OT - What's That About Santa?

Fred19Flintstone

Who needs a schoolyard blabber mouth or bully when a family member can just as easily tell your 8 year old daughter there is no Santa Claus?  Was it my college age daughter?  Nope.  It was my brilliant MIL.

My daughter asked her, "Grandma, is Santa real?"

Anybody with a lick of sense would deflect the question or refer the child to her parents or just say yes.  My MIL said no.  When she saw the look in my other daughter's face she mealy - mouthed something about he's as real as you believe he is.  I haven't gotten the full story especially why she would do such a thing.  Me & Wilma are highly irritated because we figured this was the last year she believes and we haven't gotten the annual photo with jolly old St. Nick yet.
My MIL's been staying with us for darn near three weeks.  Tomorrow she hops on a broom (previously scheduled) and flies back to south Florida.  That's the last damn ticket I buy her.  Good riddance.

nolaegghead

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/12/when-do-kids-stop-believing-in-santa/383958/

blasting

Fred, I'm sorry, but your story made me laugh.  Glad you're now free though.

Myself, I'm not fond of overnight house guests or mother-in -laws.

buzd504

I end up with a lot of unexpected good fortune during the holidays, and if I choose to blame it on some old fat drunk in a red suit that chooses to live with a bunch of oompa loompas named Steven where it is too fvcking cold to reasonably exist, then that is my prerogative.

SGH

What the hell do y'all mean that there is no Santa Claus

Fred19Flintstone

nolaegghead said:

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/12/when-do-kids-stop-believing-in-santa/383958/

Nice article.  Like I said, we figured this would be the last year our daughter believed.  We thought it would be a kid at school who burst the Santa bubble.  Not my stoopid MIL.  Anyway, she leaves today while I'm at work.  So I would be fortunate if I can just sneak out the door without seeing the old bat.  I'm not sure I could fake a "I'm glad you came" very convincingly.

Little Steven

Freddy, I'm not an intuitive person but it seems you are saying something between the lines here. Do you not like your MIL?

Fred19Flintstone

Little Steven said:

Freddy, I'm not an intuitive person but it seems you are saying something between the lines here. Do you not like your MIL?

Your Honor, I'm invoking my Fifth Ammendment right against self incrimination. 

Little Steven

If a Canadian asks you a question wouldn't the prevailing law be Canadian?

billt01

I told my kids the same thing my dad told me..

"Stop believing in Santa Clause...Huh...see what happens!"

I still believe in him to this day..He's not just a gut in a red suit doing good, hes a principal for good behavior and doing whats right.

anyone who does that has my vote...

NPHuskerFL

What?! There's no Saint Nick? The hell you say!!!  I'd say you're getting coal for starting such a thread but, you'd likely get excited and only wonder...what brand. 

DMW

I never was a fan of lying to my children...

northGAcock

Next thing you will tell us is there is no flying reindeer or sleigh.

Fred19Flintstone

Little Steven said:

If a Canadian asks you a question wouldn't the prevailing law be Canadian?

I think the Fifth Ammendment also protects me from questions from foreigners.  I think it's the short stature clause.

DMW

I just got this from my wife and I thought it appro pro to this thread.

She received this email from his 1st grade teacher:


We had to have this conversation with our older son when he was in kindergarten (he's 12 now), so I guess I should have expected it. I just wish parents would quit lying to their children and tell them that Santa is not an actual person who flies around the world tossing presents out based on how good you were or weren't.

As a believer of Christ myself I simply cannot understand how someone could tell their children that there is a being that tosses gifts down the chimney based on how good you are, only to find out later on that this was simply a fictional idea. However, you know that other person we told you about, Jesus, he is real, I really mean it, he's not pretend like Santa Claus, no, really believe me, I don't lie, except when I made up that thing about the fat guy in the red suit. Wait, what...I don't know, maybe nothing is real.

Tell the real story of Saint Nicholas, tell how Santa Claus is a representation, I don't care, but please, stop lying, so other parents don't have to teach their children not to tell the truth.

rant over, g'night 

fishlessman

if santas not real then who finishes off my bourbon  late on xmas night

Grillin_beers

Your kids obviously haven't read Harry Potter yet.  If she does the only logical conclusion is that Santa is a wizard who uses the Flu Powder  network to get to all the kids on time. It's simply that obvious.  

In all seriousness your MIL is a real female dog for ruining a child's Christmas like that. 

nolaegghead

Would it be a spoiler to tell all the adults that it's probable that all magical beings are make-believe?

johnkitchens

I am sorry Fred. It wasn't your MIL's place to tell her that. 

@DMW I have certainly heard that argument before and, we have family that told their kids the truth at 5 years old. 

The problem I have with it is someone telling their kids Santa isn't real is one thing. The children then telling other kids sucks.  

