Archive through December 08, 2003
TV ClubHouse: Archive: Anyone NOT recognize Santa in your Christmas celebration?:
Archive through December 08, 2003
Vixeninvegas | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 02:56 pm     ::::::::Vixen is trying to make up her mind whether to jump in or not:::::::::::: :::::::takes a deep breath:::::::::::: Well I don't have any children and don't care to comment on whether I think its right or wrong (good or bad) to include Santa in your Christmas celebration but.... I was always told about "Santa", taken to sit on his lap for the photos and my personal favorite to see his "magic flying reindeer", I was teased if I was naughty that "Santa" may find out (I stress the word TEASED) and it didn't seem to harm me in any way My family has never been super religious but we have always believed in God and Jesus. When I was small my mom took me to Christmas services a few times. I always thought that it was also very magical and moving. Our family belief has always been that Christmas is for families to spend time together. That was the highlight - when our Kansas family joined us - that was when the holidays started for us. I think when people are bitter about something they can find dozen of things to blame it on - poor ol' saint nick is just one. Cute story to add: My old receptionist's grandson told her his favorite elf was named "Pedro" so she & her daughter has told him for years... when he starts throwing a fit over something "Watch out Pedro may be watching" or "Was that Pedro that just walked by the window?" LOLOL This was really funny to me. They always put a present to him under the tree from "Pedro" They can't figure out where he came up with that name. Whatever you believe in or don't believe it - I hope all my TVCH friends have a wonderful Christmas filled with random acts of kindness and love. |
Cinnamongirl | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 03:17 pm     http://www.familiesonline.co.uk/article/articleview/252 Interesting stuff |
Terry1960 | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 03:19 pm     I believe that believing in Santa Claus is truly a magical and wonderful addition to the holidays. I believed in Santa and my boys (now grown 2 in college and 1 in high school) believed. To me there is nothing as sweet or as precious as a child's eyes as they watch the cartoons or commercials or Santa at the mall from afar. My husband and I were able to include Jesus in this wonderful season. The boys understand that without Jesus we have no reason to celebrate. I am sure this debate will go on for many years but I truly miss having a little one around right now to share ALL the wonders of the holidays with. If you have a little one enjoy the time it goes to fast! Happy holidays evervone!!!! |
Wargod | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 03:22 pm     There's plenty of magic in Christmas with or without Santa. Not believing in Santa doesn't have to take away from the magic, just as Santa doesn't have to be the main reason for any magic about it. One of the things we do every year at Christmas, is take the kids to Walmart where they have the little Christmas tree with ornaments on it. A child from a needy family makes it, puts their age, sex, and what they want most on it, then people can pick them and make sure the kid gets something they want. Each year, my kids pick one, then we go shopping and find something they'd want off that little ornament, buy it, and give it to the people collecting it. My kids will not get the same toy even though it's something they want. I've had friends and family tell me I'm mean to do this, that it's not fair to the kids to make them pick out something they want and then give it away. Let them say what they will about it. For us, the most important thing is that the kids are learning that sometimes by sacraficing something they want, they can make someone else's Christmas special. My children don't think I'm horrible for this, and over the last couple of years where they really understand what they're doing, they've looked forward to this. I think it's the same with believing or not believing in Santa. For families who don't celebrate with Santa, they are teaching their children something they feel is important for them to learn. There's no reason for it to be mean, or to take anything away from the kids..it's just a different way to celebrate. |
Ocean_Islands | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 03:29 pm     Well, I guess I am speaking for people who feel betrayed. My brother-in-law felt so, and Christmas was ruined for his entire life, to the extent that he refused to get a Christmas tree or get presents for his wife or children at Christmas. Then they got a divorce and created a broken home for their children. That is the heritage of Christmas for this family. If it's magic for you, that's great. But you never know if a child is going to feel betrayed, or be unable to recognize and differentiate a 'story' from 'the truth'. It's hard enough to distinguish lies from the truth in real life, why make it complicated? Santa is superfluous and was created to sell merchandise. Is that magical? |
