I REALLY lied to DS2 last night, feeling guilty

[MrsSnape]

I took DS2 (almost 8) to see father christmas at school last night. He chatted with him about Darth Vader before coming out of the grotto with a present, all smiles.

On the way back to the car he said "well, that was either Phil the caretaker or Mr Coleman" I just didn't respond (but it WAS Phil the caretaker )

Anyway on the night he came over to me and said "ok, I want the truth...no fibs, no lies...JUST the truth...."

so I was like "...ok..." and he continued with "IS father christmas real?"

It completely threw me and I just said "yes, of course" I added "who would you think he wasn't?" so he said "because everyone at school says he isn't real and that its just your parents and aunties and grandparents that buy your presents..."

I felt really guilty at this point and just changed the subject but my lie has kind of confirmed to him that he DOES exist and all the other kids are wrong

Not sure what to do now, should I sit him down and explain the truth or let this one pass and be better prepared for next time? He's almost 8.

Given his age and the fact most of his friends seem to know the truth, TBH I would tell him if he brings it up again although perhaps say "Tell you what let's see what happens this Christmas and compare notes afterwards", so you don't spoil his last Christmas of believing so close to the actual occasion.

There comes a point that most kids would rather be "in the know" than be the baby of the group who still insists FC is real.

You should admit he is right about the FC at the school though, say how impressed you were at his observation and that there's clearly no fooling him etc. It is really mean if you convince him he's wrong when he was actually right on that one.

Kids remember things like that. For example, I remember my mum insisting I played the piano for my uncle when I was 8 and he got the giggles, probably because it was all so forced I could hear him stifling laughter behind me but Mum insisted I was wrong and he wasn't laughing at all, far from it etc. I knew she was lying and without knowing the word "patronising" I sensed that's what she was doing and it annoyed me far more than if she'd said "He did get the giggles, you were right".

Only 25 years later and I remember it like yesterday... the piece was Chim-Chimen-ee from Mary Poppins

Santa's not real???