Holly jolly Christmas conspiracy I tell ya!

[CNCVol88]

The elf on the shelf is obviously teaching kids to be okay with unconstitutional surveillance

The Elf on the Shelf is preparing your child to live in a future police state, professor warns - The Washington Post

 

[n_huffhines]

Wasn't the legend of Santa already doing that?

Personally I hate that we lie to our kids about Santa. I think we need to teach our kids to be skeptics early in life, so that the don't believe stupid stuff (other than Santa) all their lives. It's OK for them to think Santa is real for a bit (I won't be teaching them), but as soon as my kid asks me, I'm telling him/her there is no Santa.

 

[Obsessed]

Wasn't the legend of Santa already doing that?

Personally I hate that we lie to our kids about Santa. I think we need to teach our kids to be skeptics early in life, so that the don't believe stupid stuff (other than Santa) all their lives. It's OK for them to think Santa is real for a bit (I won't be teaching them), but as soon as my kid asks me, I'm telling him/her there is no Santa.

You are such a downer. I'm glad my parents allowed me to be a kid. Believe, dream and wonder.

 

[n_huffhines]

You are such a downer. I'm glad my parents allowed me to be a kid. Believe, dream and wonder.

Don't worry about my kids. I have a big imagination. We'll have lots of fun. You don't have to tell your kids the Hobbit is real for them to enjoy it. Christmas is awesome because of family and love and sharing.

 

[Obsessed]

Don't worry about my kids. I have a big imagination. We'll have lots of fun. You don't have to tell your kids the Hobbit is real for them to enjoy it. Christmas is awesome because of family and love and sharing.

I'm not worried about your kids. The legal system will handle them. My reference was about my parents allowing me to be a kid.

Dream. Wonder. Believe.

Hell if you had been obamas dad, he never would have thought he could be president.

Downer....

 

[CNCVol88]

I'm not worried about your kids. The legal system will handle them. My reference was about my parents allowing me to be a kid.

Dream. Wonder. Believe.

Hell if you had been obamas dad, he never would have thought he could be president.

Downer....

BRB. Getting stewies time machine.

 

[McDad]

Wasn't the legend of Santa already doing that?

Personally I hate that we lie to our kids about Santa. I think we need to teach our kids to be skeptics early in life, so that the don't believe stupid stuff (other than Santa) all their lives. It's OK for them to think Santa is real for a bit (I won't be teaching them), but as soon as my kid asks me, I'm telling him/her there is no Santa.

This was my approach. When they asked, I answered truthfully. Around 8 or 9 they start to ask about Santa. I figured it out about that time from conducting gift recon in my mom's closet. I was savvy enough to keep my big fat mouth shut and ride the Santa train till 12 or 13.

Honesty, not skepticism, was my goal. I want my children to know that they can ask me anything and I will provide an honest, and open answer. Has worked with Qs about sexuality, porn, babies, etc. Not always a comfortable convo but I try to be calm and understanding. I expect my tone and body language in my response is as important as the words.

 

[Creeker]

Why that sneaky little...time to torture him till he admits it.

 

[n_huffhines]

This was my approach. When they asked, I answered truthfully. Around 8 or 9 they start to ask about Santa. I figured it out about that time from conducting gift recon in my mom's closet. I was savvy enough to keep my big fat mouth shut and ride the Santa train till 12 or 13.

Honesty, not skepticism, was my goal. I want my children to know that they can ask me anything and I will provide an honest, and open answer. Has worked with Qs about sexuality, porn, babies, etc. Not always a comfortable convo but I try to be calm and understanding. I expect my tone and body language in my response is as important as the words.

Kids are smart. The more you treat them like they're smart the more they'll progress. Treat them like they're adorable morons and they'll be living with you on your health insurance until they're 27 (or whatever the age is).

 

[n_huffhines]

I'm not worried about your kids. The legal system will handle them. My reference was about my parents allowing me to be a kid.

Dream. Wonder. Believe.

Hell if you had been obamas dad, he never would have thought he could be president.

Downer....

No matter how much hate you have in your heart, I got the love of Jesus for you.

 

[volbeast33]

Kids are smart. The more you treat them like they're smart the more they'll progress. Treat them like they're adorable morons and they'll be living with you on your health insurance until they're 27 (or whatever the age is).

Wow.....your house sounds like loads of fun.....I can picture your house now......sitting around the fire at Christmas time with your kids on your lap....telling them the Christmas story of the evil govt and their interventions into our life............My son tested out in the top 98% of the USA in reading and math for his age. He makes straight A's and has been invited to UT to attend higher level education courses for gifted kids. His school has asked if he want to skip a grade or two to challenge him more. He is in the 2nd grade now and believes in Santa Clause and the elf on the shelf I think he will be just fine in life.

