How Old Were You When You Stopped Believing?
By kbourgerie
@kbourgerie (8780)
United States
January 30, 2008 9:55am CST
My son lost a tooth last night. He is 11 years old and even though he knows that the tooth fairy doesn't exist, we still left him money. For some reason, I find that I want to keep the fantasy of the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny going as long as possible. Children today grow up so fast. They have alot less years believing in the miracles of life then we did when we were growing up. I want my children to remain children as long as possible, because before you know it they are all grown up and gone away. Not only that but isn't that what a child is all about, having the ability to believe? How old were you when you stopped believing?
2 people like this
4 responses
@EmTeeBee (64)
• Australia
31 Jan 08
Half the fun of being a parent is making the mystery and fantasy play out as long as possible. At 11 and 9 my kids still make the most of the traditions, even though they have doubts! It's what puts the magic into being a child. Our tooth fairy leaves little notes encouraging good cleaning, and tells tham what a good job they did wearing out their teeth, and as for Santa - we have a little sign that goes up - "People who don't believe get underwear for Christmas!" We don't stop playing because we get too old. We get old because we stop playing.
1 person likes this
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
31 Jan 08
I really love your philosophy. Your children are the same age as mine and at this point they pretty much know the truth. Unfortunately, even if they aren't told at home, their peers at school tell them differently.
@EmTeeBee (64)
• Australia
31 Jan 08
I know that they hear differently from their friends at school, so my standard response is "it doesn't matter what your friends believe, it's what you believe. Do you believe in the magic?" My 9 tried desperately to sit up all Christmas eve night to catch Santa. (She nearly did, too!)She did this to prove to her friends that he does exist. Her dogged determination made her dad and I smile.
@KKKBsmom (1092)
• United States
31 Jan 08
well.... toothfairy ended when their last tooth fell out! LOL Santa Claus... well my kids 20-14 all are told... don't believe... don't get... so they all know who santa is... but they all say they believe so tehy can get... and they don't ruin it for others!
Me... well I think I was young... but only because of the way I was raised... which I did different! LOL
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
31 Jan 08
I think I was about 9 when I found out all the above didn't exist, but I still believe in the magic of it all and hey, well.............you never know.
@stvasile (7306)
• Romania
1 Feb 08
In my country there is no tradition regarding loosing teeth or Easter such as the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny.
We do have the Santa Claus on Christmas and a Saint Nicholas hat brings gifts to kids on the St. Nicholas Eve (5/6 December in the Orthodox tradition) and puts it in their shoes or boots (specially polished and cleaned for his arrival).
I guess I stopped believing when I was about 7 or 8 years old, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the tradition later on, even though I knew the gifts were from my parents.
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
1 Feb 08
I like the idea of the tradition that you follow. I was actually born and raised in the United Kingdom and some of their holidays and traditions are different than here in the United States. I wish I had continued to follow them.
1 person likes this
@jerritts1mom (816)
• United States
31 Jan 08
That is the sweetest sentiment you could make for your children!!
My mother never allowed me to believe in such things.
I was told very young the truth about all of it,she said she didn't want to give me false hope.We all need a little hope and I am finding myself being like you, wanting it to remain,while it may keep my son younger longer.
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
31 Jan 08
It truly is. They don't stay children nearly long enough. Why force them to get to adulthood before they need to?
