Can you remember how you felt when you found out Santa was not real?

[username30473]

Me and DH both come from backgrounds where we did not celebrate Christmas/believe in Santa.
We now have two young DC and we have started to celebrate Xmas over the last few years since they were born. Now the DC are becoming aware of Santa mostly from school. We have just gone along it with mainly due to me not wanting them to feel left out. DH however said last night he is abit concerned about when they find out and realise we have been lying to them. I just if you could remember finding out and how you felt?

@amusedbush I asked the same question about the lack of chimney when I was four and my mum also told me that Father Christmas has a magic key! I totally bought it at that age, though.

Pleased that I was in on a secret with my big brothers. Excited about fitting all the clues together.

This Christmas Dd1 remembered she’d forgotten to ask for something she wanted on her list… she said “that’s okay, I’ll ask Santa!” She’s 14 and I was
I’m sure she does know really but wants it to be true. Most dc realise and think cool, my parents are more amazing than I ever imagined, creating childhood memories and magic.

What?!

@RampantIvy

I look back now and appreciate what my parents did to make the magic seem so real, the little details, and I have so many fond memories.

You have summed up exactly how my Christmas was like as a child.

I feel this way too. Neither me not siblings were upset and don't remember a realisation moment, more a slow burn. Definitely a bit of not saying out loud we didn't believe anymore, just in case!

Gradual realisation. My mum always said ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies which was an excellent response to asking when I was 6 or 7.

When we got older Mum said (tongue in cheek as we were teens) if we didn't believe then there'd be no stockings. So we never said anything and carried on getting stockings until we left home 😆.

It was only stockings from FC though, never anything else.

I was absolutely gutted. I didn't feel lied to or betrayed though. But I do remember the feeling of finding out felt heart wrenching.

I gradually realised and it was no big deal and nothing changed. My kids have all realised around 10 years old, just before going to secondary - they certainly weren't quick at it!

My db revealed all to me. I was 11 and he showed me the operation game in my mum and dad’s wardrobe. I wasn’t best pleased with him more than anything. I liked the surprise element and still do.

My bf told me very smugly, and said if I searched I’d find the presents (which I did) so I asked my dm. She gave me a glib answer about Santa coming to those who believe, which she is still immensely proud of today. But I needed her to be with me in that moment, not brushing me off. I remember feeling cold and quite lonely.

I can't remember ever believing and can't imagine how I would have. I was into fairytales and myths at a very young age and was aware what fiction was, I think that the first time I became aware of Santa I just assumed he was a myth. One of my earliest school memories is announcing that to my primary school class and feeling so confused, almost like I was an alien, when some of the other kids started crying etc.

@insancerre

It’s a gradual realisation You work it out but hope you’re wrong

This.

I was 11 and saw my mum sneaking into my room with my stocking, I didn’t say anything and kept going along with it as my brother was 3 years younger.
There’s 2 ways to look at it...
You’ve been lying to them or you’ve been making thier child hood memorable by keeping the magic alive. That’s how I saw it, as a mum now I defo appreciated all the effort my mum went through to make it special for us.

You're right, it is a lie BUT it's what makes Christmas magic for young children. Some lies (okay not many) are okay to tell and this is a lie children love to be told.

My parents and grandparents did the whole 'Father Christmas' thing. It brought me so much joy I can't even tell you. I remember lying in bed one Christmas Eve when I was about 10, my mind whirring, pieces of the jigsaw fitting together and it dawned on me - my parents were FC and the real Santa was ficticious. Was I crushed or devastated? No, not really, because I was old enough to handle the truth and realised WHY I had been told this 'lie'. It was to give me happiness and no other reason (and it worked for ten years). I may have had a couple of little tears as a little light of childhood innocence was extinguished but honestly, I was fine with it and went to tell my parents I'd worked it out.

Magic is only magic if you believe in it, and I will instill this in my daughter as she grows (she has just turned two so hopefully many years of joy and magic to come).

Merry Christmas all!

I think I gradually realised it wasn't true, so when my mum confirmed my belief, it wasn't really a shock, and I never felt like Ind been lied to.

DS is currently 8, and I know front he way he talks that he is pretty sure Santa submit real, but he hasn't asked directly yet. I just say that Santa is really to all those who believe, and that Christmas is still a magical time of year for me, even as an adult. I don't think he'll feel desperately upset when it's confirmed, and that will be on his terms, when he is ready to directly ask.

Just to add, my parents kept some magic going, as right up until I left home, I never knew what I was getting, and I never saw presents until Christmas morning.

As per my pp, it dawned gradually. And I can’t remember how old I was, but I do remember vociferously arguing with girls at school that of course Father Christmas was real - my parents couldn’t possibly have afforded those stocking presents for 4 of us. And I firmly believed it.

But then I was aware from a very young age that money was always extremely tight.

Which made me all the more grateful later for the effort my DPs made, to make Christmas so magical.

I figured it out when I was really little because Santa always had the same wrapping paper as us and he never got me what I asked for. I don't remember being upset, but I remember keeping it a secret from my parents so they wouldn't be upset.