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The Santa Myth
One Mom Shares Her Views on Santa
By Kelly Burgess
In spite of that input, Tucker doesn't think Ganster's approach of completely nullifying the Santa myth is the right one. She has a 20-year-old son who she says would be devastated if they didn't have "Santa" gifts. Obviously, he no longer believes in Santa, but he loves the element of surprise, which is a big part of the excitement of Christmas.
However, Tucker does think that when they do ask, children should be told the truth – that although there is no person, Santa is a spirit of giving – and that parents should not continue to "lie."
In fact, Tucker likens answering questions about Santa to answering questions about sex – give them answers to what they ask. For example, if a child asks, "How does Santa get down the chimney?" The answer could be "magic." However, if they come right out and ask if there is a Santa, the answer should be an honest one, but a kind one. She calls it "reframing Santa into the spirit of giving."
Colleen Young of Buffalo, N.Y. has already faced this dilemma. Her oldest child, Richard, now 8, has always had a very logical mind and had problems with Santa since he was a toddler. He took the statement "Santa is coming" very literally, and for several Christmases, cried bitterly when Santa didn't personally show up to hand him his gifts.
Then, at age 5, he began to realize the unlikelihood of this fat guy going down the chimney of every house in the world in one night and giving everyone toys. That's the year he came right out and asked his mom if there was a Santa. Rather than continue trying to convince her skeptical son, Young told him the truth. However, she added the caveat that he had to continue "pretending" because of his two younger siblings.
Want to see more?
- Holiday Headquarters
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- Homes for the Holidays: Economical Decorating With Your Family
- Here Comes Santa Claus: Holiday Shopping for the Budget Conscious
- Parents Say the Darndest Things: Funny Phrases Moms and Dads Say to Their Preschoolers
- Twas the Night for Assembling
- Confessions of a Tooth Fairy
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Re: The Santa Myth by anonymous on 12/22/2009 02:59PM
I have always had a hard time with Santa. I grew up without Christmas for religious reasons, but now I love the holiday and both of my children (5 and 8) believe in Santa. My 8 yr old daughter has been asking me about the tooth fairy and Santa because kids at school are telling her that it is just her parents. I have been turning the question around on her; Do you believe? I tell her I still believe in magic and I hope I always do. I have always wondered if kids felt betrayed for being lied to. I hope my kids don't feel that way.