Christmas has always been magical in our home, especially because of David’s love for all things associated with Christmas—and, of course, for Santa Claus. But as he got older, I often found myself wondering:
When is the right time to tell a child—or a young adult—the truth about Santa?
By the time David was 21, his excitement for Christmas had only grown. He still looked forward to visiting Santa every year. I treasured his joy and excitement but found it difficult to find ways to bring him to see Santa (at his age etc.) I couldn’t ignore the comments from others as well:
“You’re making it harder for him by not telling him the truth.”
“He doesn’t really believe—it’s probably just for you.”
“Look at his photo with Santa last year—he looks so out of place!”
There was a lot more said but I just couldn’t write them.
I knew the time would come when I’d need to talk to him, especially as his younger siblings, Sean and Kate, reached the age where they were beginning to let go of the Santa story. When they turned 16, I decided it was time to have the conversation with David, too.
I sat him down and explained, “Sean and Kate don’t believe in Santa anymore, so we don’t need to pretend around them. As you know, Mummy and Daddy take on the role of Santa each year, so you’ll still get all your presents—nothing will really change.”
David seemed to take it in stride, nodding and replying, “Yeah, of course.” That year, we skipped the Santa visit for the first time, carried on with our usual Christmas outings, shopping and treats, and everything seemed normal. David was his usual cheerful self, and I thought we had turned a corner.
But then Christmas Eve arrived.
At 6.00 Daivd said “Quick! Turn on the RTE news!” “We need to see where Santa is!” He then proudly showed us the app on his phone tracking Santa’s journey—he was in Australia and would be here soon, David said.
We all froze, unsure how to respond. Gently, we reminded him about our earlier conversation. David brushed it off, saying, “Just hurry and get to bed! Don’t let him hear you. Where are the milk and cookies for Santa? And don’t forget the carrots for Rudolph!”
By 7:00 PM, David was in bed, excitedly counting down the hours until morning. He already knew what we had bought him, but he couldn’t wait for the surprises Santa would leave under the tree.
Panic set in with me the rest of the family. Sean and Kate, now fully understanding the situation, looked at me and said “Where under pressure Mum, I hope you’ve got some extra presents!” Luckily, I did.
Fast forward to today: David is 29 and still can’t wait for Christmas. He’s already marked the date of his Santa visit on his calendar on his phone, and he’s as proud as ever to keep the tradition alive.
I know some might find our approach unconventional. But in our family, it works. Sean, Kate, and I love seeing David’s joy and how he embraces the magic of the season. It keeps Christmas alive in our house, and honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing.🎄