I'm sat on the fence with this. My kids embraced the Santa myth and it added a beautiful magical fantasy feel to our christmas which I encouraged. They have now realised that it's a myth and we all move on but.....I do get a tinge of regret that I haven't been totally honest with them (but I think they understand why it was the way it was).
Interestingly, I was sat having a few bottles of wine some years back with a devout Christian friend/colleague and after I questioned his faith he asked whether I told my kids that Santa was real. I explained that I did and he replied that he would never tell his kids a lie like this (he didn't have children at the time). Our paths diverged for a while until we met up once again and he was now a young father. I asked whether he had denied the Santa myth from his child and he admitted that he told his kid Santa was real. I don't remember his reasons for his turnaround as we were in a loud busy pub at christmas time (hence my recollection of the question).
Anyway, I think if I was to teeter across the fence it would be (slightly) in favour of the Santa story for youngsters simply because of that feeling of magic that fills the air at christmas. If you can then let them grow and understand why you led them to believe in a lie then there's little damage done in my opinion. The memories last and they can relive those memories with their own children. There's not much to be happy about in the world so why not make those first few years memorable.
Interestingly, I was sat having a few bottles of wine some years back with a devout Christian friend/colleague and after I questioned his faith he asked whether I told my kids that Santa was real. I explained that I did and he replied that he would never tell his kids a lie like this (he didn't have children at the time). Our paths diverged for a while until we met up once again and he was now a young father. I asked whether he had denied the Santa myth from his child and he admitted that he told his kid Santa was real. I don't remember his reasons for his turnaround as we were in a loud busy pub at christmas time (hence my recollection of the question).
Anyway, I think if I was to teeter across the fence it would be (slightly) in favour of the Santa story for youngsters simply because of that feeling of magic that fills the air at christmas. If you can then let them grow and understand why you led them to believe in a lie then there's little damage done in my opinion. The memories last and they can relive those memories with their own children. There's not much to be happy about in the world so why not make those first few years memorable.
