Post by leshoequeen on Dec 7, 2018 10:23:05 GMT -5
I had it pretty much figured out and begged my mom to just tell me one way or the other. I've never liked surprises anyway so I just wanted to know definitively. Didn't really care one way or the other. Lets be real, I just wanted presents regardless of who brought them.
Post by picksthemusic on Dec 7, 2018 11:01:06 GMT -5
I believed for a while, and then I figured it out because we had a couple of very difficult (financially) Christmases where all I got were necessities like socks, underwear, shoes, and an alarm clock/radio (I remember that one specifically when I was about 10). By the time I was about 9, I knew my mom and grandparents basically made sure we had fun presents, but I kept up the facade for a while.
I echo the others about how these people are pretty lucky that that's the worst of their problems.
I believed for a really long time, like maybe until 10 or 11? When I was in first grade, my mom died. In second grade, my dad took my brother and me skiing for Christmas. Santa came to the condo we stayed in, and left a lovely note with beautiful handwriting that definitely was not my father's. I had my doubts about Santa, but that confirmed his real-ness for me. We weren't staying in a hotel and I couldn't put together -- in my 7 year old, grief-stricken head -- how my dad could have had someone else write the note.
Turns out, my second grade teacher wrote it. While she was on vacation. With us. NO WONDER MY DAD PUT US IN SKI LESSONS ALL DAY!
More traumatizing than realizing that Santa was fake, was learning all of this ^^ when I was 27. I had no idea.
Wait your teacher went on vacation with you and you didn’t know it at the time? I feel like there are more details to this story.
I'm not kidding when I tell you that I'm 42 and details are still emerging. The gist is, she and my dad were "dating" and she came on vacation with us. My dad didn't want us to know-- it was too soon after my mom died-- so he put us in lessons all day. But the three of us (my dad, my brother, and me) were alone together in the evenings. I have given my dad so much grief over the whole thing.
I kinda want the life where the most traumatizing thing I've had happen to me is being lied to about Santa.
Right? Traumatized? Seriously? You were TRAUMATIZED by finding out that Santa wasn't real? What, did their parents torture them with the information?
I was 5 when I found out. I remember it clearly because I caught my parents and older siblings red-handed. I got up to pee and they were walking out of the attic carrying presents. I remember my dad going all wide-eyed horrified like "This isn't what it looks like." and my pragmatic German self saying "Looks like you're Santa." And that was it.
I was a good big sister and kept it quiet for my little sister for years. Which is saying something because we actually had a friend of the family dress up as Santa and visit our house on Christmas Eve (he then went to his own family's house. it was a huge scheme between the 2 families and it was awesome) and exchange presents with my dad (they both were born on the 24th) and all of that. It was great but I remember being not so subtle going "Hi 'SANTA'! *WINK WINK*"
Traumatized is the word that they used. I was smiling waiting for the "Ha, ha, we're just kidding!" but it never came so I asked "You're serious?" YES!!! OMG, yes! I said that believing in Santa was a break from the trauma of my childhood.
I freaking loved Santa as a kid. This will surprise nobody here who has met me, but I took the cookies/milk and carrots for the reindeer bit very seriously. I only remember asking who had been eating the cookies and carrots. Turns out it was my grandfather and I remember saying "Okay" and then being asked to keep doing it for my younger cousins. How Santa = lies I just don't get.
Traumatized is the word that they used. I was smiling waiting for the "Ha, ha, we're just kidding!" but it never came so I asked "You're serious?" YES!!! OMG, yes!
I freaking loved Santa as a kid. The magic of Santa was a break from the shit that took up most of my life so I welcomed the fantasy. This will surprise nobody here who has met me, but I took the cookies/milk and carrots for the reindeer bit very seriously. I only remember asking who had been eating the cookies and carrots. Turns out it was my grandfather and I remember saying "Okay" and then being asked to keep doing it for my younger cousins.
What, wait, excuse me. Are you telling me that Santa isn't real?
I refuse to believe this.
I don't remember when I found out. I was the youngest of 5 and well my brothers were awesome at killing my childhood. Halloween is not a movie about trick or treat for 5 year olds.
