Comments on: Death to Santa Claus – Don’t Lie, Kids Can Handle the Truth

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:41:39 +0000

Great article. It is a great explanation to show to those who feel we’re being cruel or kill joys by not lying to our child. I can’t remember actually believing in Santa (I mean, why did Santa write like my folks?) but it really did make me question what I was told more. Now at my house we all take turns ‘playing’ Santa. We buy about 100 teddy bears from the dollar store, wrap them, and deliver them to the local group homes wearing Santa gear. A little hokey, but its still a tradition that fosters giving and it doesn’t require deception.

By: Sabrina

Sabrina — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:33:25 +0000

A handful of my fondest childhood memories have something to do with my “encounters” with Santa and the Tooth Fairy. Unlike Laura, when I found out that these two were mere figments of the imagination, I did not feel anything negative at all towards my parents. In fact, it touched me that they went to all those extremes just to make my childhood seem quite magical. And later on in life, I decided that I would make my kids’ childhood memories just as delightful.

That is, until I came across this post.

You really have me thinking here …

By: Laura

Laura — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 21:22:46 +0000

When my parents told me there was no Santa/Easter Bunny, etc… I remember it well. I was around 5 (I found out earlier than my school mates), and I was crushed, not because there was no Santa, but because I realized that my parents had lied to me. I thought of the extent of it, and all I could think of was how stupid they must of thought I was, falling for the cookie crumbs supposedly left by Santa, the bits of carrots left supposedly by the Easter Rabbit. I could not believe they would go to such lenghts to fool me. I was so little, but very smart for my age, and that was very traumatic. I wondered what else they lied to me about and if I could trust them. I never told them any of this of course, so they thought my tears were for Santa, so I guess I lied to them too in a way. I could never imagine thinking so little of a child that I would think it would be “funny” or just “fun” to tell them that lie or any lie for that matter. I think about this periodically, and just decided to see what I could find out about others views online. I am very glad I came across your site. It’s nice to know I’m not alone in realizing how absurd the Santa lie is.

By: Straight Dope Dad

Straight Dope Dad — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:22:19 +0000

Thanks for your comment. You’d think that Santa is secular but it’s not, at least not in practice. It’s still a faith based system and faith based systems trigger all sorts of deep feelings and conflicts because maintaining them is so fragile. Every bit of contradictory evidence must be squashed or countered lest it lead to questions and an unraveling of the concept. Sounds like a bunch of unnecessary stress to me.

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:11:11 +0000

I just found your blog this morning and this is a very interesting post to start with. I am completely with you. Around the Christmas season, I saw a onesie that had a nice picture of Santa holding a present and reading “Santa isn’t real, but it’s OK because I can’t read.”

My wife and I were raised in very different faiths and backgrounds (she had faith, I didn’t) and we’ve had numerous conversations about what to do with our daughter in terms of what we should teach her.

My thoughts about religion in general fall pretty much in line with what you have here. Keep up the good work and I look forward to reading your posts!
Justin´s lastest blog ..Post-Partum Parting

By: Tina

Tina — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:51:43 +0000

I’m with you on this one. Christmas is not about Santa Claus and that’s just what our culture has let it become. I never thought about it before as tricking our children but I’ve got to say that you just hit the nail on the head! Well said!
Tina´s lastest blog ..The Little Tykes Wagon For Your Little Folks

By: Captain Rick

Captain Rick — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:40:27 +0000

I commend your fortitude, I’m sure it’s not an easy undertaking. I do not at this time have custody of my children, and their mother uses the same device in a very negative, and in my opinion, very damaging way. Instead of the big bad wolf or Darth Vader, she uses the idea of the monsters in the dark to scare the children into behaving. So now they have a strong fear of the dark. I can only imagine the potential psychological damage it may create in their adult psyches.

Keep writing! Never let your opinion be suppressed!

By: Straight Dope Dad

Straight Dope Dad — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:39:09 +0000

Yes, I know. I have a separate essay I’m working on about explaining death to children and how stories about the afterlife or euphemisms like “passed away” or “she’s in a better place” don’t help kids understand death. I figured taking on Santa Claus was going to controversial enough without mixing God in their as well. It was only after having a child and NOT tricking her into believing in Santa did I find out just how many parents have a problem with it. Many of them act is if I’m depriving my daughter. On the few occasions that my daughter has told her friends there is no Santa (hey,they brought it first) the room just went silent and then the other parents scramble to reinforce the lie. Who would have thought that stating the obvious would be so disruptive.

By: Captain Rick

Captain Rick — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:55:22 +0000

You can make the same argument about God.