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Original poster

To be furious at relative telling my child about Santa I

97 replies

sunnyblossom1 · 22/12/2019 23:50

Relative was taking to my son when I wasn’t there. He is 11 but still has that little belief that Santa is real and discussed with me the other day how magic Christmas and Santa is. He is a very young 11. This relative had a conversation with him when I wasn’t there and basically told him point blank that Santa is not real. She has two kids of her own that don’t believe. I am so angry right now. Why can people just not let kids be kids and let them have that little glimmer of hope.

OP posts:
DrinkSangriaInThePark · 22/12/2019 23:51

Omg I would go fucking mad with relative

PurpleDaisies · 22/12/2019 23:51

Oh ffs. “Glimmer of hope”?
Biscuit

soupmaker · 22/12/2019 23:53

He's 11. Biscuit

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MarchBorn · 22/12/2019 23:54

Wow. What relative and how’s the relationship normally? She should have told your DC to speak to you. What are you inclined to do about it?

travellover · 22/12/2019 23:54

Honestly, if he's in secondary school then it's best he knows the truth anyway. It should of been you to tell him though Smile

PurpleDaisies · 22/12/2019 23:55

I agree, you should have told him.

AnneLovesGilbert · 22/12/2019 23:55

He’s 11. The glimmer of hope may have been for your benefit OP.

Original poster
sunnyblossom1 · 22/12/2019 23:55

So what if he’s 11. Does that mean he doesn’t have the right to believe in anything any more ?

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 22/12/2019 23:55

What else does he believe in that’s not true?

Original poster
sunnyblossom1 · 22/12/2019 23:56

He’s obviously heard things at school and doesn’t tell people there he believes but I think in his heart he still had that magical feeling. Just think people are just too serious and want kids to grow up too fast nowadays

OP posts:
WhatsInAName19 · 22/12/2019 23:57

It wasn't their place to tell him. I would have been very upset in your shoes.

DrinkSangriaInThePark · 22/12/2019 23:57

It doesn't matter what age he is. That has absolutely nothing to do with it. Nobody else gets to decide when to tell someone else's child about Santa. Only a cunt does that.

PurpleDaisies · 22/12/2019 23:57

Does that mean he doesn’t have the right to believe in anything any more?

Father Christmas doesn’t exist. He can believe in other stuff that does exist. Christmas is still great without Father Christmas.

Original poster
sunnyblossom1 · 22/12/2019 23:58

Thank you for understanding.

OP posts:
Original poster
sunnyblossom1 · 22/12/2019 23:58

Just needed to vent

OP posts:
ccx1 · 22/12/2019 23:58

It should have been you to tell him that Santa isn't real, but if he's at secondary school then I'd say he's probably too old to still believe anyway.

But YANBU I'd be pissed off at the relative.

Original poster
sunnyblossom1 · 23/12/2019 00:00

Thank you drinksangria and what’sinaname19

OP posts:
amaryl · 23/12/2019 00:00

Mumsnet majority does not believe that a child of 11 still believes.
They know better than the parent Hmm
I’d be furious too.

minipie · 23/12/2019 00:00

Did he ask the relative whether Santa was real? Or did the relative volunteer the information?

If he asked, I can’t quite blame her for telling the truth to an 11 year old, she probably thought he knew already.

If she told him without him asking - not on, not her place.

FeigningHorror · 23/12/2019 00:00

Maybe the relative thought an eleven year couldn’t possibly believe in FC, and it was a genuine error?

Original poster
sunnyblossom1 · 23/12/2019 00:04

He didn’t ask her. Apparently she just said her kids aren’t getting presents as they don’t believe and that it’s fine because he doesn’t exist. Not her place to say anything. I have younger dc that I wouldn’t want overhearing her say that.

OP posts:
selmabear · 23/12/2019 00:08

Yeah I'd be livid. Its your decision whether or not you want to tell your DC.

EmmiJay · 23/12/2019 00:12

That relative is out of order. I'd say lick all her mince pies and enjoy watching her eat them. Rude.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 23/12/2019 00:12

Oh dear God,he's 11,she's probably saved him from getting the piss ripped out of him at school of he mentioned it although I don't believe for a second he actually believes at 11.

What are you insisting on him believing FC is real,do you insist Cinderella is real too?Confused

BlouseAndSkirt · 23/12/2019 00:22

“her kids aren’t getting presents as they don’t believe and that it’s fine because he doesn’t exist”

My Dc didn’t actually believe from about 6 or 7, being logical, perceptive and with an eye for the bleeding obvious. However we always still put a sticking out, messed about with carrots for reindeer etc and had fun pretending. Because pretending and playing is fun and what kids do.

Your relative had no understanding of this, and neither do you, but you have both approached it in different ways.

She is a miserabilist, you are being hysterical.

Tonight I have wrapped the gifts and filled the childhood Santa sacks that my kids had when they were little and still have as older teens.

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