Teacher Tells First-Graders There's No Santa Claus

[vbhoutex]

I figured it all out on my own when I was 4 years old. I can't believe 6 year olds still believe it.

I was really angry at my parents for lying to me.

Why can't you believe it? What is wrong with children having fantasies?

[southerngale]

I figured it all out on my own when I was 4 years old. I can't believe 6 year olds still believe it.

I was really angry at my parents for lying to me.

To quote Buzz Lightyear: You are a sad, strange little man, and you have my pity.

[Derek Ortt]

The reaosn I will tell the truth to my kids is 2 fold

1. By lying, it tells them that its OK to lie under some circumstances. NOT IN MY HOUSE. I hate being lied to and totally reject thsoe who lie to me, regardless as to who they are, so I will not lie myself and be a hypocrit

2. I feel bad that I did not celebrate Christmas properly as a child, thinking about the Lord. That is by far the part of the day that brings the most happiness... the other parts are auxillary and at times, a waste of my time, that I could spend thinking about the gift God gave to me. I want my children, when I have them, to experience the gift of God's love at a young age, and not miss out as I did

[Brent]

I figured it all out on my own when I was 4 years old. I can't believe 6 year olds still believe it.

I was really angry at my parents for lying to me.

To quote Buzz Lightyear: You are a sad, strange little man, and you have my pity.

LOL!

I wasn't "angry" at my parents... and neither was my sister.

[wxmann_91]

I don't see why that deserves disciplinary action...although I also don't see why the teacher just had to tell her students that Santa Claus doesn't exist.

[zoeyann]

2. I feel bad that I did not celebrate Christmas properly as a child, thinking about the Lord. That is by far the part of the day that brings the most happiness... the other parts are auxillary and at times, a waste of my time, that I could spend thinking about the gift God gave to me. I want my children, when I have them, to experience the gift of God's love at a young age, and not miss out as I did

That is wonderful. My thing is you can do both. Santa came after we went to bed from midnight mass. And I wasn't worried about Santa at church. i love Christmas services, especially putting baby Jesus in the manger. When we went Christmas caroling we sang "Silent Night" as well as "Santa Claus is coming to town. Last year santa showed up at the end of mass. I guess my parents intergrated the more childlike aspects of Christmas with the actual true meaning of the holiday that I do not feel like I missed out on anything.

[Miss Mary]

When my husband and I had children old enough to open and receive presents from Santa, I clearly remember him telling me, late Christmas Eve mind you, that his parents never wrapped gifts. He was one of 6 children so they each came downstairs Christmas Day morning, to find their 'pile'. Because they wrote their lists weeks prior, they knew which pile was theirs. By this time, the 24th, I was frazzled, worn out and I will admit, I wanted to take this easy way out.

So we began assembling their gifts in piles or groupings. One year Nina wanted a chalkboard, so I wrote on it Merry Christmas Nina, Love, Santa. Instead of wrapping it.

But the really funny thing was during dinner one night, Laura was all upset. She said we never gave them xmas gifts. I said what? Santa does, along with your Grandparents, Godparents, Aunts/Uncles! She was still upset and said something to this effect - we've been talking at school, and most kids get one or two gifts from their parents, they're wrapped and everything! The rest are from Santa....you don't even give us a stinking keychain! This was when putting 20 keychains from past vacations/outings on their backpacks was popular. I swear I could barely keep a straight face. When she learned the truth, she said oh now I get it, YOU guys bought those gifts!!!! So you really did give me gifts......uh huh! We still tease her about the keychain bit....LOL

Mary

[arkess7]

The reaosn I will tell the truth to my kids is 2 fold

1. By lying, it tells them that its OK to lie under some circumstances. NOT IN MY HOUSE. I hate being lied to and totally reject thsoe who lie to me, regardless as to who they are, so I will not lie myself and be a hypocrit

2. I feel bad that I did not celebrate Christmas properly as a child, thinking about the Lord. That is by far the part of the day that brings the most happiness... the other parts are auxillary and at times, a waste of my time, that I could spend thinking about the gift God gave to me. I want my children, when I have them, to experience the gift of God's love at a young age, and not miss out as I did

Well just like you said........you dont have kids .....YET..........you might say this now.......but take it from anyone who has children..........HAVING A BABY CHANGES EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!! and alot of things you say now.....wont mean jack in the future

[O Town]

When my husband and I had children old enough to open and receive presents from Santa, I clearly remember him telling me, late Christmas Eve mind you, that his parents never wrapped gifts. He was one of 6 children so they each came downstairs Christmas Day morning, to find their 'pile'. Because they wrote their lists weeks prior, they knew which pile was theirs. By this time, the 24th, I was frazzled, worn out and I will admit, I wanted to take this easy way out.

So we began assembling their gifts in piles or groupings. One year Nina wanted a chalkboard, so I wrote on it Merry Christmas Nina, Love, Santa. Instead of wrapping it.

