I think I've broken my child's heart....

[AlphaAlpha]

It sounds dramatic, but I'm bereft.

Thought my 9 year old had gone to bed, so up to my room I go, into the dressing room off the bedroom and retrieve the Santa stocking from the boiler cupboard to shove something in it...

In walks 9 year old.
Saw everything (well the sack and one long wrapped present, the rest are in the bottom)
I let out a noise that can only be described as a feral cat crossed with Michael Jackson.

Yes child is 9, and could possibly have an inkling but I didn't want it this way. They looked crestfallen, claims they didn't see anything, and looked very sheepish going back to bed.

Arse.

[Morestrangethings]

@Notarealmum

Don’t worry! I honestly think many kids pretend they believe in Santa long after they stop doing, so as not to disappoint their parents (I know I did!) 😃

I was much older than my brothers and sisters so I got more than my fair of presents off ‘Santa’ for years. I was asked by my parents to pretend for years. The Christmas before I left home to go to uni was the first ‘Santa free’ Christmas I experienced. It was a good gig while it lasted.

[Mumoffairy]

Aww i know how you feel! This happened to me on easter with DS when he was 6.
He hid behind the sofa with binoculars looking out the window. I got up in the early hours to hide the eggs and chocolates. He heard me and jumped out from behind the sofa scaring me to death. All the eggs went flying, i started scolding DS 🙈 He figured out everything and hasnt believed in anything (easter bunny, santa, tooth fairy) since.

Dont worry, at 9 she probably already knew anyways.
DS still remembers and tells everyone how he caught me. He finds it hilarious..

[Soakitup37]

@ZeldaWillTellYourFortune

Not to be mean, but maybe by age 9 they should know to knock before entering someone's private space? It's a useful life skill.

Ah yes… let’s make it about something entirely different, assuming everything about the family set up and sets up the op to be a terrible parent somehow cos the child didn’t knock 🙄(they may have but this just wasn’t mentioned) in fact my 8yo never has a need to knock in the night for my attention. Or ever in fact coz they’re kids.

[Sugarfree23]

Label it from you and the stuff she didn't see from Santa.

[Barelyable]

@Soakitup37 totally agree, this gets my goat!
Such an irrelevant comment designed to criticise something of absolutely no consequence.
Anyway OP...hopefully you manage to style it out!

[CoalCraft]

They already knew, were keeping it going for your sake, and then felt awkward that your secret was revealed so unceremoniously.

At least that's how it was for me when a similar thing happened.

[countrygirl99]

Well before that age we had worked out that my parents and a neighbour hid each others Santa presents so we were topping each other off and our parents thought we still believed. No way were we letting on on case the presents stopped. Your child is probably panicking that they've blown it rather than heartbroken about a revelation.

[HangingOver]

Do 9 year olds actually believe in Santa? I remember being much younger when I looked at the size of our chimney and the size of an adult man and decided it was made up. It's just a game isn't it?

[iRun2eatCake]

I second getting the another similar size gift... if you can at short notice.

Is it long and thin? If so B&M did a long box of jaffa cakes, or if she likes pringled could put a few tubes together

[bloodyeverlastinghell]

@Notarealmum

Don’t worry! I honestly think many kids pretend they believe in Santa long after they stop doing, so as not to disappoint their parents (I know I did!) 😃

I think they are concerned that they will get less presents when they stop “believing” so they don’t say anything

[Scalottia]

Broken her heart? That's a little dramatic. I agree with PP, knocking first might have avoided this.

[Haveahappyholiday]

Children only stop believing when they’re ready to. My dc still believed at 11 despite all the evidence. I had to tell them before they went to high school.

[Lillygolightly]

The year my eldest DD had not long tuned 8, it was Christmas Eve and the kids were in bed and I was tucking into some baileys while wrapping presents in front of the fire when she came downstairs for a drink. I was so busy rustling wrapping paper that I didn’t hear her come down, she walked into the living room saw me and the presents and immediately smacked her hands over her eyes and backed out of the room, it was quiet funny really. I followed her out the room and got her a drink and explained that Santa had just been but that with Santa being a very busy man he didn’t have time to wrap all the presents so mummy had stayed awake to wrap them up. She seemed happy enough with the explanation thankfully.

