JumpStart by Robb Armstrong for December 07, 2014

Walmart is real, kid.

Go with Saint Nicholas, the historical person, and can Santa Claus, the myth. I think SC, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, all contribute to generational, wealth based, religious and racial divisions in the world.

For those who need an answer…read “Yes, Vigirnia there is a Santa Claus” in the late 19th century wrote to the local newspaper asking if Santa was real. The editor wrote a response in the paper.

The response has been made into a children’s book, TV movie and macys commercials

My kids figured out when they were three or four, when they asked me and I said “think about the story, and then decide if you think it makes sense.” They both said “that can’t happen! It must be made up.” I love my rational children.

Good job!

Parents, do you really think your children’s love for Santa Claus depends on them actually believing he’s real? As a child, I was perfectly aware that Santa was make believe. I was also aware that my Superman cape was a towel with a clothespin, that my magic sword was made of plastic, and that my ray gun’s sounds were coming out of my own mouth. Do you think any of that mattered to me?

I’ve told this one before, but . . . when I was in about the second grade, some of my schoolmates said that they knew who Santa really was. (They were kind enough not to tell me.) So one day I asked Mom about it. She said, “Do you really want to know?” I assured her that I did, and she said, “It’s your mother and daddy.” I thought, “That makes sense!,” and immediately remembered things they’d done to help me believe, like hiding an alphabet easel in the closet and, when I discovered it, telling me they were storing it for Santa to deliver. I felt grateful to them for doing this. I’ve heard of someone later suing his parents because they"lied" to him about Santa, thus making him bitter and distrustful for the rest of his life.So when my kids asked about Santa, I told them the story of how the news had bounced off me.

Good Heavens!! Santa Clause is not real? What next The Easter Bunny is not real also?

I am 65 and have always believed.

A little more explanation might be helpful here. I accept what you’re saying, but I’m not sure how it relates to St. Nick.

I don’t know…. that Santa doesn’t really look like Frank in disguise!!!! Look at the difference in his nose! I suspect that Frank may somehow have connections that allow him to cash in a few favors from the real Santa.