As parents, I think that children should not be lied to and told there is a Santa when there actually is no Santa. Many parents disagree of course. Just seeing how others treat this subject.
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Seize the time,. . .live now, make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again- Star Trek TNG
"The report of my death was an exaggeration." -Mark Twain, After reading his own obituary, June 2, 1897
If you ever have a world, plan ahead, don't eat it! - Star Trek TNG
To me its just part of childhood, and it don't do any harm. I don't know anybody thats had their life mess up by telling them that there is a santa, and they usually figure it out for themselves by the time they reach 10 or 11. And its also tradition.
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Slainte Cho Sona ri radan ann am muileann and Gus an coinnich sinn a rithisd Clan Lamont
We've done Santa. Wouldn't have missed it. Kids need fantasy. Have the rest of their lives to be 'real'. I look at it that it isn't a lot different than literature. Everyone knows who Tiny Tim is. Is he real? No, but we all know him. And we all half believe he is real.
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Compassion is the sometimes fatal capacity for feeling what it is like inside somebody else's skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too. - Frederick Buechner
If society prospers at the expense of the intangibles, how can it be called progress?
Children nowadays have far too much reality to deal with. Their innocence and trust in others has been eroded by all the news stories about kidnappings, assaults,murders, ...you know the list! Our children aren't deaf to these things, even though we may think they haven't heard them -or weren't paying attention to that news report. Such things are absorbed and filtered through their consciousness, until the questions suddenly pop out one day when we least expect them.
For these reasons, and to help our girls enjoy and expand their imaginations, we've always kept up the traditions of Santa, the Easter Bunny, even the ToothFairy! There's no harm in these things if we're careful, when the child is ready to ask us about them, in the way we answer them. I don't completely buy into the notion that "there is no Santa!" because we all have continued in the footsteps of a real man who honestly cared about children. As parents, we've kept Santa alive through the centuries.
Sometimes I think we all could use a good, strong, healthy dose of child-like innocence again!
Dreamer1
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Two out of our four have figured it out and now want to pass the fun on to their younger brothers. Our oldest figured it out as her thought became more logical. It didn't take long for her brother to realize the same. The children aren't scarred and they now know that there is a difference in lying for self preservation or advancement and "lying" for the joy or protection of others. Most things in life can be used as a lesson as long as they are presented properly.
To reiterate what Elspeth said, children need fantasy and have the rest of their lives to be 'real'.
OK, how many parents panicked because they realized they forgot to put the money under the pillow? Tell me I'm not the only one! Luckily, we've always caught it in time.
As parents, I think that children should not be lied to and told there is a Santa when there actually is no Santa. Many parents disagree of course. Just seeing how others treat this subject.
What do you mean No Santa?
Where were you when they showed "Miracle on 34th Street" ?
Santa is a State of Mind. Without any possible thoughts of Innocence, just hard cold facts. Then there isn't any wonder why there is so much negativity in this World.
The Santa you my be referring to is actually named Advertisements.
Even though I am not a Christian, why can't we at lest save one day a year for all of mankind for Peace and Fellowship?
So lighten up a little bit and let kids be kids. Life as an Adult is going to be hard enough as it is.
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May your days be filled with Merriment and May you walk in Balance with Creator.
Look at it this way you're stretching the truth a little but not outright lying. There was in fact 2 people whom Santa's origins can be traced. That of (both are links so feel free to click away)
So while he may not exist today he did exist in History.
So I voted for let them find out in time not at certain year or immediately. They need to have fantasy in their lives then when it comes time to tell then tell them the history of Santa and how once he did exist giving out presents to children
Santa Claus is the spirit of Christmas incarnate. And so has always existed, and always will. The man did exist at one point, and so his memory lives on. I don't see a problem with it at all. It made Christmas all the more enjoyable for me when I still believed, and even to this day I can't help buy get anxious when I see the man in the red suit.
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Caw
"I am a Canadian by birth, but I am a Highlander by blood and feel under an obligation to do all I can for the sake of the Highlanders and their literature.... I have never yet spoken a word of English to any of my children. They can speak as much English as they like to others, but when they talk to me they have to talk in Gaelic."
-Alexander Maclean Sinclair of Goshen (protector of Gaelic Culture)
Realm: second star to the right, straight until morning
QUOTE (Richard Bercot @ Nov 6 2003, 03:26 AM)
What do you mean No Santa?
Santa is a State of Mind. Without any possible thoughts of Innocence, just hard cold facts. Then there isn't any wonder why there is so much negativity in this World.
The Santa you my be referring to is actually named Advertisements.
Even though I am not a Christian, why can't we at lest save one day a year for all of mankind for Peace and Fellowship?
So lighten up a little bit and let kids be kids. Life as an Adult is going to be hard enough as it is.
Music is holy, art is sacred, and creativity is power
Everyday is EARTH DAY to a farmer
"Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." Oscar Wilde
Some men are drawn to oceans, they cannot breathe unless the air is scented with a salty mist. Others are drawn to land that is flat, and the air is sullen and is leaden as August. My people were drawn to mountains- Earl Hamner Jr.
OK, how many parents panicked because they realized they forgot to put the money under the pillow? Tell me I'm not the only one! Luckily, we've always caught it in time.
Elspeth,
Know how you feel! It's only happened once, but that's enough. Fortunately, 5:00am is her deepest sleep time! Didn't notice a thing. PHEW.
Children should know the difference between fiction/fantasy ~ reality. It's ok to let them have fun in the merriment get caught up and fantasize. They should know it's all in fun, tradition, and yes even history..... We should not lie to our children....we should enjoy the fantasy w/ them. Have fun and rejoice!