to have told the dc that the recession has probably affected Santa's pension fund..

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

Things are going to be a bit tight in our house this Christmas. The dc (7, 6 and 4) still have a much-cherished belief in Santa, that I in no way want to shatter (this is NOT an are-you-lying-to-your-child-if-you-encourage-Santa-belief thread, OK?? I love Santa, and his magic, as do my children, so please no replies about about how they are naive, you feel sorry for them due to my dishonesty etc)

I have explained to them about the recession and how elderly people in particular are getting less return on their pension funds (we did a brief tutorial on the markets) How the price of food (and reindeer food) is rising, and how businesses are struggling. How Santa has elves to pay, and may not be able to take on so many temp elves this Christmas, and therefore may not be able to make so many presents this year. How heating costs are rising (and, let's face it, even with as many layers of flab as Santa has, you're going to run up some gas bill at the North Pole)

My children have accepted Santa's precarious financial position, it seems, without too much fuss. (Let's face it, if Mrs Claus becomes unwell and he needs to become her carer, things could get worse- I spared them that part, though) But others have suggested I am being mean.

Is it mean to inject some financial reality into it, but still keep the Santa myth? After all, they will get presents, and still have all the excitement of "has he been??" I just don't want them to be disappointed, and I hate the whole idea that your parents pay Santa/ buy the main presents. To me, Santa is all or nothing. They have a few precious years of believing, and I don't want them to think they haven't got as much this year because of any fault on their part.

So AIBU? Or do you think the economic downturn will have affected Santa as I predict?

I think it's great that you can do this in a light-hearted way; dealing with it as a family. We always used to joke about being on the brink of ruin and I think it was far more helpful to us than trying to deny that money was sometimes tight.

Joolyjoolyjoo at the frog.....I wonder if the local wildlife centre or zoo has a scheme where you could sponsor a frog(??!) and have your name on a certificate, maybe? And tell him the frog is his but he needs to live in the pond there so that he can be near his friends and get exercise/go to frog school (as you can see, I have a lot of practice with creative excuses, starting first with my DNs when they were little!).

I realise this idea is one year late, but just in case anyone else has a DC asking for impossible pets for Christmas.

We've also had a few instances where he had to rewrite a letter to Father Christmas, eg "Sorry to change my mind, but I'd actually like a toy plane instead now. I have been very good (etc etc)" Of course the letter is written by me and he sort of squiggles a signature at the bottom. But at least they then realise there is a process for asking for things. And then the little extras are a bonus. (Just realising that the child isn't even 21 yet and already has his own secretary!!!)