I heard rumors while at the boys and girls club that Santa wasn't real. About the same time, I found out when on Christmas Eve in 4th grade I saw my parents working on presents, and it hit me. I wrote them a nasty letter complete with drawings and it upset my parents. I believe that was the year we got the PS1, and I just stared at it in disbelief thinking there was no way my parents could have gotten that for me and my brother....shortly after Christmas, I overheard my mom talking with my aunt about how I found out Santa wasn't real and that soon they'll be telling my brother...so then it became "official".

I still believe in Santa, at least in what he represents. I loved setting out cookies for Santa and carrots and celery for the reindeer, and in second grade Mrs. O had us write letters for Santa, and soon after we got letters back and I remember how excited she was about how our letters came from the North Pole and she had us feel the envelope, and it was icy cold. I like how technology has granted us the Santa Tracker...it was around even when I was little, and I like to see where Santa's at in the world, even today. If I can find it, my mom made a Santa dispatch over the radio, it was very cool. The one thing that keeps me believing in Santa is the one time my brother and I actually saw Santa flying in his sled over the apartments one year, and then as we went to sleep hearing bells. I am not making this up! My brother doesn't believe it/remember it anymore, but we looked out our window and off in the distance we saw the silhouette of Santa and his reindeer flying over our apartment complex. I can see it as clear as day (or night) in my mind.

I think the most important thing about Santa is the magic of believing in the Christmas spirit, like the Polar Express.

I don't have children, but I will do exactly what my parents did to celebrate the magic of Christmas. Personally, I'll let them figure it out on their own, but I'll emphasize what Santa stands for, what he represents, and I will make sure they don't spoil Santa for other children. Come Christmas time, lots of naughty children spread nasty rumors, but I won't let my children be like that whether or not they believe. I want them to experience what I experienced as a child, but I want them to understand they don't necessarily have to "grow out of" Santa to appreciate the joy of Christmas.

I hope that makes sense.