Santa & Kids - To Lie or Not To Lie?

by sweet pea 139 Replies latest jw friends

  • ex-nj-jw
    ex-nj-jw

    We didn't plan or try to figure it out. Christmas time came around, the tree went up, the presents were under the tree, milk and cookies were out for santa and it just kinda happend naturally. Neither my husband or I grew up celebrating holidays. We did it for our kids because we knew how it felt being left out. And no neither of us got those year round gifts as promised

    We didn't celebrate it because of religious reasons, it's fun it's a tradition, family get's together, eat and enjoy each other. The kids get gifts and it's a fun exciting time of the year.

    nj

  • snowbird
    snowbird

    I really don't know what to say here.

    As a child, I believed in Santa but I wondered why he never brought us presents. Didn't Santa like us? I knew some kids who did naughty things, yet still got stuff from him. It was very confusing.

    Then, I found out Santa was a myth and I felt so much better. Along came the JW's and I fell for their theology - hook, line, and sinker. Even though I could afford it, I swore that I would never tell my child about Santa Claus, and I didn't.

    Now, that child, all grown up, celebrates Xmas with her children, but the magic is not there. I regret doing that to her.

    I hope I'm making sense as this is very emotional for me to write.

    Sylvia

  • John Doe
    John Doe
    That's not the point. Santa is a fun fantasy, similar to Disney cartoons or watching Cartoon network. Children love fantasy and fairytales. Eventually they grow up and leave behind the fairytales and most of the fantasy. Why should I restrict my kids from fantasy? Maybe I should just throw out all their books, video games, and stop the cartoon viewing. Hell let's just go back to the kingdom hall, the land of no fun.

    You don't see the difference in books, video games, and cartoons and taking elaborate efforts to decieve children by telling them that Santa is real? There is a major difference. When everyone knows they're reading fiction and having "make believe," no deception and lying is taking place.

  • beksbks
    beksbks

    Bull O knee Doe. When you are a dad, and you see how much playfullness is involved with raising children, you'll see how cool it is. Didn't your Grampa ever do little coin tricks or anything like that?? Same diff. Kids love it, and as they get older they grow out of it.

  • John Doe
    John Doe

    My dad loved playing tricks on us children. However, we always knew we were being played, at least by the end of the day. Sytematically lying to a child for years is in a different class.

  • mrsjones5
    mrsjones5

    Oh please John. I know you're trying to be devil's advocate here but I'm not going to feel guilty about my kids believing there's a Santa Claus. And I have not seen any evidence that that particular belief has done any damage. Quite the opposite it's been a source of fun. Oh and I just asked my older kids (Shawn 14 and Jocelyn 11) if they felt that I had lied and damage them in anyway by fostering the Santa myth and they both smiled and said no and said that they had a lot of fun. Good memories.

  • John Doe
    John Doe

    So then, is this or is this not your position. It's ok to lie to someone about something every important to them, so long as the person enjoys the lie.

    I'm not playing devil's advocate. Dishonesty is something I take very seriuosly.

  • mrsjones5
    mrsjones5

    Whatever John...talk to me later when you have kids.

  • John Doe
    John Doe

    So, your position is that having kids makes you accept dishonesty?

  • mrsjones5
    mrsjones5

    My position is that you don't have kids so we have nothing to talk about on this subject.

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