Texannie | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 04:01 pm     Your bil's marriage broke up over SANTA? No other reason at all? That really is sad. |
Ocean_Islands | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 04:14 pm     Well of course there were other reasons, but the Christmas one was one of the more dramatic. |
Julieboo | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 05:33 pm     Well then, the wife of your b-i-l should have never married him in the first place. That is ridiculous to blame the broken home on Christmas! |
Zachsmom | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 06:09 pm     Good gravy..what did he do when he found out there was no tooth fairy? She brought cold hard cash!!! |
Reader234 | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 06:13 pm     O_I 1st, what Cinnamon Girl said. 2nd, walk a mile in my shoes, (not that I'm daring you or anything!) then tell me that how I chose to raise my children is wrong - - I raise them based on what helped me SURVIVE my horrible childhood...AFTER you walk that mile in my shoes well then we can talk. Yet, that is EXACTLY what you posted. A portion of the mile someone else walked, and it didnt work for them. So I give you, and them full support in chosing to walk a diffent path. 3. You may never know if a child feels betrayed. I would hope that I would know if I betrayed my children's trust, mainly thru dialogue. I dont pretend the mall Santa is the real Santa. I do personally believe in the spirit of Santa. PERIOD> end of discussion. I chose to believe that the spirit that is displayed on THIS board for the gift exchange IS in the spirit of Santa, and that is the Santa that I tell and I raise my kids on. I watch the old classic movies with my kids on Christmas, and I actually believe this world needs more Santas. and I feel sorry if a child isnt alllowed to have magic, and imagination in their lives (Miracle on 34th street, Imagination) I also believe in Jesus, not everyone does. Not everyone believes in Santa. But I do not believe I have the right to judge others, and I do take offense if someone believes I am betraying my childrens trust by Me Myself and I loving and encouraging the Spirit of Christmas embodied in Santa. (and not the mall Santa for god's sake!) I cannot portray what it was like to be broken, and battered, to roll over on a street having been hit by a car and seeing my daddy lifeless. 2 weeks before Christmas. To have the man that was the company Santa that I 'now' know was fed info by my dad, well, he came to my home, and I opened presents, and I was 8 years old, a 2nd grader... yes, he had the worst looking fake beard, and cloth red suit, but by god, HE WAS REAL TO ME, and in 6th grade when it dawned on me that I had been "tricked" I was greatful for that lie... I was greatful for that piece of child that was allowed to live on, that I continued to believe to THIS VERY DAY... I also believe in Angels, and ghosts. I also believe that people are good. I also believe Satan is alive and well on planet Earth. You, by now, probably believe I need to be put away... bwwwwaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaa!!! |
Urgrace | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 06:24 pm     The spirit of Santa is not commercialism. Commercialism uses Santa to sell their wares, true, because Santa is the symbol of giving. It is up to the adults of the world to teach the young (and apparently some of the adults) the difference. |
Texannie | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 06:42 pm     Heck...Mother's Day, Father's Day and Valentine's Day are pretty much "Hallmark" holidays, but I still celebrate them! |
Twiggyish | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 06:44 pm     Oh we have Santa! We've always told our daughter the true meaning of Christmas. Children need imagination sometimes. It's fun to be creative. As she's getting older, we've told her Santa will continue to come as long as she believes. We have a lot of fun putting out the cookies and milk, too. Our good friends are fundamentalist Christians. They don't believe in Santa, either. We've discussed it and my daughter feels it's great having Santa. She knows the difference between what's real and otherwise. Just my thought on it. It's up to each of us to celebrate as we want =) |
Ocean_Islands | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 06:53 pm     My experience with this issue is that the believers in Santa are never swayed, and neither are those who feel betrayed by their parents. Merry Christmas. |
