The Magic of Christmas Morning. (don't take it from our children)

reply to post by tw0330


No worries.. Forgive my passion


Merry Christmas!

I guess I really gotta stop using the word YOU... lol Everyone thinks Im addressing them hahaha

I never celebrated christmas with Santa and presents as a child because my country has Sinterklaas in early december. It is kinda the same idea, it's also a guy with a beard dressed in red bringing presents haha. And I truly believed in his existence and it's the same magic so I understand what you mean. I always hated the kids in school that didn't 'believe' and were persistent to spoil it for everyone in class. My sisters were very nice though, they're older and knew before me and never told me. When it comes to Santa, my mom always told me Sinterklaas was so busy with our gifts that Santa, his good friend, took care of the kids in America. It's all so magical when you 'believe'. I agree, don't take it away from the kids.

Originally posted by NuclearPaul

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
How about you raise your child the way you see fit and we do the same, while respecting each others' freedom of choice for the holidays?

The problem with that is if some choose to tell "white lies" to their children, they know they can only get away with it if everyone else does the same.

If their kids learn the truth from other kids at school, they may believe that their friends tell the truth more than their parents, as I did.

My mother used to get angry with me when she would tell me a truth, only to have me question her whether it was really real, or another "white lie". I don't really care if some parents want to raise their kids to believe in Santa, but if they get angry with me for not backing up their lie, I'll come down on them like a ton of bricks.

At the end of the day, we all have to deal with the consequences of our actions.

I note that you bah humbug Christmas and in another thread are against the concept of Santa and now talk about your mother getting angry with you. Is it really about the season?

Studies show that the concept of Santa is good for children. You're wrong;

Originally posted by OSIRUS12
reply to post by tw0330

 

ITS UP TO THOSE WHO FEEL THAT THE SPIRT OF TWO ARE ACTUALLY ONE CONFUSING ONE WITH THE OTHER CAUSING CHILDREN WHEN OLD ALCOHOL ,DRUGS ITS ALL A CONFUSED WORLD LIES ARE SPREAD LIKE BEES ATTRACTED TO HONEY ITS ADDICTIVE..NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY IST THE THE COMMERCAILISM AND THE DEBTS YOU PAY FRO BEING GOOD PERSON

WHAT?

Originally posted by Night Star
I grew up with the magic of Christmas and believing in Santa. When I was older and discovered he wasn't real, I then realized how much trouble my parents went through all those years to make Christmas so magical and special for me. The 'lie' didn't harm me in any way and to this day I have precious memories of childhood and Christmas and wouldn't trade it for the world.

You've validated the studies that show the belief in Santa to be good for childhood development and what you describe is what the studies state to be a right of passage as viewed by the children who figure out that Santa isn't real. Children once becoming aware don't see it as a lie they see it as them becoming more grown up which is natural course for children as they get older.

reply to post by steveknows


Now that makes complete sense. I was not aware of a study of such, but remembering back, I can sure see that in myself.

What's really fun is when a child knows, but act as if they don't.

Originally posted by tw0330
reply to post by steveknows

 

Now that makes complete sense. I was not aware of a study of such, but remembering back, I can sure see that in myself.

What's really fun is when a child knows, but act as if they don't.

Like when they know how to get their own lunch but are happy to play the dependant so your parenting will kick in and you get it while they continue to watch the TV We somethimes understimate their power of observation.

www.sciencedaily.com...

Originally posted by steveknows

Originally posted by tw0330
reply to post by steveknows

 

Now that makes complete sense. I was not aware of a study of such, but remembering back, I can sure see that in myself.

What's really fun is when a child knows, but act as if they don't.

Like when they know how to get their own lunch but are happy to play the dependant so your parenting will kick in and you get it while they continue to watch the TV

We somethimes understimate their power of observation.

www.sciencedaily.com...

Is that what my 5 year old is doing? lol

Good call.

What you call magic is simply a learned behavior and the convictions of a mind without so much learned bias mixed with the innocence of a child.

