To find that parents with kids aged 10 insisting their children believe in Santa are creepy?

[ssd]

I know of some mums who insist their kids believe in santa and the kids are taller than me, whats wrong with kids NOT believing in santa?, doesn't make you a bad parent

I agree with cory, I don't want to lie to or choose to mislead my ds when he asks about santa

Don't think I actually said that, sicksanta. I didn't enlighten mine in any way, but then I didn't get upset when they worked it out anyway.

My DD 9 asked lots of questions last year and I don't think she 'believes' any more, but she won't admit it. I don't INSIST she believes, but I don't discourage it either.

completely agree with ssd.

Having a real person who will fill your stocking and do the reindeer dust sprinkling and carrot performance is magical.

Really believing that a fat man will break into your house on Christmas eve is not magical.

I think many children know the latter is illogical and in reality would be more than a little scary, but 'believe' because they are colluding with their parents to enable them to do the former.

ds1 is nearly 4 and has already twigged that Santa may not be the only provider of presents - he choose a present for ds2 this year and explained very seriously that santa wouldn't need to bring so many presents for ds2 because he himself had chosen this one and would hide it in the loft.
Plus he knew who sent all his presents last year - he helped make thank you cards, and he still sometimes says "Auntie Helen chose this train for me"

None of that stops him believing in Father CHristmas. Last year he thought that as he couldn't see Father Christmas by the presents, he must have gone to have breakfast in the kitchen. We had to explain that Father Christmas would have left to take presents to other children.

I remember one year I'd made lots of paper aeroplanes and wrote a country's name on each one and told my mum it was to help FC deliver presents all over the world. My Great Aunt was there at the time and just said to me "now come on, aren't you a little bit too old to believe in all of that". I remember feeling very embarrassed, silly and not just a little bit sad. Deep down I knew it wasn't real but there was no need for her to be so direct. What harm was I doing? I don't know how old I was ... 8 maybe? Still don't know to this day if my mum knew she was going to say it. Can't talk to my mum in case she did know and then she'd feel bad for knowing how much it upset me. My DDs can believe for as long as they want to. My view is you work it out so really don't need to be told either way.

ssd: I think your question has more to do with you than with the matter itself. In several posts you've written "it doesn't make me a bad mother" or words to that effect. Has anyone made you feel like a bad mother? If so, that's awful. Some kids just grow out of it sooner than others. And even if your kids didn't naturally grow out if iteven if you chose to tell themthat doesn't make you a bad mother. So I think maybe you're projecting, which is fine--we all do that. But the problem is that you're making other people feel bad about the way they've handled things, in the same way you seem to feel bad (needlessly).

all I can say is that am as so glad my mum did all she could to make the magic last.

I loved it all and want my kids to experience the same.

I they work it out fine, but it won;t be through lack of effort on my behalf.