We have talked about Santa several times since the big reveal, and they are still glad they know the truth. They feel empowered by their knowledge, and they know their parents respect their intelligence enough to be honest with them. Their childhoods, as far as I can tell, have not been destroyed. There is no shortage of real stuff in their worlds that provides them with a “sense of wonder,” one of the common benefits touted by Santa advocates.
And here’s maybe the best part. We asked the kids if they want to “play the Santa game” this year at Christmas time, and they do. My wife can go as Santa crazy as she wants, and I can too, without feeling the slightest bit of guilt over participating in the disinformation campaign against American children.
I can even avoid the annoying conversations with other parents who think I’m a monster for not wanting to perpetuate the hoax. Tell almost any of the people I hang out with that you are an atheist, and they are totally cool with it. But that tolerance doesn’t extend to Santa Deniers. Unless you have a “valid” cultural reason for shunning Santa, you are pretty much considered a child abuser, and even strangers will tell you as much.
But this year will be different. “Sure, they’re excited for Santa to come,” I’ll say in response to the inevitable Yuletide small talk. And with a wink to my kids: “Aren’t you?”
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