Just wanted to know everybody's opinion about Christmas & Santa Claus?

Elishia - posted on 03/05/2012

I'm not a religious person, however I tell my kids about Santa and let them believe he is real. All kids need to have something to believe in no matter how crazy it could be. Anymore believing in Santa is short lived anyway. I grew up believing in Santa and kids at school told me he wasn't real when I was 9. Not only does in my opinion telling your kids Santa isn't real take away them having the experience of believing in someone who watches and works all year round making things for all children, the children who grow up not believing don't think much and tell the kids who do believe that Santa that he isn't real.

Casey - posted on 02/06/2012

in my family we dont really do religion. i have 3 children 6yrs. 1yrs. and a lil 4 mth old. i hadnt told them about santa or anything of the holiday things. my daughter is 6 and she know because of tv and other media that other people do santa and doesnt mind "going with it" because she know they are not real she knows the meaning of the holidays are being together and loving one and other. not about how many gifts or who they came from. for another example she only get 4 gifts.. she picks them and she knows she gets those. ( of course she gets more then 4) but she only thinks she will be getting 4. its all about how you do it

Jacque - posted on 12/21/2011

it sounds like you dont want to share the cedit of giving the gifts to her kids why not did it hurt you finding out there was no santa it is fun for the kids why not let them injoy it it sound like you already are keeping them for having god in there lifes its very selfish on your part

Emily - posted on 11/29/2009

Hi my name is Emily and Im a mother of 5 and I have been though it all and and with the smallest ones I have decided that I want them to understand that Christmas is about Christs birth and family and friends. I was raised in a christan home and I knew that Christmas was about his birth but when it came to christmas it was all about santa an what HE may bring me and my brothers. well when I started haveing kids I did the same as my past and said that santa brought christmas and i brought the rest well we have alot of family and they are way more well of than we were so when christmas would come the two older ones started wanting more and more and expected santa to bring the biggest and the best. despite what me and my husband were going threw and in christmas past Santa would bring the big stuff. well Ive had enough the kids got so selfish and greedy and i couldnt compete with santa and the family no more I told the family that I appreciate that they wanted to provide my children the best and that i understood that they wanted the best for them but Me and my husband busted our but threw that year to give them what they had and Santa and family made mommy and daddy look like we didnt care or just how broke we were even thou we had provided santa so now that the older one dont believe in Santa anymore and Ive got some starting to understand christmas to me its a second chance to try again they will know what christmas is about and christmas toys are from mommy and daddy and family is no longer aloud to purchase toys with out my concent because we worked to hard to have what we give them and we dont want to be out done everytime and SANTA is now just a novaltiy for fun not the man that gets me what i want but thats just my life an how we deal with santa

Mandy - posted on 11/28/2009

We are Christian so Christmas is very important but we have always told our son about Santa. We tell him Santa can only get him one gift because there are so many kids. All other gifts n grown ups gifts come from each other. Cause I personaly miss all the magic of being a child n will let my child enjoy it as long as he will. Santa is not a total lie he is derived from saint nick. Which my son also know about.

C - posted on 11/28/2009

I have a 3 year old and an 11 year old. This is the first year the 11 year old is not asking "Santa" for anything. She's asking me if I will get her this and that for Christmas. We didn't talk about there being no Santa, it just seems matter of fact for her at this point. As far as my son goes, we are doing the Santa thing again. It's very magical for younger children and in a lot of ways that's what childhood is, a very magical time, where all things seem possible. It is a way for us as parents to be a part of their childhood magic. If you are religious, you always have to bring that into the mix of course, we have been very lucky as our parish has a wonderful Children's christmas eve mass with the older children participating in a live nativity during mass and then at the end of the mass Santa comes to our church, he first visits the manger on the alter and kneels infront of the Christ Child and then goes to our pastor, and kneels down in front of him for a blessing before he begins his Christmas Eve travel. It's been a very good way of linking religion with Santa!

Anita - posted on 11/28/2009

Christmas has not been about Christ for a long time. My family does imply Santa is a being as I want my daughter to grow up with a childhood. I don't feel the need for my daughter to know that I work hard to be able to afford her gifts as she grows up and over time she will gain a work-ethic it does not need to be instilled at 3 years old. I would enjoy for her to believe in the magic of Christmas and know that it is not about the presents or Santa but in fact about being together as a family and to be thankful.

Jessie - posted on 11/27/2009

What's wrong with Santa?I am not religious, I don't get into any of the religious stuff. But I do want to foster my childrens sense of imagination. They will grow out of it soon enough, my 11 yr old figured it out a year or two ago, but he still plays along. My 3 year old is just getting into it. I love watching the wonder in his eyes. We see Christmas as a time of giving, whether it be gifts or time together, but there is nothing more magical than my boys waking me up Christmas morning, excited and happy to see what tresures are left for them under the tree!

Rachel - posted on 11/24/2009

We do it both ways. On Christmas Eve we go to my moms and my son gets presents from my side of the family. On Christmas Eve night after Elias is asleep we put out gift under the tree for Christmas morning. Christmas morning he gets up to the surprise and then later my husband family brings gifts. We refer to santa but have never said that he is the reason for or what christmas is all about. Elias is 3 and he know that santa isn't real but we love the surprise on Christmas morning. That is our tradition. I never believed in santa, my parents never told us that he was an important part of Christmas. I love the spirit of it though. Don't lie to her about him just talk about him like you would disney characters. Hope I helped out.

Erin - posted on 11/22/2009

In my house Santa is just a character on Christmas stuff...he is the character of a story, nothing more. We tell our boys about St. Nick and giving, but presents come from Mom & Dad. My 3 yr old doesn't know the value of money but he does know his numbers and understands that you need money to pay for stuff. So when he does things like leave lights on I remind him that the more money I waste on electricity the less money I have for presents...I'm sure you know what happens then! :) When the boys are older we will start be volunteering and donating our time in our community. I anticipate this being a year long event, but will likely gear something to needy kids or help @ a food bank during xmas time. I will be explaining to my sons about how other kids believe Santa brings them presents and it is a great pretend game adults play with kids in the hopes that MAYBE they don't spoil some other kids belief in Santa? But who knows...

Desiree - posted on 11/21/2009

I usually give my daughter a little present or two from me (the not so fun stuff like clothes) and Santa brings all the fun stuff (toys). Rule in my house is you stop believing you stop receiving. We are very family oriented and Christmas in my house does center arounnd that. Santa is just for fun. Do Christmas how you want to do it. Its your family make your own traditions. I don't think its taking anything away from your child.

Erin - posted on 11/20/2009

In my family we All believe in Santa! but not as the jolly fat guy who gives you everything you ask for, its the spirit of giving and sharing that is important to us. Christmas is a religous holiday, that is why it was named for Christ. i don't know how old your daughter is, but if she is not old enough to have worked and earned money of her own, she probably won't understand enough to appreciate your working to earn money to support her. Santa can be a great tool in teaching children about giving. and as far as Christmas being a time to show off your "financial abilities", it really doesn't have to be, if you really pay attention to who people are, there is usually an inexpensive and very meaningful way of showing people that you care.