How to deal with 'Is Father Christmas real?' questions!

[clothmama]

I know there are a few of us with kids who are at that questioning age - Louis has been for a few years but I actually said something about him not being real and he seemed really upset / sad - I think he had still been nurturing the hope. I spotted these letters on pinterest and thought this is a lovely idea - I'm going to try to to get my own version done for Louis today and put it in the christmas Eve box so he doesnt' feel as sad about loosing any magic. I think this a nice idea!




@girlinleeds

Please feel free to add any ideas you have seen or used to the thread!

http://www.scarymommy.com/viral-post-br ... e=FBOnsite

I love these! I have a love hate relationship with Father Christmas, I find it very hard in a world where some have nothing to pretend to takes presents to all kids across the world. I grew up in a very Catholic house where the church bits of Christmas were the main bit, FC was not a big feature, although I was devastated to find out he wasn't real
We just try and keep it all very low key here. They all still believe but I think this is our last Christmas of that. I love the idea that Father Christmas is everyone in these letters and the spirit of keeping the magic alive. It's nice to move away from the commercialism of it all.

What lovely letters

[clothmama]

So this is what I ended up writing, a bit of a mix of the 2 above plus a couple of sentences I added. I'm going to put it in the Christmas Eve box this evening:

Dear Louis,
You asked a really good question: ‘Is Father Christmas real?’. I wanted to give you a better explanation!

The answer is ‘YES’ - he does exist just not in the way you have believed. I am not Santa and there is no one, single Santa either. Santa is bigger than any person and his work has gone on longer than any of us have lived. Father Christmas is lots and lots of people who keep the spirit of Christmas alive. He doesn’t live in the North Pole but he lives in our hearts. So when I tell you I believe in him – it is because I still do! Santa is the magic and love and spirit of giving to others.

What Father Christmas does is simple, but it is powerful. The reason why it is important for children to believe in Santa is because he teaches us to believe in things we can’t see or touch. Throughout your life you will need this capacity to believe in yourself, in your family, in friends and more importantly – LOVE.

Dad and I are the people who read your letters, picked your presents, wrapped them with love, and put them under the Christmas tree. We do this just as our parents did for us, and their parents for them, and like you will do for your kids one day (and I promise you that your heart will be filled with joy when you see the happiness and excitement come Christmas morning as I am with you).

Now you know the secret of how he gets down all those chimneys on Christmas Eve: he has help from all of the people whose hearts he has filled with Joy. I know you are a a little sad to loose some of the magic you once believed now that you know the secret – but the truth is that you now know a different kind of secret and I hope you never forget that Santa is love, hope, magic and happiness. I hope you’ll help me keep Father Christmas alive for Remy, your little cousins and friends who still believe in him as a person. A child has to be ready to understand this kind of secret and magic and now you know for sure you can help me continue on this tradition for our family. Just as you found joy in believing in Santa as a person I can assure you you will have lots of joy watching others believe in the magic.

Merry Christmas my lovely big boy,
Lots of love,

That's lovely

Beautiful, may have made me cry!