I wonder if one of my elementary school classmates was "traumatized" when we told her on playground. She was the last one to believe and when we found out using our stupid 10 year old logic we felt it was better to tell her the truth than risk the meaner kids in the class finding out and teasing her. I remember her crying and it taking a bit of convincing that it had always been her parents.
I found out in 2nd grade when I was 7 or almost 8. The tooth fairy forgot to put something under my pillow. My mom admitted the tooth fairy wasn't real, and threw in Santa and the Easter Bunny for good measure.
I think there were 2 Christmases that I was old enough to remember and I really believed without any doubt (ages 4 and 5). I remember making a ham sandwich for Santa because he got enough cookies at other houses and leaving a carrot for Rudolph. By first grade, I was questioning Santa for sure and my parents wouldn't give me a straight answer. I was kind of relieved to have the truth.
My Mom still won't admit to us that Santa isn't real. I was the oldest of four and when I asked her about it around age 8 or 9 she told me very matter-of-factly that Santa doesn't bring presents to people who don't believe in him. That ended the discussion and remained her line. He basically just transitioned from magic imaginary sleigh dude to treating each other to Christmas surprises and is referred to in a very tongue-in-cheek manner by all of us. She still writes "From Santa" on some of our gifts, as do we for her. When my Dad was alive they'd give each other a few gifts from "Santa" and "Mrs. Claus". We coordinate to fill her stocking as well. It's sweet and cute and works for our family.
ALTHOUGH the Santa ruse is basically the slippery slope that landed me at atheism. And my Catholic upbringing has been the topic of many a therapy session. So... take from that what you will. Hah.
This is the reason my parents did NOT lead me to believe in Santa. Because they didn't want me to then question the other invisible guy they kept talking about.
There is one family story of me telling everyone ‘those are my daddy’s shoes’ when I was maybe 3 or 4 as Santa took the stage at our church’s holiday party. Apparently Santa WAS my dad and I spotted his shoes but didn’t put 2 and 2 together so to speak.
My Mom still won't admit to us that Santa isn't real. I was the oldest of four and when I asked her about it around age 8 or 9 she told me very matter-of-factly that Santa doesn't bring presents to people who don't believe in him. That ended the discussion and remained her line. He basically just transitioned from magic imaginary sleigh dude to treating each other to Christmas surprises and is referred to in a very tongue-in-cheek manner by all of us. She still writes "From Santa" on some of our gifts, as do we for her. When my Dad was alive they'd give each other a few gifts from "Santa" and "Mrs. Claus". We coordinate to fill her stocking as well. It's sweet and cute and works for our family.
ALTHOUGH the Santa ruse is basically the slippery slope that landed me at atheism. And my Catholic upbringing has been the topic of many a therapy session. So... take from that what you will. Hah.
If I had siblings, I would think you were one of mine. This is the exact same thing in my family.
I think around 8 I realized Santa had the same handwriting as my mother.
And no, I was not traumatized by Santa not being real. I loved the magic when I believed and I felt very grown up when I knew the truth and that there were other kids that still weren't in on the grown up's secret.
For my sister, I don't think the trauma was from being upset about actual santa. It was the fact that her childhood innocence that my parents were to be trusted completely was shattered. She felt like the people she thought were supporting her no matter what had betrayed her.
She had always been pretty sensitive and dramatic. I didn't see it that way, but I can see how that can have an effect on a kid! I think my sister doesn't hold a grudge, buy also hasn't forgotten how she felt as a kid and is hesitant to make her own kids feel that way.
Cape Coral's Festival of Lights was Saturday, and some people said instead of it being a lighthearted night filled with entertainment and visits with Santa Claus, some children were left in tears.
A Cape Coral mom took cell phone of a man with a giant sign, in the middle of the excitement yelling that Santa isn't real and parents are telling their children lies.
Cape Coral's Festival of Lights was Saturday, and some people said instead of it being a lighthearted night filled with entertainment and visits with Santa Claus, some children were left in tears.
A Cape Coral mom took cell phone of a man with a giant sign, in the middle of the excitement yelling that Santa isn't real and parents are telling their children lies.