Eliz87 | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 06:57 pm     I'm sorry, but feeling BETRAYED by a "lie" about Santa Claus is as ridiculous as feeling betrayed that Bugs Bunny isn't a real person. I'm only saying this because the person that I knew who felt bitter about the Santa "lie" had PLENTY of other issues to deal with besides that one. Why would anyone feel betrayed by a story told to them by their parents for the purpose of adding to the excitement and happiness of the holidays? Cripes! Maybe I'm just not as overly sensitive as some, but I don't get it. |
Zachsmom | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 07:03 pm     I guess I don't understand the betrayal? What type of value system are parents teaching if a child is that devestated over no Santa? Especially when one becomes an adult and sees "why" some add Santa to their holidays. I think those who felt betrayed never knew the true spirit of Christmas, and that is "giving" and not "receiving". So yea, if you're a spoiled rotten little tyke then you are going to be upset that there isn't some jolly old man giving you presents every year. (I don't blame the kid, I blame the parent). If you are raised that the spirit of Christmas is giving, then there is nothing to be upset about. |
Marysafan | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 07:21 pm     In all fairness, not everyone teaches the "spirit" of Santa. My parents used Santa. "Eat your vegetables" or Santa won't come. "Be nice to your sister" because Santa is watching...etc. I was in the second grade, when a couple of girls in my class told me that there wasn't Santa and laughed at me and humiliated me because I was a "baby" for believing such foolishness. Yeah...I felt betrayed. But my memories are of the Santa years are my Dad waking us up in the middle of the night, because he was so excited to see our faces that he couldn't wait until morning! We still had Santa for our girls, but I never used him like my parents did...and as I said before, he was a very minor player. |
Pamy | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 07:36 pm     This just happened a couple months ago... my 8 yr old came home from school and said a girl told him there is no santa, that the parents are santa. My son said 'Mommy is this true?' my son is a very very honest person(unlike mommy lol) and I tried to wiggle my way out of the question, saying..'if you believe, then he will come'..then he said 'ok, so there really is a santa'..he was so serious and knowing how honest he is..I thought I'd better tell him...I did...he got teary eyed and said "all my hopes and dreams are lost' (i had to turn away cuz i was laughing at the statement) then he goes "what about the tooth fairy?" I told him...he started to cry and said 'why did you lie to me?' ...I had no answer...all I could come up with is 'all parents do, to make it fun for kids, wasnt it fun to believe?' ..he said 'I still dont understand why you had to lie about it"....well after that I started thinking...we are kinda teaching lying...I dont remember thinking that way when i found out as a kid, maybe I was older, and not as honest/sensitive as my son. Soooo, I am kinda on the fence now |
Twiggyish | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 07:41 pm     I never felt betrayed by learning the truth about Santa..nor did generations of family members before me. Betrayal is a biological father who takes off and leaves a two year old child..as my biological sperm donor did to me. A few happy memories of Santa Claus at Christmas brightened my life. Trust me, I never felt my mother nor step-father betrayed me. I knew the difference. |
Zachsmom | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 07:44 pm     but what is "pretending"? is that lying? Kids pretend everyday. We encourage them through play to pretend. When Zachary ask "why I lied" I'll tell him that I was pretending there was a Santa because I loved the look on his face. That I love the spirit that Santa brings. Lying about Santa isn't something parents do to be cruel, it's to bring joy to them. I think the reason I was upset that there was no Santa was that meant my PARENTS were the ones noticing if I was naughty or nice. I could outrun Santa, I could hide from Santa, but I couldn't hide from my parents. |
Brenda1966 | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 08:32 pm     Interesting article Cinnimongirl -- thanks for posting that! I believe even more now. <NK> |
Crossfire | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 08:45 pm     I can see how it happens. Mommy's do get caught kissing and tickling Santa Claus' from what I hear. |
Twiggyish | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 08:50 pm     Cinnamon Girl excellent article! LOL Crossfire!! |
Crossfire | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 08:54 pm     Ok, sneaking out before I get in trouble. I agree with just about everyone here. Mostly, I believe people should feel free to do whatever they want. |
Ladytex | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 09:03 pm     I don't think there is a right or wrong way. What works for some may or may not work for others. |
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