I let my kids believe there was a Santa until they started asking detailed and analytical “Santa” questions. To me this was an indication that they either didn’t believe due to what they had gleaned from their peers, or they wanted to analyze the situation because they thought it was just too fantastic. When that time arrived I simply told them individually that Santa was really Daddy and I asked them not to “blow” it for the next youngest sibling. I don’t recall my kids going through any major trauma over the way I broke it to them, on the contrary I seem to recall each of them having a snide little grin preceded by the words “I knew it!”

I don’t really know if this was the correct choice, maybe I would have been more ginger in my approach if I could remember experiencing some sort of childhood drama upon my own discovery that Santa was a fraud… I simply don’t remember.

Besides if my kids had shown any distress over learning the truth I’m sure I would have been able to think of something grand to say to make it all better. Something to the effect of “Get used to disappointment kiddies… life is full of it!”

When I was a child it didn’t upset me to learn the truth, it was a disappointment. Life is full of disappointment and the kids will get over it, but it is fun for them, while they are young enough, to enjoy the story of Santa delivering presents to them.

No doubt, you thought (in some way, shape or form) “I have been deceived – not only by my parents, but by society and beauracracy as well.” You probably felt hurt, misled, even vengeful. But in the midst of those thoughts and feelings, you developed something that no one could ever give you in the form of a gift (except yourself) – you came to a realization of the world in a much grander sense than before. The reason for this is that you thought “I wonder how many of my friends still believe in Santa.” That is a step in right direction, as you are moving more positively toward societal contribution, altruism, etc.

While it may be easier to let the parents tell the kids, it simply is not as fun – and I don’t meant that in a manipulative or sadistic sense. Kids begin developing things, thinking critically, as you said, and even (dare I say?) self-actualizing. That is part of what happens. The movement out of the concrete thinking into the more operational thinking is wonderful to experience. And it happens just about the time when kids realize that there is no Santa Clause, unfortunate as that may be. While it’s somewhat fanciful to think Santa’s coming to town, it can alsio be a bit neurotic.

(Really, I don’t know what comes over me when I get in crowds. I can’t control the meanness…)

Back on topic though! I am quite a connoisseur of layers upon layers of starchy foods and must recommend My Sister’s Kitchen (on Platte, I believe?) for beyond yummy biscuits and gravy. And everything else they make is good – all homemade.