Personally I see it as nothing but a dangerous precedent for a mind not yet capable of logical deduction. It's exploitation of the mentally weak and indoctrination into a life of asking your imaginary benefactors for material and psychological gain regardless of how facetious such endeavors are.

I have a clever niece who at age 6 figured out the racket all of her own accord by logical deduction, was chistmas any less magical without the myth of an omnipotent presence? Not one iota, if anything she made sure her parents knew even more how good she was being and doing without the myth being used as an idle threat.

You can have the magic and more without the lies.

Op, you sound like a good guy with a great family, and I'm sure you have only the best intentions for your children. So I mean no disrespect, but have to disagree.
The joy only exists because you've created it. You're the one who taught her about christmas and santa claus...You could have made up your own special tradition on a different day for exchanging gifts without the lies and you could experience the same joy without the harmful programming of your child to believe any BS coming from authority figures. The joy from children on Christmas is from the material things they receive on Christmas. If santa claus didn't bring them presents they wouldn't give 2 craps about him.

"Why can't my child believe in something amazing and good."
No one's saying they can't. It's sad you think that they need a santa claus and pagan holiday to do this. There is plenty of amazing and good things in this universe they can believe in. for example: you and the rest of the family, love, peace, humanity, or their own selves rather than someone that doesn't exist.

I do think there is a certain magic, and it is the child themselves..children are special, they radiate massive amounts of positive energy when they are happy.

reply to post by tw0330


You are right. This should be preserved for children and allow them to be children as long as possible. I remember another thread asking if it was proper to LIE to kids about Santa Clause around Christmastime. Santa Clause and Christmas is a moral guideline, a lesson for humanity on how it is best and suggested to treat each other as human beings on Earth. Is it a true story? It might be but the moral lesson and the teaching is only a suggestion since we do not know that good will and generosity are the facts of our natures. Clearly they are not, at least not always. Sometimes I wonder if who ever made the moral suggestion in the first place...knew us? Did they know how we tick and was this suggestion an order from a creator, made from among the wisest of us or a suggestion of morality from an outside source? Other times I wonder why any of that matters like when you see the beaming smiling face of a child. It never matters then. It is just the right thing to teach. Unselfish love and random acts of joy.

Originally posted by steveknows
I note that you bah humbug Christmas and in another thread are against the concept of Santa and now talk about your mother getting angry with you.

She used to get angry with me because she destroyed her own credibility by pretending Santa was real. It's not my fault I questioned her about if she was really telling the truth after that.

Originally posted by NuclearPaul

Originally posted by steveknows
I note that you bah humbug Christmas and in another thread are against the concept of Santa and now talk about your mother getting angry with you.

She used to get angry with me because she destroyed her own credibility by pretending Santa was real. It's not my fault I questioned her about if she was really telling the truth after that.

To leave out the question when reponding to the post doesn't remove the question.

Don't know of this is exactly what you are looking for, but here's my take:

The magic has already been taken away.

When I was a kid, christmas was not a 3 month thing. It was a couple weeks, at most. Now, as soon as halloween ends, christmas goes into play. The stores put out decorations and adds. Christmas music hits the radio. Thecommercials for toys hit the tv.

By the time december hits, people are already tired of it. The music has been overplayed. The stress of gift buying has taken its toll. They've been seeing santa for weeks.

In short, its not a day anymore. Its a 3 month event.

When I was a kid, the thing that made it magical was that it was a short event. Now it a quarter of a year. There is no more magic. Only commercialism.

Well said! I agree.

reply to post by tw0330


Christmas is not about magic! Its about celebrating Jesus Christ! Not to look in the face of material things, only presents, and a man that does not exist. That is wrong in the eyes of God. The idea of giving is when the tree wise men gave presents to Mary and Joseph to celebrate the birth of our savior! That is what your children must understand. Expose him to the truth, don't keep him from the truth! Explain to him the story of Jesus, for that is the ultimate gift.

