Help - Santa said no!!

[samwitwicky]

My DS has asked for a pet this year and unfortunately it isn't going to happen.

He's written to Santa and I thought maybe I'd write back to him explaining why he hasn't got a pet. Only I'm awful with stuff like this and have no creativity skills at all.

Anyone have any ideas?

Be wary about starting letters from Santa, because once started you can't stop, which makes it much harder to avoid questions! tooth fairy letters seemed so sweet, regretting it now! I very often fall back on 'I don't know' when there are difficult questions about Santa, which isn't possible if your child expects Santa to write back.

Likewise, telling your child that santa and parents speak is setting yourself up for difficult questions later.

Much better to keep it very general, from you, and not have to be all-knowing. 'I don't think santa gives pets: they're not presents'.

@Brieandcamembert

Drop the Santa bullshit for this and discuss it properly with him.

I have to admit this is what I did otherwise she'll start on about her birthday or ask to buy it with her Christmas money. I just said sorry no more pets.

I wouldn’t have thought there would be room on his sleigh and it would eat all the presents

Santa does not give pets for Xmas because pets are for life not just Xmas.

I'm surprised by the number of people saying Santa doesn't bring tech. Surely half their class will have gotten tech from Santa. How do you explain that?

I would tell the child now, no, Santa does not bring pets or does not bring things that your parents do not allow, or whatever.

By all means, write the letter if you want to, but as a back up to what you have already explained to the child, that this won't be happening.

@StrangerThanSpring

I'm surprised by the number of people saying Santa doesn't bring tech. Surely half their class will have gotten tech from Santa. How do you explain that?

Santa only brings things that he knows your parents don't mind you having. So santa never brought games consoles or mobile phones to our house.