https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 26 Jun 2026 06:49:53 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-959318 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 12:19:47 +0000 Smurfette 959318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@photojane: I am 34 and my parents still sign our gifts from Santa. </p> <p>I agree with @MrsMccarthy: I don't see it as lying but pretending. Santa is everywhere in stores, day care, schools, how can you hide it from your kids? </p> <p>I think the important thing is to teach your children the real reason for Christmas and Easter. Not the Santa and the Easter Bunny. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-959295 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 12:15:09 +0000 MrsMccarthy 959295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love all holidays and make believe. I don't think it's lying so much as pretending. Not that there is anything wrong with not doing it either. But for me, I am agnostic who leans on the atheist side but I will steal any holiday from any religion so long as its fun!!!! I just love to celebrate and make believe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-959124 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 11:38:48 +0000 kiddosc 959124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: +1 I don't have any trust issues because my parents let me believe in Santa, etc. I think it's fun and look forward to it with E. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-959081 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 11:29:00 +0000 MamaMoose 959081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will definitely be doing Santa, The Easter Bunny, etc. I certainly don't know anyone who was traumatized by finding out Santa isn't real. This is one of the best and most magical parts of childhood in my opinion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-959052 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 11:23:18 +0000 daniellemybelle 959052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will definitely do Santa and the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy, etc... but we aren't going to go out of our way to convince our kids that they are capital-R Real. I think it's fun and harmless to play pretend - kids live in make-believe land for only so long. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958946 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 10:58:47 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 958946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: @Arden: this is how I grew up and I wouldn't mind doing the same with my future kids. My DH is very into Santa though, so I'm not sure how we will handle it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958937 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 10:56:33 +0000 ALV91711 958937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will do the Santa and Easter bunny, but we will also teach our son the reason why we celebrate Christmas and Easter. I think knowing the reason behind the celebrations is important and not just about getting presents. </p> <p>I also think elf on the shelf is creepy and won't do this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958921 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 10:52:13 +0000 plantains 958921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, we will be doing Santa and the tooth fairy for sure. Easter Bunny, I have no idea. I think it is fun for kids, plus they figure it out so early on their own anyway, I see no reason not to let them have fun for a bit. </p> <p>Elf on a Shelf is creepy IMO. I didn't even know what it was until last year, so no, we won't be doing that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958899 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 10:46:54 +0000 lamariniere 958899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: We are like that too. We don't do Santa, the Easter Bunny or any of the other holiday stuff, but we also don't ignore that it exists. </p> <p>I'm not sure how to approach it this year since DS turns 3 just after Christmas and he will likely be more aware of the holiday stuff. I think his daycare does some non-religious things for the bigger holidays. Here they celebrate St. Nicholas day (Dec. 6, I think) and they get a goodie bag for that and they got a goodie bag for Easter. I'm ok with all of that as long as it doesn't turn religious. I'm not yet sure how I'm going to explain all of this to him though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958876 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 10:44:03 +0000 matador84 958876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've gotta get better at this...I don't decorate for any holidays, DH and I don't really celebrate...we just don't get into them! All our friends think we're weirdos. With two LO's I think it'll be fun to do Santa and all the other fake holiday things...but I've got to get into it more! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958861 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 10:41:32 +0000 FarmWifeGina 958861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We celebrate Christmas and Easter, we just leave out the Santa and Easter Bunny parts. Neither of us grew up with these characters, so they're simply not part of our holiday mindsets at all.<br /> I still loooooooove Christmas though! We exchange gifts because we love each other and we remember how God loved us and sent us the gift of Jesus.<br /> And Easter is very much a religious celebration, no smidgins of the Easter Bunny at all. We do Easter baskets and egg hunts, but more as a game- the kids know we're giving them the baskets and hiding the eggs.<br /> I guess we'll probably have to teach them not to ruin these things for other kids though. This was also something DH and I didn't grow up with- because none of the kids we went to school or church with believed in any of these things either! Our kids will most likely attend public school though, so I guess we better tell them to zip it. We don't celebrate with these traditions, but I have nothing against those who do and I understand how special the magic of Santa is to some people. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958708 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 10:02:07 +0000 deactivated_account 958708@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@photojane: my mom still gives me and my sister and our DHs presents from Santa. We get stockings too!!! I love celebrating the holidays!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958608 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 09:35:42 +0000 looch 958608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think as long as things are presented with the historical information, there is no reason not to share traditions with kids. What I have a hard time with is people dressing up as Santa or wearing an Easter Bunny costume. I just don't get the point of that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958591 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 09:31:39 +0000 aprk 958591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No we won't be doing Santa or tooth fairy or the like. It's helpful to read other responses on how to deal with it though. I know our families are going to not be happy with us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958584 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 09:29:36 +0000 mrsjazz 958584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: @NaturallyCathy: I hate Elf on the Shelf. We are definitely not doing that.</p> <p>I didn't have Santa until I was older. Weird, I know. We were Jehovah's Witnesses when I was little so there was no Santa. But after my mom left the Jdubs and had my brothers we had Santa. My sister and I got to help be Santa.</p> <p>We don't know what we're going to do. We might go the fairytale route that @Arden: is doing. We haven't talked about this with our parents yet and I know they are going to think we are ruining LOs childhood.