Originally posted by steveknows

Originally posted by tw0330
reply to post by steveknows

 

Now that makes complete sense. I was not aware of a study of such, but remembering back, I can sure see that in myself.

What's really fun is when a child knows, but act as if they don't.

Like when they know how to get their own lunch but are happy to play the dependant so your parenting will kick in and you get it while they continue to watch the TV

We somethimes understimate their power of observation.

www.sciencedaily.com...

Now there is a very valid point... Both my kids are quite capable of being independant, but I often see them "struggling" with tasks I know they can do. I almost got caught when my youngest asked about her grandparent's presents, and why didn't Santa bring them. I had to quickly say adults get each other presents as Santa is too busy. Naturally the next question was where does Santa get in as we don't have a fireplace... My response, I think he comes in through the phone line these days... While we do sometimes feel bad about white lies to our kids, I think this is one myth where the truth would do more damage than the lie. Besides, it was fun watching my youngest daughter explain to her grandparents how Santa now comes through the internet...

Originally posted by Gossamer
reply to post by tw0330

 

Christmas is not about magic! Its about celebrating Jesus Christ! Not to look in the face of material things, only presents, and a man that does not exist. That is wrong in the eyes of God. The idea of giving is when the tree wise men gave presents to Mary and Joseph to celebrate the birth of our savior! That is what your children must understand. Expose him to the truth, don't keep him from the truth! Explain to him the story of Jesus, for that is the ultimate gift.

So wait, are you claiming believing in jesus isn't believing in magic?

I agree. To be honest though there are 365 days in the year when you could create your own, maybe even better, fake character that gives presents to children. We wait around all year for this ONE special holiday when every day we could have the same. I think a tie-dye yeti/bigfoot on the 6th of February might do the trick too. You could take your kids out looking for bigfoot in the forest all year long rather than teasing them for a short period during Christmas. Magic that lasts! I think we are doing an injustice to your children's imagination buy just limiting it to this one holiday. I have a feeling though it is because Christmas is such a convenient holiday. Parents only have to put on the show for a short period of time and then they are done which short-changes the child's imagination. Sponge Bob Fridays! You could hide different types of sea sponges around the house every Friday and tell them that Sponge Bob has left them a new gift and watch the joy on their faces as they perform their weekly scavenger hunt!

I think it's kind of sad that we think of Christmas as the one and only holiday where all of the best magic happens.

Merry Christmas everyone!!



PS: I almost forgot. My Grandparents used to call "The Candy Man" every time we would visit. We would have to go hide in the "TV room" and wait until my grandpa had dialed the number and the candy man had make a speedy delivery. Once we got the "Ok, you can come out." we searched high and low for peanut butter cups and whatever else we could find. I think this has played a substantial roll in who I am and what I stand for today.

Originally posted by 74Templar

Originally posted by steveknows

Originally posted by tw0330
reply to post by steveknows

 

Now that makes complete sense. I was not aware of a study of such, but remembering back, I can sure see that in myself.

What's really fun is when a child knows, but act as if they don't.

Like when they know how to get their own lunch but are happy to play the dependant so your parenting will kick in and you get it while they continue to watch the TV

We somethimes understimate their power of observation.

www.sciencedaily.com...

Now there is a very valid point... Both my kids are quite capable of being independant, but I often see them "struggling" with tasks I know they can do. I almost got caught when my youngest asked about her grandparent's presents, and why didn't Santa bring them. I had to quickly say adults get each other presents as Santa is too busy. Naturally the next question was where does Santa get in as we don't have a fireplace... My response, I think he comes in through the phone line these days...

While we do sometimes feel bad about white lies to our kids, I think this is one myth where the truth would do more damage than the lie. Besides, it was fun watching my youngest daughter explain to her grandparents how Santa now comes through the internet...

Your daughter explaining things to her grand parents would have been funny thinking of how matter of factly kids can talk. Yep we've got to watch them. They're sharp alright.