re: At what age should you tell your children there is no Santa?

My parents always said when we stopped believing, the presents would stop. So we never admitted to not believing, and Santa came every Christmas until we moved out. It was tongue-in-cheek, of course, but a nice little tradition I would like to continue with my children.

3

My kids are 18 and 21. I have not told them.

Man, put your politics and world views on the couch for minute. Not everything is about Dims and snowflakes. This is Santa we are talking about. You raise your kids however the frick you want. But don’t be a judgemental prick.

What? Where have I brought politics into anything. Quit being a helicopter parent and let kids actually find out shite on their own.

My 7 year still wholeheartedly believes. I love it. I don't want her to lose that wonderful innocence, but I know it is coming soon. She is starting to ask questions.

My 1 year old will probably lose hers much quicker, since she will have an older sibling to ruin everything for her.

When I reached the age where doubt and common sense creeped in, my parents played a trick on me. My family was sitting around the living room late on Christmas Eve and my parents gave us the old line about if we didn't go to bed soon then Santa wouldn't come. A few minutes later Santa walked though the front door (we didn't have a chimney) got spooked when he saw us all sitting there, then quickly high tailed it out the same way he came in. My brother and I sprinted to out bedroom and dived into bed.

It was one of my uncles dressed up in a santa suit carrying a big bag over his shoulder and he did it to all of my cousins that night. The next week in school, kids were debating whether Santa was real and I said "trust me, I saw him with my own two eyes! I had my doubts but it's real!"

Made me look like a fool.

I wouldn't tell them. They'll figure it out.

When I was a youngster I was shocked to learn from a kid at school how babies were made. That night at the supper table I asked my Mom: " do parents have to F--k to have a baby?".

That caused a lot of excitement.

Maybe never use the dumb pagan tradition?