**Not for kids to read** - As a child when did you find out...

**homesteadmamma** · 01-09-2006, 10:39 AM

That the big Red guy wasn't who everyone said he was?

I was 5 when I did and so very disappointed. With our older kids, they were around that age too. With our younger kids, we told them the truth right from day one.

**Jeanna** · 01-09-2006, 10:43 AM

I think I was about 7, but I had been wonderig about a year or two by then.

**kestrel91316** · 01-09-2006, 12:07 PM

I think I was seven. But I had been suspicious for a while.

We would always go out for a drive Christmas Eve to look at the lights in the neighborhood, and also to give Santa a chance to come and bring gifts. We even left milk and cookies for him. Then an hour or so later we would return, and he had been there. We opened gifts Christmas Eve always (so Mom and Dad could sleep in Christmas morning, lol). We always wondered why one or the other of them would have to dash back into the house for something. Usually it was Mom saying "I forgot my purse!", or "I forgot to put lipstick on!", or Daddy would have to go to the bathroom. Then we would wait FOREVER for them to do whatever it was, and we got SOOOOOO impatient. Then whichever it was would finally get back into the car and off we would go.

What is really funny, is even after we kids knew the truth about Santa, we kept up the charade as a family Christmas ritual, until my dad died when I was in college. We would still go out to the car, warm it up, and Mom would make the silly excuse and go back in the house to put out the gifts from "Santa", which were in addition to the gifts from other people already under the tree. And we would drive around for a while, and then one of us would say "Well, do you think Santa has had enough time?" and by mutual agreement we would go home. And Santa had always drunk a little of the milk and eaten some cookies and candy, and left crumbs.

My dad died when he was 47, when I was in vet school, and Mom proceeded to fall off the cliff into severe mental illness for 20 years. So the Christmas Eve tradition is no more. I still miss it.

**Kimberlina** · 01-09-2006, 12:12 PM

I was 5. A girl who rode my school bus told me. I never ever liked her again after that, even when, after years of not seeing her, I ended up working with her when I was 16 and she was 20 or 21.

Actually, I tripped her on the bus a few days after that.

**Pepper** · 01-09-2006, 11:51 PM

I was 6, we found the things he leaves for you hidden in mom's room, I was crushed!!

**mom22grls** · 01-09-2006, 11:56 PM

I've always known. My kids have/will always know. I never made a bi deal out of Santa....or the bunny or the toothfairy, etc. I guess I'm just a fuddy-duddy.

**Emerald_Mommy** · 01-10-2006, 11:43 AM

My parents never made any big deal about it so I've always known. I thought other grown ups were crazy when they'd ask me, "What's Santa Claus bringing you?"

We're doing the same thing with our girls. We read stories about Santa and I'm not opposed to them seeing him at the mall or something but they know that their presents come from us and their family. I never felt cheated and I don't think they will either. Plus no heartbreak when you find out he's not real.

**babymav** · 01-10-2006, 12:44 PM

I was about 5 when I realized he wasn't real. So far my 8 year old and 6 year old still think he is real

**Katybird** · 01-10-2006, 01:27 PM

I must have been around 8 when I found out. I tried to keep him alive for my children until they were at least 8. I was able to keep the older ones from telling the younger by telling them that if they told their younger sibling(s) that there would be no more Santa for any of them because once no one believed in the house anymore there would be no need for Santa gifts on Christmas morning. (Of course Santa gifts still came until they were all grown and flown

)