[TiddleyWink]

Sorry you’re upset OP. As an aside, I’ve been genuinely baffled this hear to realise quite how many children apparently believe in Santa towards the age of 10. My son is just turned six and honestly I’m pretty sure he knows it’s all completely made up, from a few comments he’s made, but loves the whole ‘theatre’ of the Santa stuff. I assumed that’s what all kids do - and I haven’t told him anything, I totally play along with the idea of Santa.

It’s just such a completely bizarre story/idea that I’m astounded any NT child of school age actually believes it all TBH! Maybe they’re all just pretending for their parents 🤣

[MsMcGonagall]

I'm with Tiddlywinks. When, and how, were you thinking of telling your child about Santa?

[MrsWhites]

I also think buy a similar shaped present to wrap in original paper and re-wrap the present she spotted.

When you say long and thin, how big are we talking, b&m have had super long fluffy water bottles for about £10, could they pass for the same shape?

[Andsoforth]

Ah no op! It does sound like she might have already known. There would surely have been a flurry of questions otherwise.

You guys will laugh so much telling this story on future Christmases.

[ReneBumsWombats]

She already knew and she just enjoys the experience and going along with it. That's why she claims not to have seen it and will still have a lovely time on Christmas morning.

[ReneBumsWombats]

As an aside, I’ve been genuinely baffled this hear to realise quite how many children apparently believe in Santa towards the age of 10.

They don't, the parents just really want them to. The kids go along with it because they enjoy it and don't want to ruin it for their parents.

[JM88Jen]

I wouldn't worry too much. Just carry on and go with it. My mother had to sit me down to tell me the truth just before I started secondary as I still really believed 😄 I cried and told her she was a liar! My daughter is 10 and pretty sure she knows the deal now but goes along with it for her younger siblings xxx

[WaddleAway]

@TiddleyWink

Sorry you’re upset OP. As an aside, I’ve been genuinely baffled this hear to realise quite how many children apparently believe in Santa towards the age of 10. My son is just turned six and honestly I’m pretty sure he knows it’s all completely made up, from a few comments he’s made, but loves the whole ‘theatre’ of the Santa stuff. I assumed that’s what all kids do - and I haven’t told him anything, I totally play along with the idea of Santa.

It’s just such a completely bizarre story/idea that I’m astounded any NT child of school age actually believes it all TBH! Maybe they’re all just pretending for their parents 🤣

There are grown adults who believe in ghosts, God, horoscopes and all manner of ridiculous and unscientific concepts, yet people are shocked that children believe in something that they’ve been told is true repeatedly for their entire lives?

[FlounderingFruitcake]

She’s 9!!! If she doesn’t already know (which is more likely than not) then she’s at the right age to find out anyway. Just carry on as normal with a knowing wink! No need to double down by writing letters or anything like that.

[Pinkittens]

Maybe she looked the way she did as she unexpectedly caught you in the act, rather than being surprised/shocked about Santa?

I think only very small children, like under 6's, truly believe. After that there's likely some playground chat which casts seeds of doubt, even if they aren't sure. It's unusual to get to 9 without any doubts at all. Some critical thinking tends to creep in - children can be so logical. How does Santa get around all the world in one night, how would he fit down even a normal size chimney, etc.

[Irisheyesareshining]

You would be very naive if you think the kids at school don’t talk about whether Santa is real ! I know it’s upsetting and spoils the Christmas magic but you have to be realistic!

[birder]

I slept in my parents room when I was very small and saw them put the presents at the end of my bed. I also had 3 older brothers who told me that Father Christmas wasn't real, so I never believed.

The thought of some old man coming down the chimney and creeping about when I was asleep sounded pretty horrible to me anyway. I still loved Christmas, I don't think I missed out on anything.