Tuesday, December 03, 2013

I Don't Lie About Santa to My Kids

I'm with Matt Fradd.

When you tell your kids that Santa comes down the chimney, that he lives at the North Pole and has flying reindeer, it's a lie. It does not matter that the intention isn't to deceive, it is deceptive, and it's objectively untrue.

I don't "do" Santa with my kids.

I told my two oldest that if they want to pretend Santa exists, I'm fine with that.

Neither have taken me up on the offer.

My five-year-old isn't really caught up in Santa. Since we don't take Santa too seriously in our household, she doesn't really think about it.

I want my children to be able to trust me, because there may come a time when it is crucial that they believe what I say. So I refrain from telling them things that are objectively untrue.