“No, Santa isn’t real,” he’d explain to them (referring to the fat guy in a red suit, not the philosophical version presented by Russell above.) “It’s a lot of fun and it makes people feel good, but he’s not a real person (even though his modern character is based on St. Nikolaus). But I want you to know that Jesus Christ *is* real, that he *was* born in Bethlehem, and he *does* live still today. *That* is not a story. That is the truth.”

He’d explain to them that they can continue to pretend about Santa and can still have fun. He’s a grown adult, and he still pretends, so there’s no reason a younger person can’t still have fun with it. He didn’t offer excuses and he didn’t try to justify anything with overly complicated answers. He just told it like it is, which is exactly what his boys were asking for, and at the same time solidified the reality of Jesus Christ.

He explained that even though this method might keep from prolonging the game another year or two, the honesty helps to creates an unspoken trust between the parent and child that comes back to pay huge benefits when the child has much more serious questions about believing in something he’s never seen. You can still continue the game with the older kids by letting them in on the secret with a wink and a nudge as they continue the tradition with their younger siblings.

But without telling the truth as soon as they ask, you risk the damaging prospect of having to confess to lying about some things (Santa, the Easter Bunny, the tooth fairy) while claiming other things to be true (Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, the Church). It’s a tangling web and a confusing set of complex conversations and justifications that I’d rather avoid with my teenage kids once they get to that point.

I thought it was a brilliant solution to a common problem, and I’m certainly going to apply it when my kids ask about Santa. There’s plenty of time later to discuss the finer points of an existential spirit of Christmas being embodied by all of us that is the real Santa Claus. I just don’t think a ten year old is going to go for that.

Jon

Not necessarily the Jolly old elf with warp-speed, space flight capable, reindeer and an annual escort from the United States Air Force. (Although, showing http://www.noradsanta.org to my youngest was fun.) I believe in Santa the righteous gift giver. Who follows the example of the Savior and gives in love to all with no expectation of recognition or reward in this life. Santa is the archetype of the ideal home teacher or bishop who goes about tending to the needs of the saints even when they aren’t looking. Even if it means going out in the dead of night to see that they are taken care of. That example gives me something to try to emulate. I’m nowhere close to that level but if I keep trying, perhaps I’ll move down that path a little.

As we advance, do you see that there will be far greater and more horrific sin available to our powers? So that we, as we are now, appear as innocents to those more powerful than us? Is it any surprise that they find pleasure in doing us good?

Think about it, in this universe there are creatures both smaller and larger than us, faster and slower, stronger and weaker. Of every trait there is a continuum which we fall somewhere upon. It only makes sense that there are also creatures smarter and less intelligent, kinder and crueler, more benevolent and more malevolent, weaker and more powerful. To imagine otherwise is to misunderstand the scale of the cosmos entirely.