Raising kids is no easy job. Questions come up daily that I am just not sure how to answer. Just the other day Jackson and I had one of the most important conversations that we ever had.
Jackson - Mom, I know that Santa isn't real -.
Jackson - First off, a big fat man can't fit down the fireplace, plus there are never any reindeer tracks. -
Me - Well Santa lives on in spirit.
Jackson so hes not real right?
Me - He was real.
Jackson - but he doesn't deliver our gifts every year does he?
Me( at this point, I could have kept up the lie or told the truth..) I picked the truth - this time. - No.. your family and friends gets the gifts and brings them to you.
Jackson- I knew it.
Me- But the Santa spirit does live on.
Jackson - so who gets the cookies that we sit out?
Me - What?
Jackson who has been eating the cookies? I have always put out the best cookies for Santa and they are always ate. Who is eating them?
Jackson- Does Brittany know the truth about Santa?? Is she the one getting the cookies?
Me I was pretty shook up at this time.. and I told him his dad usually eats the cookies.
Jackson - Why did you lie to me so much about Santa?
Me- I thought it was what I was suppose to do.
Jackson - Your suppose to tell the truth.
Me-Please don't go around telling other kids about Santa.
Jackson It would be better than their parents lying to them. But I won't mom. Just quit lying to me.
You know.. I really never thought the Santa talk was going to be so serious. Jackson was more upset that I lied to him more than where his gifts came from. I guess 10 years old was long enough to fool him. Now hopefully he understands the spirit of Christmas. I never really had the issue of Santa growing up. I saw my grandparents putting my toys together at night..many times so it was never a big question for me. However, we have done what many other parents have done.. lied to the kids. Why do we lie about Santa? Or even the tooth fairy or Easter Bunny?? Coming from my 10 little boy.. its a lie.. plain and simple. And I felt awful having this conversation with him. I am not sure what the right answer is but maybe its time we start to rethink the generations of lies we have learned to tell. Sure its cute to make a 2 year old think Santa is real but its nothing short of a lie. So around here we are going to embrace the Santa Spirit and stop making the kids believe that he is fitting down the chimney.. and eating the cookies. Jackson seemed more upset about the cookies being ate. And I bet he never sits out the best cookies for Santa anymore! Ha! Oh Gosh, I feel like a complete failure at times. I seriously thought telling the Santa story all these years was the right thing to do and Jackson just schooled his mom on telling lies. Not the happy ending I was hoping for!
Do you tell your kids the truth about Santa?
K Jaggers
♥
At first I thought that age 10 was awfully old, but after doing some calculating, I think mine were about 8. I think the 4th grade was the last time for me.
ReplyDeleteI wrote a Santa post you might enjoy.
http://mymorningcupofcoffee.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-relationship-with-santa.html
You know, I wouldn't worry about it. Once the shock wears off, you can explain more about it. You know St Nick and all.
I'll be sad when we don't do Santa anymore. I think the lying is common. I remember being upset my mom lied to me lol.
ReplyDeleteAshley
ashleyspain.net
I don't remember when I found out Santa wasn't real. But, every year, I cringe at the thought of my son's reaction when he finally finds out. I think with the next baby we're going to emphasize the spirit of Santa and St. Nicholas and play down the idea that he actually comes to our house.
ReplyDeleteKristen @ Trial & Error Homemaking
Oh man! That's heartbreaking! But reassuring to know you have such a sensitive spirited child. :)
ReplyDeleteSorry it took me so long to comment! Thanks for linking!
xoxo
Megan @ thememoirsofmegan.com
Thanks.. I think he might have had an idea sooner but it went official this year. I did feel terrible though.
ReplyDelete@ Ashley.. I think the lying is common too! But I am starting to realize.. the truth would have been much easier.
@ Kristen.. yea, the conversation we had is not what I actually envisioned. It was a total disaster but at least its over and we can focus more on the Santa Spirit instead of the crazy lies I have made up over the years!