Keep Santa Alive
Does it harm a child to believe in Santa? For many of us, those days are the happiest we have had. The excitement and wonder of the wonders of Santa, Mrs. Claus, the Elves, the Reindeer, etc. kept us waiting in anticipation for weeks. We learned all of the stories about Santa Claus and watched cartoons and movies about him. We even read or had our family read books about him to us.
When we grew up and learned the truth for some of us it was a sad time, but for most of us we felt that we had outwitted our parents. For me it was a mixture of the two. I had a feeling for a while and then as children at school began to nudge me along I felt compelled to check things out for myself.
So I looked through our house for where my parents could have hidden presents. It took me days to find them, but when I did I felt as if someone had punched me in the stomach. Were my parents trying to trick me? All this time I believed and it was all a fake? When I asked my mother about Santa, she continued to reply with her normal answers. But I prodded her and she soon knew I suspected something.
That’s when she told me the whole story. But the way she told me lessened the blow. It wasn’t a trick, it was something parents did to help children have fun and to teach them about giving. Now it was my turn to help her and my Dad to keep Santa alive for my younger sister and for all other younger children.
I then felt grown up and wanted to keep Santa’s spirit going as much as I could. I became an actor in the story and loved every minute. I made the decision to keep Santa alive for my children as long as possible too. My 8 year old still believes.
We help her by having her write a letter to Santa and make sure that she writes it politely. She visits him and reads about him. Now she can see his flight on the the internet thanks to NORAD. We put out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.
How do you feel about the story of Santa and your children? What are some traditions you keep to keep Santa alive?
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Comments
My 6 year old blurted out the other day that Santa isn’t real. She probably heard it from an older sibling at her dad’s house. I quickly redirected the topic and started talking about how Santa IS real. I want her to believe as long as possible!
In my country, our home do not have any chimney for Santa, We only get to see Santa in shopping mall and when ever Santa is around, there will be free candy for everyone. The meaning of Santa is very difference in Asia but it represent the spirit of Christmas and Thanksgiving.
Although I used to love having something to believe in, finding the half eaten carrots. Even with the tooth fairy, my cousin came into my room once and I could of sworn she was the tooth fairy. I find it a form of lieing, sounds stupid I know. I haven’t decided what I will tell my son yet, I think the truth because you can still teach a child about giving and the meaning of christmas without Santa.
LadyGrace´s last blog post..My Labour and Birth
Aw, how sweet that your mom took the time to explain. So many people take the fun out of things. I really can’t remember when I stopped believing. Maybe I still believe!
I guess the meaning of Santa really lives in our hearts.. When we do believe in something, it makes us think of beautiful and fun things.. We start to have faith and expect for something.. It still runs on thinking “positively” .. 
Bhing´s last blog post..Fear and Greed – Bad or Good?
Sweet article about santa! Growing up, I did believe Santa exist because my parents keep the tradition with the wish list and even getting grass for the deer!
Wildcherry´s last blog post..Glory at Sea
Santa is real. Even as the kids in the family get older, nothing is ever verbalized to say different. They still make a list, put it outside on the porch for the elves to pick up, leave out carrots for the reindeer, cookies for santa, we still listen to the radio to find out what part of the world Santa is in, and they still hear faint jingle bells outside on Christmas Eve. I come from a large family and now I have two of my own, one little & one growing older – we keep the magic – it’s so much better that way.
What an awsome topic! Thanks for asking!
I wrote about my feelings for santa on the newjerseymomsblog recently. I won’t leave the link, just email me if you want it. My older son doesn’t believe there’s a Santa anymore because of the gifts he got last year. It broke my heart.
I think it’s so much fun for kids to believe in Santa. Why would anyone think it’s not ok? I can’t understand that. It’s completely harmless and so much fun!
Santa is just one of the magical parts of childhood and I can’t imagine not letting my kids enjoy that. They’re old enough now so that Santa days are behind us but we kept it going for as long as we could.
Elizabeth M.´s last blog post..Maxine, you’re my idol
We were just talking about this at work the other day. My friend’s daughter is 8 and someone at school told her Santa wasn’t real. She, in turn, told her cousin and my friend’s sister called and had a fit. My friend felt horrible. It takes so much out of the magic of Christmas when they don’t believe anymore.
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We love Santa! It’s almost more fun now that my 2 oldest children “know” the truth, they help me keep the spirit alive for the 2 youngest and we have so much fun!!