Comments on: Confession: I am a Grinch

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:49:05 +0000

We grew up with Santa, but what we got was what HE felt we needed not always what we wanted. Such as that ruff and tuff Tonka toy or that Cabbage Patch kid that my sisters wanted earlier that summer but had long since forgotten about. And of course, he filled the stockings. As for myself, I didn’t really push the Santa issue. I kinda tried to keep him in the background and saved him for the special stuff whereas my wife was a Santa pusher. Each kid had to have two (non-wrapped) toys under the tree with little roped name tags on them, full stockings, and of course I had to take a drink of the now warm milk. (BLECH!!!) and eat half of each cookie to wash the milk taste down.
So I guess that after the years, I still stand by Santa, but keep him in the back ground so we can still celebrate the birth of Christ and enjoy the spirit of giving.
None of my kids “believe” in Santa anymore, but still enjoy his special gifts.

By: Jolinda

Jolinda — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:44:44 +0000

I think we should all learn the historical aspect of where the Santa Claus idea came from. St. Nickolas, I believe. He was a very generous man. ( I think and I need to remind myself the whole story.) My kids are older now and “Santa” fills their stockings with things they need. Most of the time it is beef jerky, pringles, pudding cups, etc. Stuff we don’t buy normally. When they were little, we tried to get them a toy they wanted. But, not always. And, as they get older; they remember what they got from Santa as a kid; and we usually got “thanked” later. It is the anticipation that is fun; the feeling of being surprised; and the lesson of giving to others that is the point of playing the “Santa” game.

By: Karma Wilson

Karma Wilson — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:51:18 +0000

Sarah, I’m on your side. I find the whole Santa phenomenon baffling. I’ve never done it with my kids, and I’m really glad me and hubby were on the same page about this. I don’t blame you for feeling uncomfortable or wanting to tell the truth. I understand that for many families it’s a fun and quaint Christmas tradition, but some of us just don’t get it.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:55:11 +0000

We don’t do Santa either. I think my husband’s family did Santa, but my family never did. For a lot of the same reasons you outlined above (including why should Santa get the credit for the parents’ hard work, and what happens when “Santa” doesn’t bring the toy the kid wants?), we never uncomfortable perpetuating the myth. My kids haven’t missed out — I don’t even think they understand the whole Santa thing. We have ornaments with Santa on it, so they know who Santa Claus is; I’ve read them “The Night Before Christmas” many times, just like I read Goldilocks and the Three Bears; but none of their cousins believe in Santa, so it’s basically a non-issue. In fact, nobody yet this year has asked my kids what Santa is bringing them for Christmas! [That'll probably change today when I go grocery shopping with them...]
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..What happens after a miscarriage? =-.

By: Karen Bannan from NaturalAsPossibleMom

Karen Bannan from NaturalAsPossibleMom — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:05:30 +0000

Ha! I feel the same way! Except I am just against lying to my kids completely. I have gotten around it by not saying anything about Santa. I don’t confirm or deny his existence. I would like to say that yes, Santa is alive and well in anyone who does something nice for someone any time during the year. And that wouldn’t it be great if we could *all* keep Santa alive every day of the year? But I digress…besides, you shouldn’t be reading this! You should be on the phone with Santa’s elves so they can procure one of those Mario toys…

By: Laura Melius

Laura Melius — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:41:32 +0000

I beg you–do not tell them the reality of it. They will learn soon enough. Landen came home last week and said someone told him on the bus that Santa isn’t real. This will be the 2nd year in a row that he will not get what he “ordered.” Sometimes Santa knows them better than they know themselves (or has mercy on their parents). I, too, feel it isn’t about getting big presents, but the magic of it that is important. It seems the magic that comes with life in this world is taken from our children much sooner than it was taken from us.
I don’t remember when I stopped believing in Santa, but I do know the rule still is “if you don’t believe, you don’t get anything!”
) Laura

By: Erika

Erika — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 07:04:53 +0000

I was also raised to not believe in santa, but my dad tells a story of when I was young that he says showed him that I would not be one to succumb to peer pressure easily. He says that one day he overheard me talking to someone about santa and he very calmly said “Erika, we don’t believe in santa”, to which I replied “No daddy, YOU don’t!”