When did you figure out that... [CHILDHOOD SPOILERS INSIDE]

When did you figure it out?

  • It was never a secret in my family

  • Age 4 or younger

  • Age 5

  • Age 6

  • Age 7

  • Age 8

  • Age 9

  • Age 10

  • Age 11 or older

  • I didn't know until this thread. THANK YOU VERY FUCKING MUCH.


Results are only viewable after voting.

Brigandier

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2008
4,394
2
81
I was young, maybe 6-7. It actually made me appreciate Christmas more, I was impressed my mom could get that many presents.
 

coldmeat

Diamond Member
Jul 10, 2007
9,213
109
106
I don't remember. Probably wasn't a moment where I suddenly realized he wasn't real. I probably just started doubting then when I found out it wasn't a surprise.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,542
921
126
My son had some friends over on Sunday and I was assembling a razor scooter for my son when one of the other kids chimed in that their scooters came assembled. I said, really? I find that hard to believe. And they said no really, we got them for Christmas. I almost blurted out that their father still had to assemble them but realized where they were going with it.
 

MotionMan

Lifer
Jan 11, 2006
17,123
12
81
We are Jewish, so not only did I never believe Santa Claus was real, I had to be told to not ruin it for all my non-Jewish friends at school.

LOL - I had to do the same thing with my kids, especially considering they go to an Episcopalian school.

MotionMan
 

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
12
0
I guess I would have been about 8 or 9 at the time. Somewhere around 1993 or 1994. I thought a Sega Genesis was too sophisticated for elves to make, and couldn't see Santa buying it at the mall. :p

I had my doubts much earlier. I can still vividly remember the infamous "we're getting ready" Christmas. I was four. My parents wouldn't let me downstairs to open presents because my dad was too f---ing lazy to set them up the night before. He kept saying they were getting ready. Doesn't Santa do that job? I don't know why that's stuck in my head, but it sums up my Dad's character to a tee. :D
 

SamQuint

Golden Member
Dec 6, 2010
1,155
45
91
Around 7 or 8. Little bastard at school started running around telling us he wasn't real. I waited up that Christmas and checked out what was going on. Saw my mom wrapping up the "Santa" gifts. Made me appreciate my gifts so much more. I don't think I let on that I knew for another couple of years. Had my doubts early on because I knew that things were not like they should be. Good kids that were poor were not getting presents. Asshole rich kids were getting tons of good stuff from Santa. You just know that if there was a Santa he wouldn't be that way.
 

AreaCode707

Lifer
Sep 21, 2001
18,445
131
106
my parents didn't tell me but I never believed it anyway. It never really occurred to me that other kids could take it seriously. I don't think I ever spoiled it for anyone, but that is probably more a matter of never having the topic come up because as a kid I would not have seen a problem with disclosing that info.
 

mrjminer

Platinum Member
Dec 2, 2005
2,739
16
76
A kid at my school told me when I was like 6 or 7, but I didn't believe him. I told my parents what he said and they're like, "well, do you think he's real?" I, of course, said, "yes." I figured it out a couple of years later.
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
46,674
10,114
146
I don't recall, but it must have been at a young age, because I have no memory of ever believing.
 

highland145

Lifer
Oct 12, 2009
43,973
6,334
136
Can't read the op but I ASSUME it's about Christmas. My wife's a licensed counselor and she said, "Truth, up front." My kid didn't have to get over fairy tales.
 

Brigandier

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2008
4,394
2
81
Can't read the op but I ASSUME it's about Christmas. My wife's a licensed counselor and she said, "Truth, up front." My kid didn't have to get over fairy tales.

I've tried expressing this opinion in front of friends, and I get lambasted. You'd ruin childhood if you took away Santa/Easter Bunny/Tooth Fairy.
 

highland145

Lifer
Oct 12, 2009
43,973
6,334
136
I've tried expressing this opinion in front of friends, and I get lambasted. You'd ruin childhood if you took away Santa/Easter Bunny/Tooth Fairy.
No. You give your child a swift kick in the "balls" when the truth is revealed. They have been LIED to for 5, 6, 7 years. It's part of their reality. AND IT'S F-n TRAUMATIC. Adults don't get it. Your child's personality is mostly formed by the time they are 9 or 10, and you've lied to them?

You're on the right track.
 
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