Santa Isn't Real

Well, we knew it wouldn't be too long before we'd really be having this kind of discussion. At our house, we have done Santa with the girls. We don't make a really big deal out of it or anything - they know that the true meaning of Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus. And the girls long ago realized that the Santas they saw everywhere were all different, which led them to say that those Santas weren't real - they were just helpers. Well last night we had a little incident here that wasn't any big deal, BUT because both girls were lying about it, it became a big deal. Lying was the problem. So we had a huge discussion about lying, telling the truth, honesty, etc. Afterwards I was talking to Robert and told him that I felt a little convicted about the whole Santa thing. Here I was telling the girls not to lie, but essentially, that's what I was doing. The girls have gotten to the point that they would point blank ask "Is Santa real?" We'd always try to turn the question back around to them by saying "What do you think?" That worked for a while, but then they started with the "well what do YOU think?" So since they had already been asking Santa questions anyway, and since we had just had this long discussion about Santa, Robert & I sat them down and told them the truth about Santa. They handled it pretty well. I think Rachel kind of knew that there really wasn't a Santa that went around to every house - but she didn't realize that it was mommy & daddy. Katelyn took it really well - she was just kind of like "okay - cool!" And yes we went ahead and told them about the Tooth Fairy too. I think it was a little overwhelming for Rachel because at one time she cried a bit. She said it was a happy cry, but I think some of the emotions got to her. But, they both seem to be fine with it. I think it helps some that we've never made a huge deal about Santa. We did Santa, but Christmas was so much more than Santa.

Yes - we did tell them NOT to tell any of their friends. That's a discussion that needs to be had between parents and kids! Rachel said if anyone asked her, she's just tell them they need to ask their parents about that!

Afterwards, the girls called their uncle Lloyd and told him that Santa isn't real! He isn't a big Santa fan - he's threatened to tell them before!

So now, we won't have the problem of which presents are from Santa and which ones are from Mommy & Daddy. We told the girls that we'd still leave some presents out unopened just like we always do!