I had a discussion with my father one day about how my oldest believes in Santa, she is 10. I think that it’s important to keep the magic alive. Santa Claus is such a wonderful magical person to believe in, why kill the magic for your child before they are ready to have that magic killed? Santa is alive and well in my home and the kids look forward to seeing him at the Spirit of Christmas in Cornish, NH every year.
The youngest recently told me that I better be good because Santa is watching me. That is the joy of this time of year, you can tell your kids to behave because they want to make Santa’s nice list, not naughty, unless you are my four year old adventurous son who apparently prefers being naughty (so he says). I remember the day the magic died for me with Santa, it was when I realized Santa and my Dad have the same handwriting. That was sad to me, it was as if something punched me in the stomach, the magic had died.
I will forever keep the magic alive in my home and each year Santa visits us leaving not a huge amount of presents but just enough to keep the magic alive and strong. Now if only department stores would realize how important it is to keep the magic alive, by hiring Santa Claus people that look like Santa. This year my sons went to our local Walmart with their Dad, only to be disappointed with their store Santa Claus who apparently had dark facial hair under the costume making my four year old pipe up and say “that Santa is an impostor”.
All of the little kids were waiting in line excited to see Santa Claus but not my boys, they were not impressed. Although they realize most store Santa Claus’ are not real, it was sad that Walmart had placed a Santa that didn’t look like the real deal in their store. What if my son’s had ruined that moment for all of those children in line that day? It wouldn’t have been a very good day for those families waiting in line with their happy, excited little kiddos.
I end this with, if your child believes, why ruin it? I say until they start to question the magic then keep it alive. It’s so important for kids to remain kids as long as possible and if the magic of Santa dies, then so does a lot of other childhood magical moments. I am not ready for that and thank goodness neither are my children.
I agree, let the kids have a little magic, it’s one of few times in their lives they’ll be able to have it so freely, and those warm holiday memories will stick with them!
You are so right that some of those Santas are the absolute worst. I can’t imagine WHO would be fooled by it. I’m all for keeping the magic alive as long as you can!
I agree! I remember when I found out – I was 9 and it crushed me. Believing was SO magical and I remember how sad I was when I found out. I will do everything in my power to make sure my kids believe as long as possible because Santa truly is magical.