I don't remember exactly what I told my oldest son. It hasn't come up yet with my smaller ones, but I believe and try to teach my kids that "Santa" is the spirit of giving. I remember that it was really not a big deal with my oldest when he figured things out. Now, I try very hard not to actually lie to my kids. I keep things more along the lines of "what do you believe?" I think my response will be something like..."if/when you don't believe, Santa won't leave you anything anymore."  My youngest (4) today asked me "did Rudolf die, mom?"  I said, "I don't know." She said, "yea, Rudolf lives forever" and I said very quietly, "yes, in your heart, forever."  I believe it's the spirit of Christmas and giving that lives in your heart. That to us, is what Santa is all about!

My son said something surprisingly wonderful when we were putting up the Christmas lights during the first weekend of the month. He had broken a cheap goodie bag toy and was sad; yet there was no way to fix it. He said, "What about Santa's elves? They can fix it!" I said, "I don't think so, honey. It's pretty broken." Then he says, "I know they can fix it mom, because I BELIEVE in them, and when you BELIEVE in it, it can happen." As a parent I will never take the magic of belief away from my children, no matter their age. Just because we can't see Jesus doesn't mean he doesn't exist in our hearts. You just have to believe in Him. Just because there isn't an actual chubby elf coming down our chimneys on Christmas Eve doesn't mean the spirit of giving is lost.  Other children at school will try to ruin the magic of Christmas for him....it's bound to happen...but it will never come from me.

I LOVE it. That same thought crossed my mind. I still believe in Santa. Why do we even question it??!!! It's the one way we can stay a "kid" forever!

What a great question! About a month ago I read something about how to tell your kids. Oh, how I wish could remember exactly how it went. I decided it is what I wanted to do; so maybe if I write down what I remember, someone else will know what the heck I am talking about. Basically it ended with Mom &/or Dad being Santa so it goes along with what Sarah is saying - Santa always exists. I'm so lame & brain dead (and I'm not even drinking!) so the grand prize goes to whoever gets the story from that. hahaha

I think the movie, "The Polar Express," said it best.....I would watch the movie and see if it helps. I'm thinking I'm going to make it a Family Tradition to watch it each year. As the time draws near to that famous ever pending question........We will have been addressing it all along. Know what I mean??

Right now, Christopher is 3 & doesn’t know about Santa & Christmas. When he asks, I will tell him that they are about giving. By saying Santa is a spirit, it is not lying like saying he is an actual person. Saint Nicholas was a person that symbolized giving & generosity. Our truth about Santa will be told from the start. There was an interesting article about an 2007 update to the question “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.” This article is at http://www.usaweekend.com/07_issues/071223/071223yes-virginia-santa-claus.html.