The Santa bubble for my son has burst! At 11 he no longer believes. He has questioned and doubted for a couple of years, maybe longer, but possibly didn't want to disbelieve incase the gifts stopped coming! In the past he has asked "Is Santa real?". We've responded with "What do you think?".
But now we've had the chat. Us honestly answering his rhetorical question "It's you, isn't it?"
"So it is you that eats the cookies and carrots and drinks the milk!" Surprise!!!
We talked about how much we loved building the magic and fantasy of Santa flying the world over delivering presents to children from his enormous sack on his magnificent sleigh. How he had loved to hear the stories of Christmas elves and reindeers with red noses, of Santa's belly that shook like a bowl full of jelly! The letters he had sent to the North Pole. The sleigh bells he was so sure he could hear on Christmas Eve. How we all loved the excitement and imagination that goes with believing in Santa. Putting your hopes and wishes in someone you want to believe in.
He wasn't upset. He didn't ask why we had 'lied' to him or tricked him. He had come to his own conclusion over time and possibly feels quite 'grown up' being in on the secret of Santa now. It's a good time to 'come clean' as I didn't want him to get in an embarrasing situation with friends who may also be in the know.
"So it is you that eats the cookies and carrots and drinks the milk!" Surprise!!!
We talked about how much we loved building the magic and fantasy of Santa flying the world over delivering presents to children from his enormous sack on his magnificent sleigh. How he had loved to hear the stories of Christmas elves and reindeers with red noses, of Santa's belly that shook like a bowl full of jelly! The letters he had sent to the North Pole. The sleigh bells he was so sure he could hear on Christmas Eve. How we all loved the excitement and imagination that goes with believing in Santa. Putting your hopes and wishes in someone you want to believe in.
I could feel a little tear in my eyes as we talked to each other about the magic and delight of the past years at Christmas for him. How he too would do the same for his children one day, just like our parents had done for us. My father had climbed up in to our attic one Christmas and jingled the bells gently so that we would quickly snuggle in bed and not be awake when Santa arrived - he was obviously close by! That we would continue will all the traditions we have built as a family around Christmas time. Nothing would change.
He wasn't upset. He didn't ask why we had 'lied' to him or tricked him. He had come to his own conclusion over time and possibly feels quite 'grown up' being in on the secret of Santa now. It's a good time to 'come clean' as I didn't want him to get in an embarrasing situation with friends who may also be in the know.
He was reassured that he would still receive his stash of goodies but that he'd now know that mum and dad are really those elves doing the hours of browsing, shopping, spending and wrapping and we loved to do it for him and his sister.
And then we also gave a stern "Do not tell your 5 year old sister" warning!
H A P P Y H O L I D A Y S
