Now, Jimp, I don't believe in that. Don't make kids believe, they should believe because they want to and their minds are not mature enough yet to know the difference. Merry Christmas to you and everyone.

In our home, we've always said if you don't believe in Santa, then he'll not bring you anything. Works for us.

phylljb and fromtheheart, I feel sorry for your kids.

We never had Santa come to our kids. I told them to go out and be a Santa to someone in need. I am appalled that people use the threat of no gifts from Santa to discipline their children. What do you do the rest of the year? Why doesn't Santa bring lots of toys to poor kids who are good? How much debt does this guy cause?

@Futurerichguy: I use that as well. Whatever works.

@fromtheheart: GAG!!!

What is Santa ... the spirit of giving from the heart. Is there truly ANYTHING wrong with sharing the goodness of giving with our children, grandchildren, community, church, our world? Santa is not ONLY about material gifts ... you said your gift from Santa was "watching your children open and enjoy the gifts." That says volumes to your children. It tells them that Santa is not ONLY about the toys and that Santa IS about all things from the heart.

What a sad world it would be if no one believed in Santa ... in giving of themselves to bring joy to others! Yes, Viginia, there truly is a Santa and he lives all around the world in people's hearts! My wish is that everyone finds and enjoys that glimmer of Santa at this season and throughout the year!

Santa is still a quick and dirty way to set the kids straight in my household. They know Santa is watching.

My son never believed in Santa. Every year, he'd ask me, "Is there really a Santa, mom? I mean reeeaally?" He always said it with a doubtful look, like the idea was obviously ridiculous. For years, I didn't answer him either way. It's amazing how quickly children forget what they were saying when you hop off the couch and gasp, "Oh no! I think the cookies are burning!"

matthew516:"social networking..." school? If the child interacts with ANYONE, they may hear it from them first. My 7 year-old son doesn't have a cell phone, or a facebook page, or any of that, but he is hearing through the grapevine, just as I did when I was a kid. I do wish I had followed my friend that taught her kids from the beginning that santa was the SPIRIT of the gift giving and not the guy coming down the chimney. It would have been much easier for both of us, I think.

My parents taught us that it was never okay to lie. We never believed there was a fat man in a red suit coming down the chimney. We have never spread the lie to my children or grandchildren. The day is about the birth of Jesus. Giving gifts is wonderful because they are from those who love us.

The trick is to educate our children at home rather than allow social networking to become their source of truth.

I remeber how sad I was when the Easter Bunny told me there was no such thing as Santa.

packrat: I'm sorry you had to find out this way. Laura could have been gentler.

At 7, when my son said that the kids at school told him there was no santa clause, I simply stated that "If he believed that santa was real, then he was real. If he didn't believe that santa was real, then santa wasn't real." My son decided that there was no harm in believing in santa so he does.
It's a year later and he's still not willing to take the chance of not getting a special present from santa by not believing in him.

I believed in Santa forever! I had two older sisters who did a great job of never letting me know the truth. I think I was in 5th grade. My mom bought my sister a gift when I was with her, then somehow my sister got that gift from Santa! So be careful parents, the little ones are smarter than you think. :-)

You mean there really is NO Santa?? (Lower lip starting to quiver...)

I believe in the spirit of Santa Claus. Every year I remind my older kids that if they tell the youngest that there is no Santa, they will not receive any gifts. So far she still believes in Santa. I think that Santa is much more than giving gifts.

It is a let down when your children get old enough to realize that there is no real Santa Claus. My grandkids all still believe, but they are under 10 so it won't be long now. For me, I cannot wait for Xmas to be over, I am an ole' bah humbug, sorry. I think it is a waste of money. The only thing I like is baking cookies and having my kids and grandkids around a lot more.

"Those who believe, receive."

Please Gazette print the famous letter & editorial. I can find no copyright infringements about it. It is a very timely and wonderful story to share. For those who have not heard the story you can go and google it.

Yes Virgina There IS a Santa Claus...one of my all time favorite stories. Although I know Santa as a person is not real, I still believe in the spirit of Santa Claus.
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I found out that Santa the "person" was not real when I discovered my fathers Santa suit in the closet. It suddenly dawned on me that he (Santa) was much more than anyone person in a red suit.It did not shake my faith in my parents for having "lied" to me about his existence. Instead I am glad for it, as it bring back wonderful childhood memories.

I have always told my kids when asked this question that I believe in the magic of Christmas. My 8 year old stopped believing this year that Santa actually comes down the chimney. He still believes that Christmas is magical though and we now have a 8 week old baby so he whispers things about Santa around him so he doesn't find out.

I was listening to the radio and someone called in saying that telling your child that santa is real is child abuse. That you are instilling lies into the child and teaching them it is ok to lie as long as it is creating a good time. A false sense of reality is ok.
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I dont think it is child abuse but I do think it is kind of messed up we lie to kids and stuff, give them a false sense of reality (what religion is based on and they'll learn that later), and that all their hopes are fake along with their beliefs. You dont have to tell them santa is real and will come. You could turn it more into a legend and a myth. When I realized santa was fake, it made me wonder what else was made up to make us happy and feel better and have a good time. I realized God is the Santa for the adults that never grew up and got it.

The existence of santa cannot be disproved. One just needs to have sufficient faith.

My nine year old grandson recently told my fifteen year old grand daughter there was no Santa. She is still not convinced, but she did cry when she heard the news. Myself, I am not so sure there is no Santa. Virginia