</p> <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: My mom did the same thing, transformed our apartment into a Christmas wonderland. But I hated it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958576 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 09:26:17 +0000 Happygal 958576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had them, but I figured out very early they weren't real. I told my friend Santa wasn't real and made her cry. Whoops. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958573 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 09:25:13 +0000 Mrs. Polish 958573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: that's a great way to phrase it. thanks for sharing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958570 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 09:24:34 +0000 Mrs. Polish 958570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: this is exactly how we feel about the whole thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958544 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 09:16:36 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 958544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love celebrating holidays. My mom transformed the entire house into a magical wonderland every Christmas, and if my husband would let me I'd start decorating the day after Halloween. Halloween is my second favorite holiday, and I'm not allowed to start decorating for that until the end of September. (Sorry, mini hijack!)</p> <p>Obviously, we celebrate holidays &amp; believe in Santa + the Easter Bunny. It's a tradition we both had as kids, and want to continue for our own. I'm the one who gets carried away in the holiday spirit, though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958540 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 09:15:18 +0000 photojane 958540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My oldest brother is 33, and my parents still give us presents from Santa haha :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958537 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 09:14:48 +0000 mamimami 958537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: Wow that is a great explanation. We aren't doing Santa etc. but I have been struggling with how to not ruin it for everyone who chooses to do so. </p> <p>My son is 2.5 and he really wants to believe in Santa -- it's impossible to avoid the idea via books, TV, ads, other people, etc. Last Christmas he didn't really care so much but after that he's been like, "I want Santa to come" and "I want to meet Santa" and I feel kind of sad about that :( I don't want to burst his bubble but it's a decision we've made as a family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958536 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 09:14:45 +0000 runsyellowlites 958536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>(I haven't read the other responses)</p> <p>We skipped them.... Lying in any manner isn't acceptable for any of us or our home. Only on one occasion has it ever been a problem &amp; that's when G's bio dad told him that I ruined his childhood bc we don't do those things. After having a long talk with G &amp; asking if he'd rather I had lied to him &amp; gone along with those things he decided that no, he wouldn't have been happier with me lying to him. He takes alot of pride in knowing that the information we share is factual &amp; he doesn't have to worry about not trusting us.</p> <p>G's never spoiled in for anyone on his own accord.... We have had problems with people continuously asking him what Santa is bring him (literally 3, 4, 5 times) until he answers we don't do Santa.... I tell you adults are the worst about pushing things like that. Lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958523 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 09:08:03 +0000 Arden 958523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. wagon: My Mom just told me "Some people like to pretend its real, and they get very sad when they find out that it's make-believe. So let's be nice and let them pretend, and when they are ready to know, their parents can tell them."</p> <p>I never told anyone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958503 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 09:00:54 +0000 spaniellove 958503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Polish: You know, I really can't remember! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958502 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 09:00:53 +0000 mrs. wagon 958502@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: ah, that's a great way of putting it-- like fairy tales. And yes, how in the world to not spoil it for other kids...??? Gahh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958496 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 08:59:25 +0000 Arden 958496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Same as Mrs. Jacks. We'll give it a nod, but our kids will not believe in them. It will be approached as a nice story/pretend game. Like fairy tales.</p> <p> They will know not to spoil it for others though... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958495 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 08:59:23 +0000 mrs. wagon 958495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We'll do Santa for a while, but I caught on really early and I'm pretty sure my kids will, too. But we'll still do gifts "from Santa" each year.. with them knowing it's really us. :) We have already done Easter baskets but I didn't say they were from the Easter Bunny.. I was kind of planning on saying it, but when he saw them, it felt really weird to outright lie and say the Easter Bunny left them..!! Maybe I feel more comfortable about Santa since there are gifts under the tree from Mommy and Daddy too? and the Santa gift is just kind of the bonus? </p> <p>We love love love traditions and didn't have a whole lot growing up since our parents were immigrants and not very aware of things like the Easter Bunny, so I love to provide those things for my kids (but mostly so they'll have the presents and treats for the holidays). I think the characters themselves (Santa, Easter Bunny, etc) will just be holiday-themed characters to know about and visit, like Disney characters or Elmo. You know?</p> <p>ETA: oh yeah, we are religious and celebrate Easter and Christmas at church for those reasons as well. I think of Santa / Easter Bunny as separate celebrations. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958488 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 08:57:52 +0000 Lindsay05 958488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up with santa, easter bunny etc and never ever seen it as a religious holiday. We never went to church. I loved it because of its magical feeling and a good reason to get with family and eat your face off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958485 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 08:57:28 +0000 Mrs. Polish 958485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: did they teach you to not ruin it for other kids? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-not-have-santa-easter-bunny-etc#post-958469 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 08:52:56 +0000 Mrs. Grizzly Bear 958469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsCB: DH looooooooooves Christmas and would probably divorce me if we didn't celebrate. I don't think he'd care if we did sans Santa though. I like @LuLu Mom: 's approach to Santa. Hopefully we'll grt this all hashed out before the kids become aware of who Santa is. </p> <p>On an unrelated note, DH's dad has this insanely creepy plastic Santa doll from when he was a kid (55 odd years ago). There's pictures of him posed with it. Well apparently it got put in an attic and melted a little which is why it looks so insanely creepy. His family loves it. It's worse than Elf on a Shelf! I wish it would disappear forever. </p>