DS "smells a rat" re FC

[DocBrown]

We were talking about Christmas and what he would like from Father Christmas the other day and he said "ummmm I smell a rat about that Mum". He is 9 and has not said as such that he doesn't believe but it is pretty clear that he doesn't.

My boy is growing up - now I just need help in getting him not to tell his brother (6). Any ideas?

I find it so strange that children seem to believe so late on these days... Has it really changed or did I just have a very cynical childhood?

I can't remember ever really believing, but colliding in the idea as everyone wanted me to pretend I believed... I loved the idea but knew from I think 4yrs that it wasn't true. I may have given the impression I believed but I'm not sure.

Thinking about it, it was confirmed for me when he failed to deliver the baby elephant in the back garden I wanted so much. I tied the two up together and I think my parents just said stuff like 'oh well if you believe it will happen' instead of buying into the whole thing more and perhaps mentioning that baby elephants wouldn't fit in his sack!

I think it depends on the child but also the parents. We are a very 'Christmassy' family so I think that extended it for our daughter. Some may find it strange 9 & 10 year olds believing but mine really did and she's not particularly gullible. I just think I'm good at keeping the magic going. She burst into tears at bedtime on Christmas Day last year and said she had seen me with the stocking (she was 11). I knew she'd been iffy all year but she definately believed the years before. She had asked the usual questions over the years but I think kids will believe if they really want to. She even seemed quite smug 'knowing' that some parents have to leave presents because FC doesn't come if you don't believe.

I remember xmas being pretty carp once you knew, no stocking & gifts becoming nail polish & pants. We will be keeping stocking going for her as our son is 4 (he's a cynic so I wonder how long he will believe!). I can't imagine ever stopping even when they are grown up.

ringaringarosy

What's wrong with still believing at 10 years old?
My dc believe in Christmas, don't yours?
There will always be Christmas here.

But why can't you believe in Christmas without believing in Father Christmas? Don't tell me the stockings and the traditions all stop in your houses once they don't believe any more????????

theres nothing WRONG with believing at 10,i just think its funny people are so insistent their kids believe it at that age,when im guessing lots of them dont.

We dont actually do father christmas,we do have a tree and have presents though,they know about the story of jesus but thats as real to us as father christmas really.I dont ever remember genuinley believing in father christmas,i dont feel like ive missed out tbh,you dont miss what you dont have.

we never had stockings,ive got them for my lot this year,but they know that all the presents are from us!they are 5,4,3 and 1.

I suppose its each to their own, but I feel sorry for kids who don't have FC it just seems wrong and depriving them somehow.
Of course it is believable that some dc continue to believe when others have stopped. I don't think they should believe in secondary though as they could get bullied. I do know one person who believed until about 15 and at first I thought her mum was joking. She had younger siblings who didn't believe and carried it on for their older sister.
We are all different and Christmas is ace whatever you believe.

My mother stuck to the you have to believe of you want presents rule and she still does

Means you can be cool in the playground but fervently believe in front of family

Morethan- you dont need to feel sorry for my kids theyre not being deprived of anything,except being lied to.

To me.its such a small trivial thing,i dont see how anyone can honestly "feel sorry" for kids who dont believe in it,its silly.

You only think that because it goes against what is seen as normal in our society.