Do You Feel Guilty Telling Your Little Ones About Santa?
@VivaLaDani13 (60293)
Perth, Australia
December 8, 2015 6:35am CST
When I was little, I was always very excited about Santa coming. I remember the day I found out he wasn't real and I was devastated for a couple weeks because in a way my parents were lying to me. I mean I don't care now since I am 24 and obviously know the truth.
But sometimes I wonder if I could do that to my child. I love seeing my neighbours little girl light up about Santa. I love witnessing that Christmas magic but I'm going to feel guilty when she finds out I've been lying to her the whole time. Or maybe she wont care, I don't know.
I don't have any children and I guess I might think differently if I do have any.
Do you feel strange telling your child / children about Santa and pretty much bull crapping every year about it?
How old were you when you found out and how?
15 people like this
15 responses
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
8 Dec 15
im 39 now and my parents never told me santa isnt real so as far as im concerned he is real
i only stopped having a stocking when i moved out at 19!!
i only stopped having a stocking when i moved out at 19!!4 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60293)
• Perth, Australia
8 Dec 15
hahahaha aww isn't that special! Well I hope you have been good this year Mike!
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (79572)
• United States
8 Dec 15
The best part of being a parent was the magic of Christmas and Santa Claus. Their awe was something that can't be duplicated. As they got older they were a bit disappointed that Santa wasn't real but glad they had the experience of all that magic for a few years.
3 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60293)
• Perth, Australia
9 Apr 17
@Marilynda1225 I agree with you. Christmas really is a magical time. More magical than when the "Easter Bunny" comes lol no idea why but Santa was more exciting to me when I was little.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60293)
• Perth, Australia
8 Dec 15
That is exactly how I found out actually. A teacher said it.
I'm glad it hasn't changed your children's outlook on Christmas. It hasn't with me either. Now I just see it as a time when you go completely broke haha
2 people like this
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
8 Dec 15
@VivaLaDani13 Tell me about it. Going broke is not the word. LOL. I need a brinks truck every year around this time. Believe me. As my kids got older so did the gifts they want.
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60293)
• Perth, Australia
8 Dec 15
@inertia4 haha! On the positive side, Christmas day is nice. Being with those you love. Opening presents. Watching them open presents. But everything leading up to it. Finding out what people want, spending money, going to stores that are already too chaotic, possibly can't find what you want to buy someone so you think of something else to buy, writing Christmas cards. This is why I start Christmas shopping around October / November. December is just a very busy and stressful month.
3 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
8 Dec 15
I'm glad to be able to give them that special magical feeling I felt as a child. When I found out about Santa not being real I wasn't upset with my parents lying, I was upset because the magic was gone and Christmas was never the same again.
Having children of my own brought the magic of Christmas back a bit through their excitement and joy!
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
8 Dec 15
@VivaLaDani13 Your very welcome. Once you have children I am sure you will keep the tradition alive for them because you will remember how amazing it was to believe in the magic of Santa and you want them to have that too.
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60293)
• Perth, Australia
8 Dec 15
Your post made me understand a bit more on why parents keep Santa alive for their children. Because like you said, it brought back the magic for you.
Thank you for answering.
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60293)
• Perth, Australia
9 Dec 15
@LovingMyBabies Just hope they actually fall asleep on the night so I can put the presents out. That is one thing that would stress me out I'm sure. Not getting caught.
1 person likes this
@lotty71 (92)
• Epsom, England
9 Dec 15
@VivaLaDani13 you're welcome ?? (The two question marks should be a smiling face!)
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60293)
• Perth, Australia
10 Dec 15
@lotty71 lol no worries. I was wondering why the question marks were there. I thought you were being sarcastic or something haha
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60293)
• Perth, Australia
9 Dec 15
hahaha fair enough. Thank you so much for sharing.
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18174)
• Orangeville, Ontario
8 Dec 15
I never felt guilty about telling my little ones about Santa. The whole idea brings such joy to the children. We had Santa knock on our door one year and asked the girls if they had been good and gave them each a candy cane. He was literally going door to door. It was so exciting (thanks to the neighbour who decided to do that the one year). As for me, I don't remember when or how I found out. I don't even remember how my kids figured it out. It's not very monumental. I remember my younger daughter finding out about the Tooth Fairy (because of money under her pillow being the same money she stole and gave back the day before) and I think once she realized about the Tooth Fairy she realized all the others weren't "real" either.
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18174)
• Orangeville, Ontario
9 Dec 15
@VivaLaDani13 Sneaky enough to steal the money in the first place. I don't even know how she reached the container it was in.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60293)
• Perth, Australia
9 Dec 15
That is so awesome! That made me think of a memory too. Santa and his helper came to us once. I am not sure if it was a Santa who was going door to door or someone who knew. Will have to ask my dad. I was like 3 years old or something so don't remember much really.
LOL what a sneaky little girl and clever putting it all together.
Thank you so much for sharing.
1 person likes this
@youless (112100)
• Guangzhou, China
9 Dec 15
I think it is nothing wrong to let the children keep the beautiful hope in mind. I will tell my child that the Santa Clause will send him a nice gift. He is so happy to it. Even if he finds out that it is not the truth when he grows up, he will not blame you. On the other hand, he will thank you to let him have such a lovely childhood.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60293)
• Perth, Australia
9 Dec 15
You make a really good point. :)
Thank you for answering.
1 person likes this
@Elizaby (6902)
• Pensacola, Florida
8 Dec 15
I was about 9 when I learned to in school when the teacher was talking about reindeer as the only time we got stuff as kids was at Christmas and birthday and even then I knew we couldn't afford much so I believed in Santa longer than most kids (dad's work had a Christmas club back then that he putmoney in each week so that they could do Christmas)
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60293)
• Perth, Australia
9 Dec 15
I think that's a sweet way to try and help others to afford a good Christmas.
Thank you for sharing.
1 person likes this
@markpangilinan1 (19)
• Manila, Philippines
9 Dec 15
why would you feel guilty? santa is the real deal! wear costume like santa then give your son/daughter gifts then explain about it a little while then say goodbye. santa stories will make his/her feel than somebody out there loves him/her not just you, neighbors, relatives.
@VivaLaDani13 (60293)
• Perth, Australia
9 Dec 15
Just would feel a bit guilty for lying is pretty much all I have an issue with.
Thank you for answering. :)
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23228)
• Bangalore, India
8 May 16
I have never took Santa seriously and neither do other kids here. They know he is not real but still enjoy the idea. No lie is there.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60293)
• Perth, Australia
1 Aug 18
@Daljinder Long line of them is correct! 
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23228)
• Bangalore, India
9 Apr 17
@VivaLaDani13 I think because we have so many mythological characters that we see, learn, celebrate and worship around here that a Santa doesn't stand out as a separate entity. He is just another one in the long line of them
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60293)
• Perth, Australia
6 Aug 18
@stacy31 That's fair enough. Thank you for answering! 
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@Butterfingers (66585)
• India
22 Apr 20
No such santa in India was aware since very little
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No worries at all. 
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
8 Dec 15
I don't remember distrusting my parents when I found out Santa wasn't real. I felt smart and grown-up for finding out. I really don't know anyone who was emotionally wounded by the knowledge, it's a rite of passage. It's part of growing up. And I would never deprive a child of the magical fantasy of Santa at Christmastime. It's a wonderful world when you are young. And there's plenty of time to grow up.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60293)
• Perth, Australia
9 Dec 15
You are right. I am seeing more and more why passing on the Christmas magic to children is a fun thing to do. I mean I already did think it was fun but I mean, I'm starting to feel better about it all. Thank you for answering.
1 person likes this
