Posts: 13901
Threads: 263
Joined: January 11, 2009
Reputation:
82
RE: Santa and Other Lies to the Kids
August 27, 2018 at 6:18 am
(August 23, 2018 at 2:10 pm)mlmooney89 Wrote: So talk on another thread got me thinking about this and I think I have my mind made up but I don't know if I'm making a selfish decision.
I decided I don't want to tell my kid that Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, etc are real. I'm being lazy for one because I don't want to deal with the fall out of when she finally learns the truth nor trying to keep up the lie for years. Two I'm selfish and I want her to know I worked hard to buy her gifts not that some guy randomly deposited them to her house. Growing up Santa was the hero of Christmas when my mom worked her ass off to spoil us and got no credit for it. I also don't want to tell her that god isn't real and then turn around and say Santa is. Where do I draw the line?
I already know my mom will go off the deep end when I tell her because she LOVES the idea of Santa and childhood innocence and Christmas magic. Last year Charlie was only 3 weeks old so it didn't matter but this year she will be over a year and start understanding what we are saying. I know it still won't matter probably until the year after for her to start actually comprehending but I feel like if I'm going to do this I need to tell people now "Hey don't tell her Santa is coming if she is good or he will bring gifts" Am I really being selfish by taking this childhood magic from her, by inevitably making her the asshole kid that ruins it for everyone else, or by wanting the thanks instead of Santa getting it? My husband really doesn't give a fuck what we tell her, he said he will go with whatever I decide but I'm so torn.
It's not just Santa though it's all the fake people. I'm not against decorating for Christmas or buying presents for under the tree, I'd help her dye Easter eggs and hide them for her to find, leave money under her pillow for teeth. I would just let her know it's me doing it and it's all in good fun.
What did y'all tell your kids? Did you regret telling them what you did? Do you think it hurt or helped them later?
Santa is an important lesson for children but one that doesn't seem to have caught on in theist houses.
The lesson is that your parents can lie to you too. So EVERYTHING needs to be treated sceptically, even if it comes from you.
You can fix ignorance, you can't fix stupid.
Tinkety Tonk and down with the Nazis.
Posts: 29107
Threads: 218
Joined: August 9, 2014
Reputation:
155
RE: Santa and Other Lies to the Kids
August 27, 2018 at 6:54 am
(This post was last modified: August 27, 2018 at 6:55 am by robvalue.)
I agree that it's important to teach scepticism, even towards yourself. But I have my doubts, personally, that this is the best way to do it. If such a thing wasn't a tradition, would anyone really concoct elaborate schemes like this to deceive their kids over a period of years, just to "teach" them something? Do the kids deserve it? I somewhat doubt it. That's what makes me think it's more of a rationalisation for something parents want to do.
Posts: 28389
Threads: 226
Joined: March 24, 2014
Reputation:
185
RE: Santa and Other Lies to the Kids
August 27, 2018 at 6:57 am
I try not to lie to my kids about anything. I have no regrets about not doing the Santa/Easter Bunny thing. They still love Christmas and Easter as much as any kid.
(August 21, 2017 at 11:31 pm)KevinM1 Wrote: "I'm not a troll"
Religious Views: He gay
0/10
Hammy Wrote:and we also have a sheep on our bed underneath as well
Posts: 3879
Threads: 21
Joined: June 6, 2016
Reputation:
39
RE: Santa and Other Lies to the Kids
August 27, 2018 at 12:49 pm
I'm so glad to hear that y'all have done it, it makes the task of telling our parents easier. This way I can be cliché and say "other parents are doing it" lol I spoke with my husband about this thread and he said that it sounded like a good idea to start this Christmas in telling everyone that we won't be telling her Santa is real so I think we are good to go. Thank you for sharing what you did with your kids on both sides. I knew I could come here and get both sides of the coin.
“What screws us up the most in life is the picture in our head of what it's supposed to be.”
Also if your signature makes my scrolling mess up "you're tacky and I hate you."
Posts: 67314
Threads: 140
Joined: June 28, 2011
Reputation:
162
RE: Santa and Other Lies to the Kids
August 27, 2018 at 1:33 pm
(This post was last modified: August 27, 2018 at 1:33 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
(August 27, 2018 at 2:52 am)robvalue Wrote: I don't have kids, but if I did, I'd be against telling them lies that weren't absolutely necessary. Some lies have become socially acceptable, but that wouldn't make any difference to me.
The lies I tell are absolutely necessary to both my enjoyment in raising children..and state of mind as regards the same. These little monsters wear on me......retaliation is warranted!
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
Posts: 35356
Threads: 205
Joined: August 13, 2012
Reputation:
146
RE: Santa and Other Lies to the Kids
August 27, 2018 at 1:36 pm
(August 27, 2018 at 1:33 pm)Khemikal Wrote: (August 27, 2018 at 2:52 am)robvalue Wrote: I don't have kids, but if I did, I'd be against telling them lies that weren't absolutely necessary. Some lies have become socially acceptable, but that wouldn't make any difference to me.
The lies I tell are absolutely necessary to both my enjoyment in raising children..and state of mind as regards the same. These little monsters wear on me......retaliation is warranted!
Monsters are for slaying!
Just saying.
Think of the XP!
Playing Cluedo with my mum while I was at Uni:
"You did WHAT? With WHO? WHERE???"