But the really funny thing was during dinner one night, Laura was all upset. She said we never gave them xmas gifts. I said what? Santa does, along with your Grandparents, Godparents, Aunts/Uncles! She was still upset and said something to this effect - we've been talking at school, and most kids get one or two gifts from their parents, they're wrapped and everything! The rest are from Santa....you don't even give us a stinking keychain! This was when putting 20 keychains from past vacations/outings on their backpacks was popular. I swear I could barely keep a straight face. When she learned the truth, she said oh now I get it, YOU guys bought those gifts!!!! So you really did give me gifts......uh huh! We still tease her about the keychain bit....LOL

Mary

One of my girls mentioned that to me when she was 5, I thought I better start signing some of the gifts from dad and me, because I didn't want her to think we forgot them. I never thought of that I just always put Santa on all their gifts. I don't think mine are going to believe for much longer, but we will always keep the Santa spirit. They are saying to much in front of the 3 year old now, asking questions and telling me what their friends say at school. One of my 7 year olds told me today her friend does not believe and she thinks that little girl won't be getting to much this Christmas because she don't believe. I love it so much, no way would I not tell them Santa is not real. Reminds me of Miracle on 34th Street. What a great movie.

[arkess7]

I have always put some from mommy and daddy and some from Santa... .....like right now she has one under the tree from mommy and daddy!!

[Miss Mary]

Wish we had been that smart! A few years when they'd give me their lists, I'd mention a few items to extended family - aunts, grandparents. The disappointment when they didn't receive what they asked for from Santa was clear to see. Later in the day they were happy but a few times, I think they really thought, I'm not going to get my doll or such and such toy!

So I quickly learned to keep two lists, Santa and the rest of people asking what they wanted.

There were also many years we fired off Santa's list, via email. Because they procrastinated and couldn't decide what they actually wanted. Which drove me crazy! Here I was often shopping mid-December. Didn't help one bit when I would explain Santa needed that list ~early~. Why early Mommy, Santa has a whole elf factory up there in the North Pole. And he never runs out of toys..... LOL

Mary

[gtalum]

I figured it all out on my own when I was 4 years old. I can't believe 6 year olds still believe it.

I was really angry at my parents for lying to me.

To quote Buzz Lightyear: You are a sad, strange little man, and you have my pity.

I didn't realize it is strange to be expected to be told the truth. But If it is, I guess I'm just strange like that.

As for pity, I don't need it. I have a happy life and a lot of success.

[gtalum]

Why can't you believe it? What is wrong with children having fantasies?

Santa is not a fantasy, he's a lie. There's a big difference.

Losing trust in my parents was a traumatic experience for me.

[sunny]

Why can't you believe it? What is wrong with children having fantasies?

Santa is not a fantasy, he's a lie. There's a big difference.

Losing trust in my parents was a traumatic experience for me.

Santa IS a fantasy. I still remember the "magical" feelings surrounding it all. lol - looking around for those elves who were spying on us!! I don't feel, nor have I ever felt, harmed or traumatized after finding out Santa IS a fantasy.

[streetsoldier]

My Dad went so far as to get up on the roof, and drag a leather strap full of jingling bells across it...while wearing slip-on wooden soles on which reindeer hoof-prints were attached.

We were amazed at what we saw outside Christmas morning; and it didn't "emotionally scar" me at all when I learned the truth...because I had much uglier scars inflicted, real and emotional, as a child/teen in that house.

[fwbbreeze]

believeing in Santa as a child might be a "lie" but it is something I will share with my kids and I dont regret my parents letting me believe in him! Santa is a pure fantasy, and a healthy one at that!! The only scar I have from believeing in santa is the one on my leg that I got when I fell off the new 10 speed bike he brought me !!!

Merry Christmas all!!!

fwbbreeze

[southerngale]

Why can't you believe it? What is wrong with children having fantasies?

Santa is not a fantasy, he's a lie. There's a big difference.

Losing trust in my parents was a traumatic experience for me.

Santa IS a fantasy. I still remember the "magical" feelings surrounding it all. lol - looking around for those elves who were spying on us!! I don't feel, nor have I ever felt, harmed or traumatized after finding out Santa IS a fantasy.

Neither does 99.9+% of the population. It was fun! Traumatized? I think he's pulling our leg.

If not, maybe he's really a disguise here - the Grinch and Scrooge rolled up in one!

[gtalum]

Umm, I never said traumatized. I was just mad that my parents lied to me. I hate being lied to.

[MiamiensisWx]

Parents have a right to tell their children lies. Teachers don't have a right to tell their students that their parents are liars. I'd say if a student asks a teacher if Santa Claus is real, the teacher should refer them to ask their parents, who will probably lie to them.

I think in years to come archaeologists will think Santa Claus was a god. He certainly has sacrifices (milk and cookies for him, apple for red-nosed raindeer, carrots for the others), he's meant as a form of control (I'll tell Santa Claus durr) and has a whole assortment of legendary materials around him. He's also funded by the government because Norad tracks him around the earth as a PR thing. Will be interesting to see how he's interpreted in a thousand years, because I for one plan on still being around.

No, it isn't. The longer you believe things that are not true (I am not referring to Santa, I am referring to other things), the nastier the surprise will be later on. Also, I hate being lied to. Absolutely hate it. The only time I might not hate it is when I know it is fake and just for fun in the sense that everyone is all laughing together.

[senorpepr]

Personally, I thought the idea of Santa was bad. Even before I found out the truth regarding Santa, I thought it was stupid to allow some guy we don't personally know into our home. When I did find out, it wasn't a shock or a surprise... I just continuted on with life. I never really understood why kids got upset and cried when they found out Santa wasn't real.