General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: As a child, did your parents/guardians tell you that Santa brought you gifts at Christmas? [View all]justiceischeap
(14,040 posts)Until my father thought while I was in first grade that it was time for me to know the truth. I was devastated that Santa wasn't real and had resentment towards my father for ending that fantasy.
Sometimes some kids have shitty home lives (like I did) and having this fantasy that there's this really good guy out there that will give you special gifts for being especially good isn't a bad thing--for some kids it may be the only good thing in their lives at the time.
I think we have a problem where we deny children the belief in magical thinking. IMO, it's magical thinking that leads to a wonderful imagination, not dishonest adults. I had plenty of dishonesty in my household that didn't relate to Santa Claus--the best man I knew as a kid until I didn't.