Telling DD the truth about Santa

[anney]

Just wondering what others have done/ would do in this situation. DD is 7 and a half and I thought this year would be her last year believing in Santa. At 6.30pm on Christmas Eve DH and I were working and DD was there and she said to me "Mum, promise me that Santa is real and that is is not just adults giving presents?". There was no way I could tell her the truth then as we were flat out working so I could not take her aside and talk to her about it and I just could not shatter that magic on christmas eve. (suspect this was more about me than about her really!) So I said Santa brought the presents and she was happy.
but I am absolutely guilt ridden as she said "promise me" when she asked me. I thought I would wait a few days then sit her down and tell her the truth. what do you think?

[Tinks]

I told my DS when he was 10. He asked so I told him. I was determined not to tell him around Christmas luckily he asked in winter. DD1 (10) 'knows' although I've never told her but DD2 is 7 and has no idea. It'll be a sad Christmas when none of my babies believe anymore

I'd wait a couple more years before telling her. I got away with saying 'if you don't believe he won't come' for a few Christmases with DS.

[Butterfly Child]

My mum always said to us when we asked if santa really real.. was what do you think.. and then it was never a yes or no and she could always say well if you dont believe you wont recieve etc lol my brother whos 8 still believe, it was my sisters 1st xmas not believing and it was sad.. all the magics gone she even said she wished she still believed

[Emma1979]

yeah its pretty young to stop believing.... our nephew is 8 and a half and still believes.... i'm pretty sure i still believed until i was about 10 or 11, but maybe things were different back then... kids grow up a lot faster these days...

personally i wouldn't be spoiling it/ending things earlier than necessary.... good luck.

[shellbell3]

Thats a hard one, maybe she heard from someone else that he wasn't real and thats why she asked?
Its sad when the magic is over but I can understand why you'd feel torn after promising.
Maybe leave it and see how things go.
My sister so didn't want to give up the belief that even after she knew she kept it up that he was and still put out milk and cookies way into the teenage years.

[Barb Glare]

When my son Zac was 8 he said something like "I know Santa isn't real". I wasn't comfortable with the whole Christmas thing. So I sAid "Yes, you are right.". Zac threw himself on his bed and cries inconsolably for 2 hrs. I regard this as about one of my worst parenting faux pas. Zac begged me not to tell his siblings til they were 11
If I had my time again I would have handled things very differently on many levels

[Beautitude]

I cant remember what age i was when i stopped believing but i distinctly remember knowing that Santa didn't exist but pretending i did "just in case" i got it wrong and he did actually exist lol. I didn't want to miss out on presents!! The magic of christmas is so beautiful through a childs eyes, i cant wait till next year when ds understands about santa etc. I think you did the right thing, she will find out soon enough!

[briggsy's girl]

my bro and sil have three kids and all know the truth (including the five year old) - they handled it by telling them, when they asked, the story of Saint Nicholas, and that Santa is a way of keeping his spirit alive. they explained that parents give the Santa presents as a way of keeping the magic alive for their children. this is probably what we will do when DD is old enough to ask - in the mean time, my bro's kids have been asked to respect our decision to make Santa magical for DD - and if they don't, there will be hell to pay from a grumpy aunty BG!

[anney]

Oh I am so glad there are some sentimental people out there that think believing in Santa is a big part of the christmas magic. i am tearing up just thinking about having to tell her. Only having one child, I sort of feel like the magic of christmas will be over for both her and me! I am trying to keep it alive a bit more, I think, as DH is muslim and therefore christmas is a non event for him and we have a small family so it is not even a bit family event. Santa is really the only thing that makes it different to mothers day and birthdays etc.
I am really grateful for all your replies, especially Barb's, as it has totally made me rethink my decision to tell her.

[beckoes]

I still belive I think its early to admit its not all the fairy tail story ...but then again you dont have to end it totally, i like the idea of skirting round it, thats always what happened in our house. My mum explained that some people didnt belive he was real and that was thier choice, but she still belived and we could decided if we did or not....i always liked that...then the magic never has to end, we still did all the santa stuff a few years ago...two 50 year olds, a 25 year old and a 13 year old putting out the carrot and mince pies for santa and rudolf....funny!!!

[~clover~]

My DD at the same age is starting to lose faith. Doesn't help that a friend of hers, a year older, knows. But I still play the santa card. She'll know soon enough, but I'll still do santa til the youngest knows the truth.
Should've seen it this year...desperation trying to do it! Went & picked DH up, got home at 8am, had to get him to take them for a drive while I got the pressies out, lol.