Dd just told me she doesn't believe in father christmas. I feel really sad.

[jmh740]

Randomly chatting watching x factor and 10year old dd said she doesn't believe in father christmas any more. I feel quite sad it's like the magic has gone, I've told her not to tell her 8 year old brother. Half of me thinks I should have tried to convince her he does I was just a bit shocked it came from nowhere.

I'm sure they don't believe anymore, in fact the less vocal my daughter is on the matter, the more convinced I am that she no longer believes. But she does still believe in the sense of 'magic' that the idea of FC brings and so do I.

Believing in the (inverted commas) 'magic' of Father Christmas and playing along for the sake of younger siblings, parents or wider family is entirely different to actually believing that a magic man visits all the boys and girls on Christmas Eve and comes down their chimneys delivering presents.

I bet there are hardly any 10-12 year olds who really believe, and a lot who are playing along. How anyone can be comfortable thinking that their child might be starting starting secondary school truly believing that there's a magical man who flies a sleigh powered by magic reindeer helped by magical elves who builds toys in a magical factory in the North Pole. Yes, I am prepared to say that these kids aren't too bright...

T E N !!

I wonder how many years she has been humouring you

What a limited mind set you have there EMM. At least you're consistent though.

To me, it's more incredible that children and adults can completely and utterly follow the 'teachings' of people who, to me, are as mythical as FC.

There is no doubt, even among atheist scholars, that the man, Jesus Christ existed. I am not sure why you you find it incredulous that people would follow the teaching which is basically to love your fellow man.

I am not so sure what is so great about believing in magic. A belief in magic makes people vulnerable to control and manipulation and nowhere is this seen more than through warninjgs of Santa watching.

We're happy to accept some kids aren't very bright, right?

How is not being able to tell the difference between fantasy and reality (at the age of 12) not a pretty good guide to that??

There is no doubt, even among atheist scholars, that the man, Jesus Christ existed.

There certainly is some doubt about this: www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/12/18/did-historical-jesus-exist-the-traditional-evidence-doesnt-hold-up/?utm_term=.b0f1476ed848

DD was born a sceptic and never believed. I had to remind her not to tell the other kids when she started school. She never gave it away. Being a non believer hasn't spoiled her enjoyment of the Christmas 'magic' at all, she still gets excited at nearly 13.

I often read your posts EMM and think you must be so bored in your RL, you're so often on here goading and spoiling for a fight, makes me wonder if you're trying to alleviate your boredom?

That's a far more confrontational, personal and rude post, MsGame, than anything I've written.

A belief in magic makes people vulnerable to control and manipulation and nowhere is this seen more than through warninjgs of Santa watching. Brilliant. Proper laughed

I think we are going to have to agree to disagree on that one. Sorry if you're upset though.

Consistently goady, unpleasant and attacking posts to me indicate someone getting something out of getting a rise out of others. When pondering what this could be, surely concluding it could be alleviating boredom is not a particularly nasty or outlandish assumption to make?

Am so glad MN wasn't round in the 70's - Christmas would have been shite.
Kids aren't daft but they mostly would like to believe, even if they don't, because it's fun.
Pretending to believe is also fun for them. Leave the bairns alone.
Some right miserable boots on this thread

I'm not upset, thanks, and would suggest life's too short to become so due to the opinions of some randoms on the internet.

It's the characterisation of my posts as consistently goody, unpleasant and attacking that I think is unreasonable. Or, at least, I think being called a cunt or cunty by more than one poster is more clearly unpleasant than anything I've said.

Again we are going to have to agree to disagree because I find that your posts are exactly as I have described them.

So glad you're not upset though

who would have thought Christmas was so decisive

Peace love and goodwill people

Tbf, Insulting people's kids and calling them stupid is just about as offensive as you can get.

If you read the thread again, you'll see that

a) no-one's called anyone's child "stupid", and

b) just about everyone's child on the thread, including the original poster's, worked it out for themselves by age 10/11.

My children don't believe in fc jc nor "magic". They enjoy the decorations, the building excitement to a celebration and visiting family and presents and indulgent food.
There's plenty to enjoy without fairy stories and religion do relax, find things to enjoy together for the season. Make up family fun traditions that are real. Enjoy the moments more than the fantasy.

Pmsl at the kid who stopped believing at 3 😂😂