4.) Describe a moment where you or your child lost a part of childhood (realizing Santa isn’t real, etc.) (inspired by Sunshine Wonderland)
I broke down and told my girls about the tooth fairy months ago.
I couldn’t deal with the pressure.
When I shared that news with my sister recently she was all, “oh, well my kids definitely still believe so your kids better not go blabbing about the tooth fairy to them!”
It hadn’t occurred to me that I might have just turned MY kids into THOSE kids. You know the kids I’m talking about. The kids who are the know-it-alls and go squealing to all their sweet friends faces about how silly they are for believing in Santa and the Tooth Fairy. The sweet friends hearts get broken and really, everyone wants THOSE kids to mind their own business and stop stealing the innocence of the sweet kids childhoods.
With that, I sat my kids down and was all “Hey remember when I told you about the tooth fairy? Well DON’T tell your friends!”
and Laina was all “But…”
And I was all “No buts! That’s private, top secret information and you don’t need to have that conversation with anyone.”
And Laina was all “But…”
And I was all “You just leave that up to parents and kids to discuss. There’s no reason for you to go running your mouth about the tooth fairy.”
And then Laina was all “Well…I already told my class…but…none of them believed me.”
She IS that kid.
The tooth fairy tattle tale.
Thank God they didn’t believe her. It’s one thing to be responsible for destroying my own kids childhood beliefs, I cannot be responsible for the entire Second Grade class.
Christine@TheAums says
Wait, you said you only told your girls…what about your boy? Does he know?
Jamie@southmainmuse says
Too funny. I understand. I sat my daughter down and had a conversation about Santa. She was 10 — and her list at Christmas was getting obscene. Someone had to give her a reality check. She had it figured out anyway. Honestly, after a certain age, I had trouble with it all. A very well-known minister said they never did Santa with his four children. How could you say never lie to them about things then participate in that? How could you tell them to believe in God and Santa at same time? If you then tell them one is not real — what about the other?
Bruna says
Had to tell my oldest about Santa when she was in grade 5. She was determined to convince her friends he existed by bringing in her collection of Santa letters as proof. Couldn’t let her embarrass herself. She was devastated and then mad at me for weeks :( She got over it eventually and still keeps the secret from her little sisters.
Jessica says
Oh my gosh you told? Please tell me they still believe in Santa. If not you are going to have to homeschool them to protect the innocent for a few years.
Danelle says
Don’t worry! Kids at school have been telling our son for years about Santa and he still doesn’t believe them.
Ginny Marie says
My kids don’t believe in the tooth fairy, either, but we still have fun with it! The “tooth fairy” still visits at night, and so does the “Easter bunny.” I am worried about my youngest slipping up at school…she can’t keep a secret to save her life!
Arnebya says
I don’t think my 9-year-old still believes me when I say there’s no Tooth Fairy. I haven’t decided if we’re going that route with the boy, but Santa is still real for us. I don’t recall believing in either, being way too practical a child to believe that chunky Santa fit down chimneys (ours was fake, so how’d that work out?). But I do recall holding on to the Tooth Fairy longer than most. Even if she tells, the kids probably won’t believe her because she’s “just a kid” like them. Kids don’t know anything.
Laurie @ Pride in Photos says
They are just TOO fun when they are small….miss it so much. I am a grandmother now…and the fun gets to start all over again. Yipee!
Laurie
Diane@BeStillaMinute says
My parents never told me all those characters were make-believe. I figured it out on my own but pretended for years because I didn’t want to hurt my mother’s feelings. I walked up to her one summer afternoon as she was washing dishes and laid it all out…”I don’t believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny or the tooth fairy and I know my dolls aren’t real”, then I turned around and marched back out the door as she stood there were her mouth agape. We laugh about it today.
I suspect my youngest (9) no longer believes but is just pretending…for my sake.
Jen says
I don’t ever want to tell my kids that the Tooth Fairy and Santa aren’t real. I want them to believe until they are like 30.
natalie says
I don’t want to ever tell ’em! I figure they’ll eventually figure it out on their own ;)
Mackenzie says
That is too funny! Well, at least you told them and they didn’t find out how I did when I was a kid. I actually came across the box holding my old teeth when I was around 6 or 7. Can you say ewwww???? :)
BTW, this is my first time linking up to your writer’s workshop!
Jennifer says
One of the older boys at school last year told Cady that Santa wasn’t real. I wanted to horse whip him. Thankfully she is now only doubtful, but still wants to believe. But if he had told her the truth about the tooth fairy I probably would have given him a cookie.
Kim@Co-Pilot Mom says
My oldest has heard the rumours, but he wants to believe. I hope he keeps belieiving for a little while yet.
NatteringNic says
We had a similar situation at Christmas last year. One family chooses not to add the Santa element to their Christmas and just focus on Jesus. Her son told the whole SK class Santa didn’t exist. None of the kids believed him and it wasn’t a big deal. But one Mom did confront the Mom of the Santa-squealer and she was *mortified*. She explained that told her kids that others believe in Santa and not to spoil it. Ahh…the politics of Santa. (And the tooth fairy, and the Easter bunny…although do kids *really* buy the Easter Bunny?)
hollow tree ventures says
Ack, mine are at that same age, when you’re trying to balance between them being the Santa tattles and the ones who are deemed “babies” because they’re the last to know. I don’t even remember how I found out, so there was no trauma involved either way – I wish I knew how my mom pulled that one off!
Bridget @ Le. Rheims says
I figure, what with the homeschooling and all, I don’t have to worry much about them finding these things out from other kids, so I really only have to worry about the older kids finding out and then blabbing…sharing with the younger ones. This is why I’m not telling until I’m sure they already know and are ready to keep the time honored secret. :)
kaye says
so hilarious–sometimes I wonder why we perpetuate the myth in the first place. The only one I did was Santa. That’s right no tooth fairy ever came here, the Easter bunny hopped on by. I just told my kids they didn’t exsist. Maybe they were “those kids” too. I never thought about it. kaye—the road goes ever ever on
Michelle says
Ha! I used to worry so much over my kids spilling the Santa beans…..they never did. And now, on Christmas Eve, they spend the evening answering all their little cousins’ questions on how Santa works. My kids might not believe, but they understand the joy of believing in something magical.
Melinda @ Mom on the Make says
I LOVE that her class didn’t believe her! How incredibly sweet. :)
Katherine G says
We came clean to our kids about 3 years ago but we made sure to give them the speech about not ruining it for other children. Surprised us when they said they knew all along that Santa wasn’t real and all the other fictional characters.
Heidelberg Kindergeburtstag says
With havin so much content do you ever run into any issues of plagorism
or copyright infringement? My site has a lot of unique content I’ve either written myself or outsourced but it looks like a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my permission. Do you know any solutions to help stop content from being stolen? I’d truly appreciate it.