Also yes we lied to our kids about Santa, but I don't honestly believe no adult is walking around wondering if Jesus or God is real because their parents told them Santa was real as a child. 

I say this respectfully. I am not trying to offend you or anyone else. 

HeavyG

nolaegghead said:

Would it be a spoiler to tell all the adults that it's probable that all magical beings are make-believe?

Blasphemer! Heretic!

Do you weigh the same as a duck?

lousubcap

A nice warm-up for Friday.
@Fred19Flintstone - Definitely none of her business going in and ruined it. 
Bonus- MIL is gone but you have to deal with the fall-out.

JustineCaseyFeldown

let me get this straight

it's irresponsible to tell a kid a story and encourage them to believe in an imaginary all-seeing benevolent being, and that that magical being will reward them for being good, or punish them for being bad.


and if our kids are unencumbered by this belief, it is fine for them to confront those who DO believe, and to tell them their beliefs are unfounded?

got it.

now to figure out which imaginary being(s) we are talking about

pgprescott

I just hope your kids don't walk in on a passionate endeavor. Might scar them as you reenact the moment for them as to not mislead them. Don't tell them you were wrestling! 

JohnInCarolina

nolaegghead said:

Would it be a spoiler to tell all the adults that it's probable that all magical beings are make-believe?

You might get some pushback on that one, there, Mr. Hitchens.

Fred19Flintstone

DMW said:

I just got this from my wife and I thought it appro pro to this thread.

She received this email from his 1st grade teacher:


We had to have this conversation with our older son when he was in kindergarten (he's 12 now), so I guess I should have expected it. I just wish parents would quit lying to their children and tell them that Santa is not an actual person who flies around the world tossing presents out based on how good you were or weren't.

As a believer of Christ myself I simply cannot understand how someone could tell their children that there is a being that tosses gifts down the chimney based on how good you are, only to find out later on that this was simply a fictional idea. However, you know that other person we told you about, Jesus, he is real, I really mean it, he's not pretend like Santa Claus, no, really believe me, I don't lie, except when I made up that thing about the fat guy in the red suit. Wait, what...I don't know, maybe nothing is real.

Tell the real story of Saint Nicholas, tell how Santa Claus is a representation, I don't care, but please, stop lying, so other parents don't have to teach their children not to tell the truth.

rant over, g'night 

So it's our fault?  Glad to know.  Thanks.

nolaegghead

I believe in Jesus Christ, ruler of man, and omnipotent being that completely spies on our every thought-crime and action, even when we do "the things". He has nothing better to do or everything better to do because he's a BMF that sees and smells all!!! than make sure we follow the moral standards set forth in his manifesto better known to mortals as the BIBLE.  Santa is a false prophet, and should be treated as such.  Eyeballs, or some kind of balls, ripped from him and his shame from all of the mighty holy one's wrath smited upon him (umm...or something equally horrible).  In other words, he (santa) is everything that is evil about the world of man, and I poop upon this materialistic, un-god-like behavior.  If you encourage this Satan, I mean Santa worship, thou shalt bring upon thee the rain of wrath that omnipotence can, ummm, wraith, uhh fall down upon...no STRIKE, I mean STIKE, I (Im dyslexic) BAD STUFF!!!!.  Or something terrible that sucks.   End of rant.

</end_fred_troll>

DMW

Fred19Flintstone said:

DMW said:

I just got this from my wife and I thought it appro pro to this thread.

She received this email from his 1st grade teacher:


We had to have this conversation with our older son when he was in kindergarten (he's 12 now), so I guess I should have expected it. I just wish parents would quit lying to their children and tell them that Santa is not an actual person who flies around the world tossing presents out based on how good you were or weren't.

As a believer of Christ myself I simply cannot understand how someone could tell their children that there is a being that tosses gifts down the chimney based on how good you are, only to find out later on that this was simply a fictional idea. However, you know that other person we told you about, Jesus, he is real, I really mean it, he's not pretend like Santa Claus, no, really believe me, I don't lie, except when I made up that thing about the fat guy in the red suit. Wait, what...I don't know, maybe nothing is real.

Tell the real story of Saint Nicholas, tell how Santa Claus is a representation, I don't care, but please, stop lying, so other parents don't have to teach their children not to tell the truth.

rant over, g'night 

So it's our fault?  Glad to know.  Thanks.

Sorry Fred, I shouldn't have posted that. I didn't say it was anyone's "fault".

nolaegghead

Fred, transitively you picked your mother-in-law, so it's all your fault.  I'm not so much into fault as much as just rolling with fate, but we do control some stuff.

Dobie

I just have to say the timing around the forum lately just fookin sucks, Wednesday really? Don't you people have calendars.... 

theyolksonyou

The timing's not the only thing that has been sucky. 

nolaegghead

What the hell are you talking about?