When to Tell Your Kids the Truth About Santa

There is no “right” age to stop believing in Santa. It’s an individual thing. That being said, I think I was way too old when I found out Santa wasn’t real. My mom had to pull me aside at age 12 to tell me the news.

As my oldest child nears 10 years old, I feel like it might be time to tell him. I think he has figured it out already. He keeps asking and I’ve dodged the question with “Well, what do you think?”

The truth is, I’m not ready for him to not believe.

It’s a bit selfish on my part. It’s my favorite part of Christmas. I love watching my kids wake up on Christmas morning and be amazed by what Santa has brought. It makes it all worth it.

However, I am probably going to breaking the news to him this year. He is asking too many questions. They are obviously logical. How does he fly all over the world? How in the world can he carry all of those gifts in one sled?

This morning he asked me, “Are you the one that eats the cookies each year?”

Since his little brother was in the room, I had to play it up. Nope. Not me. Must be Santa. There’s no other explanation. I think he knows but doesn’t want to admit it to himself.

I know some people don’t do Santa with their kids. They have an issue with lying to them about something made up. I’m not one of those people. I really love being Santa to my kids.

I really can’t see how believing in Santa had an effect on me. I knew it was for fun once I found out and got to play it up for my sisters. I had to if I wanted to keep getting gifts from Santa.

It is hard to say how my oldest will react but I really think it is time. When he asks all of those questions, it gets his brother thinking as well, and I’d like the little guy to have a few more years of believing. It’s only fair.

My oldest is a very smart kid and I think he had it all figured out years ago but didn’t want to admit it to himself. I think if I give him the job of making it fun for his younger brother and sister, he can still feel the magic of it all.

Childhood goes way too fast. It’s sad for me to realize I’ll have a child that is old enough to be a non believer.

Of course “Santa” will still come for him. We have to make it look real for the two little ones after all.

I predict that he won’t be upset but if I am being honest, the thought of telling him upsets me. It just means I am one step further away from the little boy he once was.

The Thomas the Tank Engine loving boy is growing into a young man who is asking for things other than the newest Thomas train set. The magic is slowly fading and I remember what that felt like growing up.

Maybe instead of asking if he is ready to know the truth, I should ask myself if I am ready for him to know the truth. I’m not ready, but ready or not, I think it might be time.