For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for December 13, 2011

Too late.

Mike already ruined Elizabeth’s Christmas.

When my boy was 9, he asked me, “There really isn’t a Santa Claus, is there?” I said, “Well, son, if you ask me a straight question, I won’t lie to you.” So I told him that Santa Claus represents the spirit of Christmas and the good feelings people have at this time of year, and he took it well. Then he said, “What about the Easter Bunny?” “Nope, no Easter Bunny, either.” He started crying. “You should’ve lied to me.” He still believed in the Tooth Fairy, though. He knew that if he didn’t believe in the Tooth Fairy, he wouldn’t get any money.

if he’s asking, he knows. No need to tell Lizzie though.

hmm, same as mine :)

It’s so nice when children stay innocent.

If Michael knows, OK, but why ruin it for his little sister?

Household rule: (when I was growing up ) Even if you knew about no santa actually existing, keep it to yourself. Another, he (or she) who doesn’t believe in santa gets no gifts.

I’m starting to think that the rebellious attitude that children develop as they grow up has its seed in the lies that parents tell them when they’re younger, especially Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and even (gasp) the Tooth Fairy. Especially Santa – Society has built an entire industry on a fiction – how are children supposed to believe their elders after discovering it’s all make believe?

I agree with luckylouie. it’s the spirit of the season, and kids will get to the age where they understand that (usually around Michael’s age). When they’re younger, it’s just mean to burst their excitement. My kids understand both that it’s all about Jesus being born, and also that we give presents to celebrate Jesus’s birth. They know Santa is about the magic of the season, and haven’t asked much more questions. I think my 8 year old has an idea, but she really wants to enjoy believing and I don’t see anything wrong with that.

At certain times, Ellie can be a real PUTZ! And THIS is one of those times!

Fun activity: in panel one, replace the word “Santa” with the word “Sex.” The rest of the strip still works..@psychlady, @pouncingtiger: I am not exactly sure how telling Elizabeth that her presents are given by loving parents rather than by some anonymous cosmic policeman at the North Pole is “ruining” anything.

@puddleglum1066 seriously?

stick with the story no matter what!!

The “Santa” issue is always a strange one to me because people tend to get so up in arms about it. When a kid starts asking if Santa is real and why does he use the same wrapping paper and have the same handwriting as mom and dad – they’re probably ready to know the truth. I also don’t buy the whole “I don’t want to lie to my children and so I tell them the truth about Santa” line. Please . . . . like Santa is the biggest lie or half truth parents tell their kids. How about where babies come from, or if you waited for marriage, or telling them that their art project looks great when you don’t even know which end is up?

I discovered the truth on my own and I kept it a secret. I was about 6 or 7 at the time.

I don’t understand what any of you are talking about. I’m 57, my youngest ‘child’ is 20, and I haven’t acknowledged to either of them that some people think there’s no Santa. They both may think I’m an idiot, but that’s ok. If you don’t leave some room for magic to happen, there won’t be any.

@Ellymae2011, @hsawlrae — Come, now; the observation by puddleglum was unexpected, but not wrong, and certainly not “sick”..You don’t have to be Sigmund Freud to know that surprisingly young children are aware of sexuality on some level , even if they don’t know what it’s called, or the how and why. (If you don’t know that, wake up and start paying attention; your kids are human.) This is certainly true today — we’re living in one of the most thoroughly, pervasively sex-saturated societies in human history — but it was just as true in an earlier generation, when this storyline is set; they just weren’t as unabashed about talking about it as we are now..As with Santa Claus, you simply answer the question, as asked and no more, in a way consistent with the kid’s experience and level of understanding..(And by the way, as for Santa Claus you could also say: “A very long time ago, a kind and generous man went around leaving gifts for needy people — he was called Saint Nicholas. People have always remembered his spirit of giving, and we remember it now in the form of Santa Claus.” A little history thrown in never hurts. :] )

The problem today is that some people think of the federal government as a santa claus.

Kids need to be told: Jesus is the Reason for the season!

NEVER LIE TO YOUR KIDS or anyone

I got my quarters from the tooth-mommy and tooth-daddy when I lost my baby teeth.

The folks weren’t into presenting fiction as truth, but still managed to keep things fun.

at my usa house growing up (not JW, jewish or other) – i had no:birthday partiesxmas giftstooth fairyeaster bunnyor anything elsei never believed in any of that stuff as i never saw any gifts, money, gelt, whateveri still give to toys for tots and food banks though

Aw, but what happens when the children ask about the stork that delivered them?

I was told he wasn’t real at age three, I didn’t have much emotional real estate in him so it was no shock, I just had to not tell the other kids and that was fun! It was like I had a secret and they didn’t know.