 

[mrorange211]

My son tested out in the top 98% of the USA in reading and math for his age. He makes straight A's and has been invited to UT to attend higher level education courses for gifted kids. His school has asked if he want to skip a grade or two to challenge him more. He is in the 2nd grade now and believes in Santa Clause and the elf on the shelf I think he will be just fine in life.

 

[n_huffhines]

Wow.....your house sounds like loads of fun.....I can picture your house now......sitting around the fire at Christmas time with your kids on your lap....telling them the Christmas story of the evil govt and their interventions into our life............My son tested out in the top 98% of the USA in reading and math for his age. He makes straight A's and has been invited to UT to attend higher level education courses for gifted kids. His school has asked if he want to skip a grade or two to challenge him more. He is in the 2nd grade now and believes in Santa Clause and the elf on the shelf I think he will be just fine in life.

Congrats.

Lots o' butt-hurt in here. Parents are so touchy. Believing in Santa won't make your kid stupid. Being a skeptic will make your kid smarter. What's so controversial about what I'm saying?

 

[volbeast33]

Congrats.

Lots o' butt-hurt in here. Parents are so touchy. Believing in Santa won't make your kid stupid. Being a skeptic will make your kid smarter. What's so controversial about what I'm saying?

You read a lot into my comment.....Im not butthurt about anything...... I just don't agree with your feelings.....You have to allow kids a chance to be kids.....When you are young everything is wondrous and magical and u need to allow kids to experience it. Its not just Santa.....they believe Mickey Mouse is real too. I had custody of a little girl several yrs back and I took her to see Pikachu bc she was a big Pokémon fan.....When Pikachu started walking up the street....she ran into the middle of the road....yelling Pikachu is real, Pikachu is real.....I cant think of a more precious moment then that. There is plenty of time for them to learn about how hard life is and the challenges they will be facing when they get older.

 

[n_huffhines]

You read a lot into my comment.....Im not butthurt about anything...... I just don't agree with your feelings.....You have to allow kids a chance to be kids.....When you are young everything is wondrous and magical and u need to allow kids to experience it. Its not just Santa.....they believe Mickey Mouse is real too. I had custody of a little girl several yrs back and I took her to see Pikachu bc she was a big Pokémon fan.....When Pikachu started walking up the street....she ran into the middle of the road....yelling Pikachu is real, Pikachu is real.....I cant think of a more precious moment then that. There is plenty of time for them to learn about how hard life is and the challenges they will be facing when they get older.

Not perpetuating the lie of Santa =/= not allowing kids to be kids

I'll have free range kids. They'll have more fun than anyone

 

[volbeast33]

Not perpetuating the lie of Santa =/= not allowing kids to be kids

I'll have free range kids. They'll have more fun than anyone

I didn't mention your kids but what you call perpetuating a lie....I call make believe, fantasy, and imagination.

 

[n_huffhines]

We agree that make believe, imagination, and fantasy is awesome. Where we differ is that I don't think you actually have to believe it to make it awesome. Elf is an awesome movie whether or not you believe in Santa.

 

[CNCVol88]

I did not expect this to turn into a parenting thread but then again this is volnation

 

[n_huffhines]

I did not expect this to turn into a parenting thread but then again this is volnation

Wut? The original topic is about parents doing elf on the shelf. It's been about parenting from the get-go.

 

[volbeast33]

Wut? The original topic is about parents doing elf on the shelf. It's been about parenting from the get-go.

That I agree on LOL

 

[volbeast33]

We agree that make believe, imagination, and fantasy is awesome. Where we differ is that I don't think you actually have to believe it to make it awesome. Elf is an awesome movie whether or not you believe in Santa.

You are speaking from the vantage point of an adult......my older kids are in that age where they know Santa is not real but they have not reached full maturity.....They still want to believe even though they know it is not real.

 

[n_huffhines]

I remember when I found out Santa wasn't real. I felt stupid and lied to. I guess that's why I have the opinions I do. Don't get me wrong, I don't resent my parents, and they hardly perpetuated the myth. I just felt lied to by society as a whole, LOL.

 

[CNCVol88]

Wut? The original topic is about parents doing elf on the shelf. It's been about parenting from the get-go.

Kinda expected it to be more about the nsa and spying on citizens and stuff. Not about whether or not our kids are gonna believe in Santa Claus. Lol.

 

[hog88]

I can't remember exactly when my kids figured out the fat guy leaving presents under the tree was me instead of Santa but it didn't seam to bother them. Bothered me more than them, Christmas hasn't been the same since.

 

[volbeast33]

I remember when I found out Santa wasn't real. I felt stupid and lied to. I guess that's why I have the opinions I do.

Your parents handled it wrong then....when it was time to confirm to my daughter that Santa wasn't real.....She was disappointed but we explained to her about the magic of Christmas and how one day she would be able to share this time of the year with her kids. Now she pretty much does the elf on the shelf things for her younger brothers and still finds it to be exciting.