How did you react when you learned that Santa Claus isn't real?

posted 28-Oct-2007 10:58am

Very angry, very sad. It wasn't learning that the Santa I knew and loved was not real, it was learning that my parents lied to me. I felt like my parents set us up to look like fools in front of my peers. I think my sister and I were the last ones in school to believe and we had to hear it from our classmates, and they pointed and laughed at me. It was one of those surreal moments that you see in the movies where the kids are all looking at you and pointing at you and laughing...laughing at you for being a stupid fool.. It seemed an eternity before I could get home and ask my mother if this was true, that Santa wasn't real, and she laughed. It was her laughing that had hurt the most.

I gave her another chance when I followed with a 'so I suppose the Easter Bunny isn't real either...' and she truly failed to comfort my very hurt heart.

I will not join in any of those games, those 'loops'. I discussed this with trusted friends later in life, and they didn't laugh, but they didn't understand either. It was much deeper than that and Santa was merely a pawn. Santa had never seemed more fake as Christmas became more of a joke. And not a funny one either.

Melf

(reply to cloudhugger) posted 28-Oct-2007 11:01am

Aww, that's really sad

(reply to Melf) posted 28-Oct-2007 11:19am

Indeed. And it seems like every SO I have had has been dependant on me 'getting into the Christmas Spirit' and supplying a festive mood and I have honestly tried and tried...but the more I fake it, the more phony it is and thus the wicked loop. They become despondant and again, it feeds the dread of the season. I have not ever been with anyone that brings the HO HO HO back to life. I don't think I have it in me.

posted 28-Oct-2007 4:15pm

I was sad, then I thought it was funny. I stopped believing several years before my parents knew I no longer believed. My brothers found out I didn't believe and told me not to tell our parents. They knew we got more presents as long as Santa came. We'd get what our parents got us, plus what Santa got. I was the youngest, so when I stopped believing, we'd only get the parent gifts. There was only a year or two where no one believed, then my niece came along....so we got Santa again.

I always swore I'd never lie to my kid. Santa's the only thing I've lied to him about. He's started questioning it, but I can't bring myself to tell him the truth. It's the only magic left in the season for me.

docgbrown

posted 28-Oct-2007 7:56pm

In my family growing up, we were told the truth at ten and at the same time recruited to help fool the younger children. While I had suspected such, once I was included in the loop the truth was easier to take.

CarlHalling

posted 28-Oct-2007 9:14pm

I can't remember ever thinking he was real. I was already speaking coherently at 2, and pretty fly.

RGirl

posted 29-Oct-2007 2:17am

Helped to fool younger brothers. I remember the year I got to stay up wrapping. It was fun.

Melf

(reply to cloudhugger) posted 29-Oct-2007 10:06am

You needn't feel forced to 'get' Christmas... everybody has their own version of how Christmas 'should' run. If my mum had acted like that, I'd be furious. It must be significant that you were quite young at the time; it's had a lasting effect.

Gomezy3k

posted 29-Oct-2007 11:01am

What he isn't real?? Dang it... I am hurt...

Seriously, I rank Santa in there with the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, God, and other myths...

(reply to Melf) posted 29-Oct-2007 7:12pm

I can't be furious with my mum....she did the best she could. I realize it is up to me to change things. I have tried various techniques getting through Christmas, and I think I know how I would like Christmas to be, but it isn't the 'norm'. I can't make others fit into my version, it's a tedious task of fitting others into mine and mine into others...and just when I get into the right frame of mind, the season is over. I hope I get it 'right' before .....well, soon anyway.

Melf

(reply to cloudhugger) posted 29-Oct-2007 7:13pm

Good luck

(reply to Amanda) posted 29-Oct-2007 7:15pm

I was discussing this with my Mary, and I thought that if my mom had explained to me that Santa isn't real, but he is a metaphor for what it's all about, I think I could have respected that. Santa is a representation of how we ought to give selflessly, and appreciate the magic of giving, than Santa is still real, just not in a fake sense.

(reply to Melf) posted 29-Oct-2007 7:17pm

I've been working on this for years.

(reply to cloudhugger) posted 29-Oct-2007 9:05pm

That makes sense. If I have any more kids, I doubt I'll do the whole Santa thing. I hate feeling like I'm lying to my kid. I was watching an episode of Grounded For Life today. The little boy found out the Tooth Fairy isn't real. He was all like, "If they lied about that, what else have they lied about? I can wear the same underwear for a month!" But, it made me wonder if Caleb will question what I say since I lied about that one thing.

(reply to Amanda) posted 29-Oct-2007 11:24pm

Don't say you lied. Don't use the "L" word. Say it's a story, like the ones said at bedtime. than explain why it's magical.

(reply to cloudhugger) posted 30-Oct-2007 3:28pm

A story? A lie? Aren't they all the same?

ultamate

posted 30-Oct-2007 7:51pm

Santa is a Nazi and he is real. The gifts and the jolly ho ho ho is just a way to trick little kids into loving him till one day they realize the red suit stands for the blood he will shed.

(reply to Amanda) posted 30-Oct-2007 8:56pm

you lie during bedtime stories?

(reply to cloudhugger) posted 30-Oct-2007 9:06pm

Yeah....the whole happily ever after thing is a total lie. Who ever lived happily ever after?

(reply to Amanda) posted 31-Oct-2007 9:40am

I'm already depressed...I've got no witty comeback because my bottom lip fell on the floor.

Enheduanna

posted 31-Oct-2007 1:05pm

I don't remember. Which I guess means that I was so upset that I have blocked the memory out!

llamamama

posted 31-Oct-2007 10:59pm

I don't remember...I think I just grew out of it...My parents never told me he wasn't real...I think I just woke up one day and said, "Ya know what? Santa Claus isn't real." I don't think my friend had anything to do with it either. I remember she'd tell me all the time that he wasn't real...(She always seemed so worldly, she wasn't though, she just had older brothers..)...I pushed everything she said out of my mind.
I didn't tell my brother though. I let him keep believing.

Iseult

posted 1-Nov-2007 2:41pm

I don't remember.

icurok

posted 2-Nov-2007 9:34am

Relieved

thecomic22

posted 5-Nov-2007 1:26pm

I already knew he was fake, so it didint matter.

posted 5-Nov-2007 9:09pm

What you mean to tell me after 51 years Santa Claus is not real , your bluffing because i still believe
in Santa Claus i leave him milk and cookies before i go to bed
Santa is on my radar and I can see him coming

(reply to Crayons) posted 5-Nov-2007 9:11pm

> How could anyone believe that he isn't real? Parents just say that
> to take credit for that. See, when you tell a kid, "Appreciate the
> fact that I gave birth to you" they're all, "Eww, so what?" but with
> Christmas, they're all, "Thanks, mom, a new iPod!" Oh wait. Some of
> you guys are parents.

Hmm..

That is just it Santa is real and he lives in the North Pole i have his address and I see Santa on my radar

Crayons

(reply to JessicaWoman99) posted 5-Nov-2007 9:20pm

Tell him that I've been extra good this year, last year I got lotion for christmas among a few other things and I'm still unsatisfied!

(reply to Crayons) posted 5-Nov-2007 9:24pm

> Tell him that I've been extra good this year, last year I got lotion
> for christmas among a few other things and I'm still unsatisfied!

Santa will give you a bright red Porsche for Christmas i am getting a new Rolls Royce for Christmas Santa
has this big fat Jolly budget and can afford anything

Crayons

(reply to JessicaWoman99) posted 5-Nov-2007 9:38pm

But someone else will take my pretty car because I can't drive! Maybe i can sell it.