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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To tell DD,9, that Santa does exist.

65 replies

Teddybeau1988 · 09/08/2014 16:50

Suddenly out of nowhere, like they do, DD asked me today if Santa really exists. She told me last Christmas she saw a bit of a TV programme where someone said ' it's worse than telling kids that Santas fake' , or words to that effect. DS then decided to projectile vomit his milk everywhere so I didn't respond. She's been sat on this for awhile, but only asked about it now.

I feel a bit sad. Like the magic of Christmas is going to be gone. We usually get really into the whole Santa thing. Letters, elf on the shelf, making mince pies for him ect.

She's nearly 9 and very bright so I'm surprised she hasn't questioned it before really.

Would I be mean to try to convince her she misheard the TV or that the person was incorrect?

OP posts:

RumBaaaabaaaa · 09/08/2014 20:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kiki0202 · 09/08/2014 20:48

DN asked me in May totally out of the blue we were walking across the road and she suddenly said I was going to ask you if santa is real :( I could have cried I was so sad but just said when I think he is real not sure what everyone else thinks and she accepted it. I was never told that santa was not real my mum just said I believe what do you think and at some point I must have decided for myself that he wasn't.

Sallystyle · 09/08/2014 20:50

My child first asked at age 3, almost 4 and I wasn't going to tell her he wasn't real at that young age.

supersop60 · 09/08/2014 20:53

My son is 10 and asked about FC recently because some of his friends had been talking about it at school. He suspected the truth but was quite devastated to have it confirmed. He'd always thought of FC as being one of the special people in his life.......

Discobugsacha · 09/08/2014 21:15

I don't think you should ever tell children directly "he's not real". They will all eventually realise and if you answer questions with a wink and "Santa only brings presents to those who believe", it makes christmas more magical and fun! I think believing until 11/12yo is totally normal ( and I expect my teens to pretend to believe!)

GhettoFabulous · 09/08/2014 23:42

I think I was about 7 when I found out, and I remember clearly feeling like everyone had been playing a massive joke on me and feeling incredibly embarrassed that I had been so gullible.

I didn't lie to my children. And they turned out just fine.

Madeyemoodysmum · 10/08/2014 00:00

I went to Lapland last year and he is 1000% real!

sashh · 10/08/2014 06:16

I once started a similar thread about my niece who was 11 and was completely surprised by the amount of respondents saying their children are 9/10/11/12 who still believe in Santa.

Well that's what the parents think.

One Christmas morning My brother asked me

Do you think FC is real. I said 'no' but then we discussed how our parents would feel and kept on pretending for years.

WilburIsSomePig · 10/08/2014 06:35

I think its a little silly for any poster to claim that no other child aged eg 9/10 will really still believe. How on earth would they know?

freyaW2014 · 10/08/2014 06:42

sashh I don't think that matters if you an your brother carried it on for your parents, much better than parents having to tell you. It's all about the kids so if they know then so be it but does it rally matter what the parents or children really think? Does that somehow make it awkward? It's sweet that you thought of them at that moment!

londonrach · 10/08/2014 07:47

Dsis dd (4) didn't like the idea if a random man coming into her bedroom so we meet Santa at the door to get the pressies.... Saves Santa a trip down the chimney

OpiesOldLady · 10/08/2014 08:08

My nine year old still believes - and if he's happy believing, I'm not going to stop him, why should I?

Idontseeanyicegiants · 10/08/2014 09:16

DS told me he didn't believe at age 10 but he said he had known since the previous Christmas so age 9 really (Christmas baby). He's 13 now and his sisters are 9 and 2, DD1 I think is having doubts, if she asks me I'll he honest -unless she asks on Christmas Eve!
DS likes to still pretend that he's real anyway for his Sisters, he's the only oldest child out of his mates and last Christmas they all spent a happy afternoon here being young and Christmassy with my younger 2

BabyDubsEverywhere · 10/08/2014 09:34

I remember asking my mom when I was in junior school. She said as long as I live in her house I will be putting out milk and mince pies on Christmas eve for santa as she didn't want to risk it she winked when she said it. I knew that it wasn't true but it was part of our Christmas and went with it.... until I moved out at 17!! I intend to do the same with mine :)

Meirasa · 10/08/2014 09:42

'As long as you believe in Sant, Santa will come, work like a charm on me!!

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