *entirely* true. Some people believe, and some don't.
I would've said the exact same thing your sister did. Its not denying, its not confirming. Its letting the kids decide.
She handled it great. Just because they say they want to know the truth doesn't mean you have to tell it about certain things (and especially about Santa). Let them be a kid, let them have that belief as long as they can, we all know we have long enough time to be an adult, let them have that innocence as long as possible.
Also, when they do figure it out, it's not like they're going to come back to you and be all mad because you didn't tell them the truth when they said they wanted to know.
Exactly what your sister did - let it go. Once they start asking they pretty much already know. And I don't know anyone and have never heard of anyone losing faith in their parents because they didn't tell them about Santa!
My 5 yr old asked me yesterday if Santa exists. I tried to get all philosphical and vague and he cut me off to get right to the chase. "Just tell me yes or no." I said "well Santa is Christmas Magic and Christmas Magic certainly exists." He was satisfied with that for now.
the bottom line is if you don't believe than they won't believe. she handled it very well but i would have handled it more magically to keep the fascination and belief up. Also too if you wanted to relly let him know you could pull him into a spot where the 5 year old wouldn'[t hear and tell them the truth and than just let them know we need to keep the fascination going till i tell you for your siste/brothers sake too.
If my son was to ask me staight up if there was actually a Santa Claus, I would have to tell him the truth. I have a ten year old son that "still believes". I actually thought that he has just been playing along with the whole Santa thing until today, when he recieved a letter back from Santa after writing to him. I know that this is an unusual age to still believe ( even though I milked it until I was 12). He read the letter back to me with such excitement and joy that I now know that he actually still belives in Santa, at least right now. It's probably the last year that he will, but I sure am going to enjoy it while I can! He has mentioned to me in the past that some kids at school tell him that it's his parents that buy the presents. I just told him that how in the world could we ever afford all of those presents when we can't even afford to pay our bills?! He never has come right out and asked me, but when he does, I will definitely tell him the truth. I finally asked my parent's at around twelve and had no problem with it and it definitely didn't ruin my life because of it. I just think that childhood and Christmas is such a magical time to enjoy to the fullest. It's nice to have "simple" uncomplicated things in life before you have to deal with the reality of adulthood. :)
I would tell him the truth and make sure he knows not to blow it for the children who do think Santa is real.
I am all about the truth. I had the identical conversation with my 5 year old a few years ago. Identical. Can't fool them with that "What do you think?" question. Funny thing is tha twe never tried to get our kids to believe, we just shared the traditions of santa. So when she asked, I was a little relieved, and yes, I told her the truth. I also told her about Santa coming from a real man who did good for children, and I made it very clear she should not ruin it for other kids who don't know the truth. She has embraced being Sant's helper for her sister. No magic is lost just because they know the truth. If anytink it is multiplied.
I think the reponses that your sister gave were excellent. He seems ok with her reponse, however, if the subject comes up again, I would tell him that mommy and daddy are the ones that bring the presents.
My 'kids' (the girls I nannied for) asked this question we told them that Santa used to be real and shared with them the story of St. Nick. Then we told them that because his spirit and story were very old that Mommies and Daddies help him by getting the gifts on their Christmas lists but that he was the one who watched over them to make sure they were naughty or nice. It was simple, based on folklore and weaved with truth, plus, they believed it.
I still would have handled it the way she did and soon (New years or a few days after Christmas) maybe bring him in on the secret.
I have a 3 month old son and even though I have a while before I have to answer this question I think I will introduce him to Santa just because its fun and no harm is done unless you take it too far.
