Christmas
There's no way an 11/12 year old still be lives in Santa...
OvO · 04/08/2016 14:36
Is there?
Mine is 11.8 and talks as if he's still real. I'm 99% sure he knows but is carrying it on for me.
I can't question him as what if he does still believe and I ruin it!
He's deferred so just finished P6 (Y5) so is in with younger kids so there's a tiny possibility he might still be hanging onto the belief.
I know you lot will be rolling your eyes that I could possibly think a 11/12 year old still believes, and that I'm getting played. . He's definitely a young 11 though.
My 8 year old is suspicious but I think I can get one more Christmas out of him.
How old were you/your DC when you/they stopped believing?
BiddyPop · 04/08/2016 15:14
Well my 31 year old DB grew out of belief quite a few years ago - but he still leaves out a pair of socks for half a fruitbowl, a half pound box of nice sweets and a book from FC every Christmas Eve that he has stayed at home with our DPs. FC has never yet not come through for any and all of my DSiblings staying in that house on 24th December!!!
FayaMAMA · 04/08/2016 15:16
My youngest brother is 18 now, but when he was about 12/13 admitted that he believed he had seen Father Christmas' sleigh when he was younger... I later found out that my younger sister believed she had seen 'him' too. They both said it in a jovial way but you could almost tell that they still questioned the logic based on what they "saw" in the sky on Christmas Eve.
Even though they were the youngest siblings, by the time they were 8 and 10 years old my older siblings had started having children so the 'dream' carried on and there was never a break in generations 'believing' as such.
It's very likely that your 11 year old still believes.
SlightlyperturbedOwl · 04/08/2016 17:32
My 10 yr old doesn't, he did a secret grin to me last year that let me know he knew but was just being indulgent for his younger brother. I followed it up in private with him later and we agreed it was very magical believing, but now he gets to help make the magic
ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 04/08/2016 17:45
Most 10 year olds have thought through the logistics of an old man delivering presents on a sledge to all children in a short time frame and realised something doesn't add up (especially when he's still hanging around in the local shopping centre until it closes on Christmas Eve.)
PiggyPlumPie · 04/08/2016 17:51
My DD was just 11 last Christmas and genuinely still believed until DH made a comment about one of her stocking presents and she twigged. She didn't tell us until about Easter that she knew. No dramas - the older two told her its no less magical knowing.
Her friend on the other hand will not entertain being told Santa is not real, but also denies puberty will happen and says she is not going to secondary after the holidays.
BiddyPop · 04/08/2016 18:17
I forgot to add, our 10 yr old almost certainly doesn't believe but I don't totally rule out the chance that she might. Very logical, very clued in, clearly guided DH to ideas last year - but not a Dickie bird of a notion that she doesn't believe.
Christmas is special in our house though, and it has never been all about the presents or FC. Certain special books read together, the new PJs on Christmas Eve, particular walks and outings - so even when she no longer believes, it will still be magical for us all. Just slightly different.
WankersHacksandThieves · 04/08/2016 18:47
I think that mine at that age logically knew that he didn't exist but they were so desperate to believe that I think they convinced themselves :o
They are very clever but also quite gullible. I never ever said that he didn't btw - we just gradually came to an agreement that I can pretend he is real and they will play along but smile - they are 16 and 15 and definitely don't believe. We've just never had a conversation - you don't need to.
DramaAlpaca · 04/08/2016 18:55
I think that mine at that age logically knew that he didn't exist but they were so desperate to believe that I think they convinced themselves
This was my youngest DS at almost 12. He was absolutely devastated when his older cousin accidentally spilled the beans just before Christmas. He's 18 now & still hasn't properly forgiven his cousin for telling him.
DS1 worked it out aged 9, and DS2 was about 10 when he asked me to give him a straight answer. When he got over his devastation, DS3 was seriously pissed off about being lied to!
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