Help! My son uttered the words I've been dreading...

[delightly]

He came in from school, sat down beside me and said "By the way, I think you and Dad are Santa. You drink the milk and eat the mince pie. Plus the tooth fairy isn't real either, I think you put the money down and do whatever with the tooth".

He's 8. And he said it all in front of his 5 year old brother!! FML. Then he dissected put the kibosh on the Easter bunny

I have read many threads about this on here over the years and had this moment all planned.... and then went to complete pieces when it actually happened

He's started questioning everything, we've watched a few movies lately and he's talking about how it's not real with green screens and it's actors pretending such and such. He's been pretty cynical in general lately!

What should I do?? I remember when I was starting to question Santa and my stepmum confirmed it right away which was devastating, I still remember how gutted I was!

I knew from a very early age, around 4ish but it didn't spoil a thing. I still loved Christmas and still do. My almost 6 year old grandson is questioning the elf so it won't be long before he asks about Santa.

I remember when my seven year old said that , I just said are u mad do you think I would buy a present for you and then say someone else bought it !! I’m far to mean to do that. He never mentioned it again for a few years.

I was the youngest child and was told right from the start that there was no Father Christmas, no tooth fairy. Didn't do me any harm.

Unfortunately it's all part of growing up but speak to him away from his little brother and say that he needs to keep it magical for him. The issue is if he's worked it out and you continue the charade he will think you're dishonest and question anything you tell him. He's obviously quite clever which is good.

I just said that while they believe in Santa he'll keep leaving presents but if they say he doesn't exist then the presents will obviously stop. They still believe in Santa even thought they're both in their 20s now.

PNP Santa Claus video? They always do a free one.

If it's any consolation my DD lost a tooth at school and the teacher handed me a little bag with the tooth in at pick-up time. 'For the tooth fairy,' said teacher. 'Oh, we all know the tooth fairy's really just mummy and daddy' says kiddo loudly, rolling her eyes. 'Just like Santa.'
She was 4 and a whole load of her reception class heard her 🙄.

Think of it as a milestone

When mine said this, I reminded them that we’d all seen Rise of the Guardians, so all knew the truth! I personally think it’s nice to believe in magic.

It's unfortunate he said in front of his sibling, it would have been nice for them to come to the realisation by themselves, but seems a fair age for him to know.

My parents told me that as soon as I stop believing in Santa I would stop getting presents from him. Bought them another two years!

Stopped. I don't believe in Santa anymore.

My sister took her son aside and explained that some very special parents are actually Santa's helpers, because obviously, he can't really get round the whole world in a day... and SHE was one of the special parents, but don't tell anyone because it's a secret. He was very proud!

Our 10 year old asked this year, he's going to secondary school in September, he's fallen out badly with his friend who said father Xmas is fake. We asked him what he thought and he still wants to believe, I'm not quite sure how we are going to broach the subject with him, but it needs to happen fairly soon. It's going to break his little heart. One last Christmas I think x

I realised Santa wasn't real when I'd hear about the extensive shit other kids got meanwhile I got school shoes I thought he hated me and cried my brother told me the truth I was six

@Stompythedinosaur

I would neither confirm nor deny. I tend to say things like "do you think?" Or "people believe different things".

While I am certain my 10yo know perfectly well that santa isn't real, on christmas eve she will want to believe it might be true, so I leave space for that.

This is what I do.

Mine know it’s not true. But sometimes, even though you know something is impossible, hope is important.

I tell mine I believe in magic, and I’m not lying when I say that. There is magic - it doesn’t need to mean the same thing as flying reindeer.

My dad was Santa Claus for every group round and about as he had white hair and a white beard from when he was 35. So my younger brothers and sister knew Santa wasn't real. But they still put out the sherry, mince pie and carrot for years! I refused to take part and was warned I wouldn't get presents. My response was "I don't care. I don't believe in Xmas." The deal became I would get a couple of small gifts and a Rupert Annual, and my dad would collect money from relatives who would have given me a present and put it in a bank account that I got when I was 18.

If you don't believe, you don't receive always worked/works here.

I told my son when he was 8. He was confused as to how Father C had given him presents which had already been under our tree. I just told him and he was really shocked, he'd had no idea. He's 10 now and still says the truth is disappointing! Which, I suppose, it is.

DD now 17 asked when she was about 9 or 10. I could tell that she wasn’t totally sure and so said something about magic and belief and are you sure you want to know. She didn’t

I’ve never had the conversation with my 16 & 12 year old, although of course they know. I’m pretty sure my 10 year old still believes.

My parents still talk about Father Christmas as if he’s real. It’s part of the magic surely

My 6 year old nephews school teacher told his whole class santa isn't real and the presents are bought by family. I was really annoyed and wanted to ask the teacher why she thought it was ok to spoil the magic but my DSis wasn't that bothered

We just tell them all you "have to believe to receive" this means the older ones keep quiet (with knowing winks or they won't receive their gaming accessories) and the younger ones can enjoy believing.

@Lushplease

My dc are 10&12 and I'm still evasive if anything's mentioned about Santa not being real. DS - "I know it's you Mum. Santa is in no way real". Me- Oh, are you sure? ( Change subject).

I've never confirmed anything and it has kept a little spark of magic imo.

Totally agree with this! I always just say ok if that’s what you think. Kids aren’t daft, they work it out. Why is there a need to take away the magic? My kids know it’s me, I know it’s me but we all play along and it adds to the atmosphere on Christmas Day.

Mine were 7. We told DD1 to keep it quiet because her little sister still believed and because she deserved the chance to work it out for herself. We praised DD1 for figuring it out. No magic lost, she felt it was a step towards growing up and kept schtumm until DD2 worked it out, also at 7.

We never had a conversation about it, but at some point my DCs presumably stopped believing. They still played along with it and still do even now at 13 and 16 😆

Obviously, they know. And I know they know. And they know I know they know. But we all pretend anyway. Not in any elaborate sort of way; all quite tongue in cheek but it makes Christmas feel special anyway. ❤️

I am 43 but my lovely MIL does me a stocking with gifts in it from ‘Santa’. When I open them, I thank Santa for the presents 😂