ASD - Did you do Santa with your kids?

[AntiquityOfTheTauri]

The usual getting towards Christmas threads have started popping us so I thought I'd ask if people think there's a connection with it and asd?

I thoroughly believed in Santa as a kid, just as I believed thoroughly everything I was told. It was my younger sister who told me he wasn't real! Anyway, then I had ds1 and I just couldn't bring myself to lie to him. Even when he went to school after home ed and the other kids were telling him Santa and the tooth fairy were real and he believed I couldn't play along, mostly I said it was whatever he believed.

I loved the magic myself, but I just could not perpetuate an untruth, it just makes me feel wrong.

[hiddenhome2]

I was frightened of Santa when I was young. I can't stand people in costumes and sitting on knees was always deeply uncomfortable anyway

I did go along with it when they were young, but they twigged when they were about nine that it was fake.

I'm pleased that I don't have to pretend anymore.

[bodenbiscuit]

Hiddenhome - I relate to that too!

I've never done Father Christmas with my children because I felt my parents made a fool of me - telling me he did exist even when I was about 7/8 and was hearing the truth from my friends at school. I asked for confirmation from them and they still would not give it! So I've never pretended with my own children. It feels like lying to me and I don't want to go along with it. I get fed up of people telling me I'm depriving them of the magic of Christmas.

The funny thing is that dd3 says 'oh well I believe in Father Christmas anyway - he does exist mummy' so I then say to her that she is free to believe what she wants to. I don't mind as long as I'm not pushing it!

[AntiquityOfTheTauri]

I don't get the whole magic of Christmas thing either. I literally do not comprehend what it could possibly mean. It's like anything, the emotional feeling which is created comes from the personality of the child in concert with whatever is planned. Waking up on Christmas morning is no less "magical" without Santa because there is still the excitement and anticipation. It makes me wonder if the trauma of learning Santa isn't real really can take away some of the Christmas excitement so the absolutely wonderful things of presents and food etc seem somehow lesser? Just musing really.

[bodenbiscuit]

Yes I agree. Christmas for me is family time. It should be special enough as it is without having to lie about it.