DS age 7 no longer ‘believes ‘

Pffft... You could have countered...if birds are the only thing that can fly, what are the planes doing in the sky? Or bats...or flying fish... BEES? Etc

? He’s late to the real world! My dc knew much earlier but went along with it to get a chocolate rabbit and money when a tooth came out. Believing in all of this (lies!) until 9 would be very odd in my view.

Bit harsh.

Ah, it's a little bit sad when this happens.

We still did a stocking/pillowcase left on the bed for years afterwards. DS is 23 and he still likes the same traditions each year.

Can you though?! I mean it’s sweet and lovely to say this, but I always inwardly raise an eyebrow when people say ‘I’m 46 and I still believe!’ Believe in what?! Because we all know that if we don’t work our arses off all December / November and do everything then… no ‘magic’ will happen will it?! Sorry to be a cynic, maybe I just don’t get it.

My mum and dad had to tell me the truth about father Christmas when I was 6 because I was too scared to sleep. I still believed in the tooth fairy but I would always leave my tooth in an egg cup on the landing windowsill so she wouldn't come into my bedroom.

My mum told me that when we stopped believing, they’d stop bringing us things. I wanted my Easter egg and 50p from the tooth fairy, and of course I wanted a present from Father Christmas, so I never said I didn’t believe!

On a serious note though, if he has decided not to believe any more, you can tell him that means it’s time to get involved in making the magic. If there are any younger siblings/cousins etc, it’s a good way to stop them from spoiling it for them.

My youngest DS stopped believing this last Christmas age 6.
He said ‘magic’s not real, and only birds can fly, so… is it you?’ Then he looked me dead in the eyes and said, ‘Just tell me Mummy.’ Busted!
Broke my heart a tiny bit, my last baby, but I was also quite proud of him!
Now he knows the ‘magic’ was all meeeee, because I love him.

Bit early for the Xmas threads

Oh the money you'll save. I detest the tooth fairy - who has cash just lying about? Not me. Would be pleased if my child gave me the excuse not to bother with buying their waste products.

It never occurred to me that the easter bunny was a magical thing that brought easter eggs. I got them those eggs and it makes it no less fun hunting for them.

I would be tempted to leave a note in Turkish in December though. Up to him whether he wants to believe or enjoy the game.

Same. Didn’t know the Easter Bunny delivering gifts was a thing either, I certainly didn’t participate in that particular subterfuge.

My brother had Santa sussed very young and had me questioning it too. Very logical. My parents seemed almost relieved. and they quite liked being able to explain that the shop had run out of the bontempi keyboard I wanted and it wasn’t because I’d done anything wrong. Like a previous poster I never really liked the sheer amount of bullshitting necessary to maintain the Santa myth so was quite happy when mine stopped believing. It didn’t make Christmas any less fun.

Congratulations!! There's nothing magic about having a stupid kid.

My girls are 24 and 26 and we still put a carrot out on the drive and sprinkle it in reindeer dust every xmas eve!

And I still secretly hang their stockings at the end of the bed - even though it is now more like 6am than 12pm when I do it as I now have to wait for them to roll in from the clubs and go to sleep before I can do it!

And they have both seen their easter eggs in the pantry but know they have to pretend they haven't until easter sunday when they come downstairs and find them on the sideboard!

The magic is what you make of it. Just because they stop believing doesnt mean the magic stops (even though my kids think I am completely bonkers!)

Yes my eldest dc had night terrors when she was about 3- terrified of the “man coming through a hole in the roof”. We didn’t have chimney.

had to reassure her we had the house locked up tight and we’d put the presents under the tree if he left them outside.

DD1 is also a very logical child and she stopped believing in Santa at 5. Granted we never leaned massively into it, I actually found it quite uncomfortable when I realised the amount of lying I would have to do to satisfy her. I was okay with it when it was a very vague concept but the minute she started demanding answers about how it works, I couldn’t bring myself to lie to her so was very evasive about it, and eventually she just said outright she didn’t believe and would I please tell her the truth.

She was totally unbothered and is just as excited about Christmas, doing her stocking, leaving treats out for Santa etc.

The first time I mentioned the tooth fairy she just gave me a very withering look so we never persevered with that one either (although obviously we still have to provide the goodies under the pillow!)

Same

I'm not sure how many children genuinely believe in father Christmas. They would probably be scared of him, if they did.

I do think that an immortal Turkish saint who was able to deliver presents around the world on a flying sleigh pulled by reindeers would probably be able to master the English language though.

By that age I’d be worried if he thought they were real.

You can know the truth and still believe in the magic

I think Christmas will be just as magical. Start some new family traditions 🥰

My aunt does baskets for all of us, including my 83 year old grandmother. We still do stockings at Christmas too.

Samhain is my domain.

My almost 21 year old is the Easter Bunny this year, giving out Easter treats to everyone on our charity walk.

Similar to the talk about the existence of a diety, we have always pitched it as a celebration of a special time, family bonding and sharing in a memory of the good deeds the humans they are based upon performed, when they stopped believing. Or the arrival of new life and fertile soils again for the Bunny 🐰 Exploring nature and learning opportunities helped prevent boredom in the holidays too!

ETA went the route of Vikings for the tooth fairy.

I’ve just finished making Easter baskets for my 29 and 24 year olds.

I never had a visit from the tooth fairy because I'd stopped believing it all before I ever lost a tooth. Not because my mum wouldn't still have done it, I just insisted I was too grown up.
Too much of a smart arse for my own good 🤣.

I had figured out it was more fun to continue to play the game at Christmas though. They knew I knew but it didn't actually change anything. I don't actually remember believing at all, but still remember Christmas feeling really special.

i don’t think i ever told mine about the Easter bunny but Father Christmas on the other hand…. 🤣 he’s defo real.