parents who tell their children about Santa are liars. AIBU to find this statement a bit harsh?

[Branno]

A woman at school said that she could not look her children in the eye if she told them about Santa and encouraged the myth. Parents who do are liars according to her. I asked her if she did not think it was a bit harsh (the liar bit) and she said no, because they are.
So, AIBU to find that statement a bit hash?

YANBU - WTF is happening with people?!

It's meant to be magical, it's meant to be exciting. She sounds so smug and perfect it's pathetic.

Oh God she sounds too worthy for words, I'd be sorely tempted to make a rude noise at her.

She would say that...she got a lump of coal in her tights last year.

One of my idiot relatives refuses to allow her DD to fully believe in FC, as she feels that she should get credit for buying the presents herself. From a five-year-old. Makes me so sad that parents don't just let their children 'believe'. They have plenty of time to be 'realistic' about it when they are older.

usual Christ they are all happening at once these threads. At this rate they'll be over and done with by 1st Dec.

Oh, and if you don't believe you don't arsing well receive in our house. Or words to that effect.

YABU. People who tell their kids Santa is bringing presents ARE lying (me included). But sometimes it's nice to lie - like when you think someone is hideously ugly but you say they look nice.
People who tell very young kids that Santa doesn't exist are miserable sods imo.

I am a liar.

I BELIEVE.

I make sure I get the credit for most of the gifts though. Santa brings what he gets asked for in the grotto and the stockings. All the rest is from me. I don't want the kids thinking that Santa and all the rest of their family/friends have bought her gifts and I haven't bothered! I do have to make sure me and Santa have different wrapping paper though or dd would be asking questions.

I think that you just have to ignore these people and assume that they didn't have a good relationship with their own parents or that their parents did Christmas badly.
I believe in giving DCs magic. My parents gave it to me and nothing can take away they memory of the magical idea of reindeer on my roof. When I found out I knew exactly why they had done it and kept it up for my brothers.
My DCs were the same and the appreciated it and worked it out in their own time. They knew before they really wanted to let on with all the questions about fireplaces etc. When they were ready they asked me outright and I told them the truth. I am positive they will give their own DCs the joy of it.

I would agree RomanKindle, Santa bringing everything isn't something I have come across before MN. If I give presents they are from me-I don't have an arrangement with Santa-he brings his own stocking presents.

Well, technically she's right.

is there a santa who comes down your chimney and leaves gifts?

no.

So telling your kids there is is telling them a lie. It is not the truth. Opposite of truth is lie.

It's not being harsh, it is being accurate

However, it's fun to tell the kids this lie. And the one about the tooth fairy, and the easter bunny. It's nice that, just for a little while, they inhabit this magical place that you used to inhabit, once upon a time.

There was a thread on here last year started by some cheeky mare who was shocked her MIL was offended that they had removed the tags from her gifts to pretend the were from Santa! Too much hassle imo.

I'm a right pedantic opty outy sort of atheist secular rationalist type. You can bet Santa comes to our house on Santa Day.

No tooth fairy tho, she's scary.

The world would be a very cruelplace if everyone stuck to the truth!
There are hurtful 'lies', kind 'lies' and fun 'lies' and it is sad if people can't tell the difference. I could tell the difference at 6yrs, when my friend felt the urge to tell me the 'truth'. I was very happy that my parents had made it magical for me.

(I remember the thread about removing labels)

How does she know FC doesn't exist? Just because she hasn't seen him, doesn't make him any less real. Same goes for the tooth fairy.

I wouldnt call it lying, i would say that it is a parents perogative if they want to sheild their children from all the horrible things in this world with a bit of fun and magic, untill their innocence wears off for good. i am a christian and despite trying my best not to tell fibs, I will deffo be telling the santa one to my DD as early as poss!

My mum still insists that I pay lip service to believing in FC or I won't get a stocking.

A cautionary tale to all you honest mums. To stop her being laughed at in mainstream school, told DD Down syndrome age 8 that FC was just a story and it was Pa who put presents at the end of her bed. However this was a secret and she must not tell other younger childrten.
Move on to Easter. Pa went to collect her from school, talking to head teacher and other parents.
Copnversation:
"Dad we've got a secret haven't we?"
Pa pales
"It's you that comes into my bedroom at night"
Pa sweats
"I must not tell anybody must I ?"
Pa hears cell door closing behind him
"It you who leaves my presents not FC!"
Pa has not recovered (DD now 23!!)

If you don't believe you don't get presents.

And I still hear the bell tinkle.

Father Christmas is the personification of such joy and so many wonderful ideals that I wonder what is gained by the people who so passionately oppose the perpetuation of the myth?