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my parents told me from the get-go that Santa was a fictitious tradition that evolved to enhance collective generosity in order to assuage class guilt. Possibly inspired by imbibers of magic mushrooms (of which I am a huge fan btw). They also explained to me the coca coal/crass commercialism version of St. Nick/ Xmas to give me the full context of how much people will co-opt anything to grind the dollars. We had some deep convos about it each year, I think that was our version of cookies left out for an over-stuffed elf, talking the sociology and politics of what we know as 'Christmas'.
My parents never talked down to me or lied to me about stupid ish like flying reindeer and I don't feel like I missed out on anything.
The point is when you're a kid xmas rocks either way. you get cool stuff, you get to be surrounded by peeps you love, whether Santa 'exists' or not. I still felt the magic in the air, knowing my fav aunt was flying in to visit us, that I'd get some wicked gifts under the tree even if my family put them there.
Sure it was sh!tty of someone to out the ruse to your kids but I guess the question in my head is why lie to your kids in the first place? I don't see why it's necessary but for parent's own indulgence? my fav childhood memories of xmas are spending time with peeps I love, who love me. Why some of y'all parental sorts feel the need to build the event into something 'magical' for the little ones confuses me; there's nothing more meaningful than spending time with those that we love. Even kids grasp that, don't underestimate them.
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