I definitely agree. if parents didn't make up these wild stories to tell kids, it's one less "heart crushing" (apparently popular consensus is that it's some sort of devastating traumatic thing) they would have to go to. I've never believed in that junk and Christmas was still just as good. teach your kids what Christmas is really about.

Don't see what the big deal is about discovering that Santa and the Tooth Fairy aren't real either. I found out by myself and didn't really care at all. In some cases I was even excited, like when I discovered that the Easter Bunny wasn't real, because I could participate (I hid the eggs and chocolates. Made me so excited!) To be honest, I felt more betrayed when I found out that there were negative numbers. THAT was heartbreaking.

I never believed in Santa, not when I was little either. I knew the light outside was a plane, not a reindeer. I knew when the cookies were gone it was b.c of my parents. But I never ruined it for my little brother, and back in the day, I didn't like my younger brother too much. Why didn't I ruin it? Because it was fun for my mom and dad to do all this for us. My parents got so excited when we both could grasp a Santa concept. Lying? Yeah, they did lie, and I didn't believe them, but I played along and I had so much fun. I celebrated with my brother and parents every Christmas, until he was 10. You don't like Santa, or the tooth fairy? Don't teach your children the stories as real, don't celebrate Christmas as if Santa is apart of it. Many families take him out of Christmas, for many different reasons. But be prepared to tell your kids about the one's that do believe, and tell them not to ruin it for them. Or not, and then expect a phone call from an unhappy parent with a sobbing child. Or risk your child not being friends with someone they use to hang out with all the time, once Christmas rolls around. You have the ability to not teach you children something. But when it comes to holidays and how people celebrate them, have the courtesy to teach your children why it shouldn't be ruined for those that celebrate differently from your family.

#115, It's because you figured it out on your own. Big difference. But I do agree with you, finding out about negative numbers was such a shocker in my school career. Little me in 2nd grade, finds out you can subtract 11 from 5, and it's -6. Made no since, how could you have amount less than 0. I can't not own 6 apple, ah, but you can owe them. Cruel, cruel. That ladies and gentlemen is how we learned about debt, with negative numbers.

I learned about it as holes - 3 is 3 bears, -2 is 2 holes big enough for bears. Add them and you get 2 hikes filled with bear, and one bear left over. Great book called from nought to relativity. Must have been 7 or 8 at the time.

Holes, not hikes. My bad.

Really? I could punch you. Why are you judging what other people believe in? Stop talking out your ass, as that's obviously where your head is stationed.