DS (7) asking if Father Christmas really exists

[getyourshoesonNOW]

..because rumours are circulating his year 3 class that it's your mum and dad!

I've never liked the idea of the kids thinking presents just turn up by magic, so they've always known we bought some of them. I must admit I've always been pretty inconsistent - I can never remember from one year to the next if FC brings the stocking, or just one present, or if he just delivers everything.

I'm tempted to tell DS the truth - he's a really enquiring kid and I have always answered his questions honestly.

But I'd have liked his brother (just 6) believing for another year. There's no way he's be able to keep such a big secret!

aaagh! Should I destroy the magic?

I would reply with "What do youthink...?" and take it from there. No need to come out bluntly. I think explained properly there is a good chance he could avoid letting on to his brother.

Agree with soupdragon, dd1 keeps saying 'so and so said mum and dad bring the presents and fc is not real' i just say 'what do you think?' and she answers 'i think he's real and he uses magic like Harry Potter' . I think this year will be the last where she believes so we will make the most of it.

I wont lie to her (cant tell her 'he is real') so i just reverse the question.

The same thing happening here my DS is 7 I have DS 3 so don't want to spoil the magic. I just said that he doesn't need to worry who brings the presents it's a fairy tale and we can believe in the magic of Christmas yes it's parents but don't ask too many questions and believe in the magic, that wants important. Also told him not to say anything to others as they really like to believe he was happy with this and hasn't mentioned it again. We will take DS 3 to visit Santa when DS 7 goes to cinema with grandparents. It does seem a shame they grow up too soon.

Agree with SoupDragon, last year managed to be truthful for my DD (7 then) but she is also playing along beautifully for DD(5), no problem with keeping that secret. I like how cusionpad explained it!

My DD is also 7 and she said the same a couple of months earlier (DS10 had never said it!). She was insistent so I came clean but I have sworn them blind not to spoil it for their two little cousins. DS insists that DD spoiled it for him however ...

Am i the only one who is continuing with the lie? DS (also 7 asked). I said of course he's real and if you stop believing he might not fill your stocking. I followed it up with a video message from portable north pole.

DS1 (13) has never admitted that he doesn't believe :o

A friend's daughter reported "X and Y said Father Christmas isn't real, that it's your Mum and Dad."
"Are X and Y sometimes a bit naughty at school?"
"Yes"
"Does Father Christmas bring toys for naughty children?"
"No"
"So maybe they don't get anything from Father Christmas, just from their Mum and Dad?"
The magic lives on.

I would have liked to continue, but from things she said - like asking for a sample of my handwriting (!) - I knew that she already actually knew. I still say they need to believe in the magic if they want presents!

My 7 year old has asked a couple of questions but more to do with making sure he gets some presents than making sure FC is real. (How does he do xyz)

I LOVE Parachutes approach, thank you. Will keep that one in mind.

My DD told me she thinks it's really your mum and dad the other day. And she's only just 5! I couldn't bear to say yes, so after trying to fluff it, when she asked me outright, I lied and said that the big presents under the tree are from mum and dad but of course Father Christmas brings the stocking presents, it's magic!

DS who is 7 still believes (I think). He definitely still believes in the tooth fairy. He was pleased he lost a tooth the other day as he thinks his $3 is contributing to the family finances

I've always just said "it is up to you decide what you think".

So for several years we've been in that "he knows that I know that he knows that I know...."

Or as Ds1 put it "I don't really believe in FC but I like to pretend that I do because it makes xmas more fun"

:)

I'm also going to remember Parachute's explanation incase it comes up and I can eek out another year. Good one.

dd (6) queried this the other day after some helfpul input from her older brother

We had a gentle conversation - she didn't ask any outright questins and I didn't lie outright.

She was then distraught at the idea of not having the annual triup to santa - so although she'd starting to doubt, she's still loving the idea of santa. that's fine for me.

My DDs are now teenagers, but there was a little shit boy in DD1's class who told everybody every year, from Reception onwards that it was his Mum and Dad, and I was really peed off at first. Until I realised that DD1 thought he was a liar, and due to some stirling work on my part (use of Photoshop clone tool to change postmarks from the North Pole on an annual basis!) she continued to believe until she was about 9, at which point the thought of someone she didn't know sneaking into the house at night became a bit spooky!

I think the problem is one of consistency of tradition across the UK as a whole. In our family, FC brings stocking fillers only (so that, as one parent has said, DCs don't hang out for stuff that is way too expensive or out-of-stock) and everything under the tree comes from whoever's name is on the label. But one of DD1's friends used to believe that EVERYTHING they got came from FC, so she wondered why her parents/grandparents never bought her a Christmas present, when other children did get stuff from their families, and lived in dread and fear of FC not being real.

If DCs are old enough when they find out, they become part of the conspiracy on the other side, keeping it going for younger siblings/cousins, and in some ways it's just as fun .

Love your approach, Parachute!

SoupDragon, I've tried "What do you think?" and the answer is "I think it's you" so it didn't help much

I think it does help because you now know he doesn't really believe.