I still remember the day my mom told me. I was 8 or 9 years old, so I️ had already known the truth for years. I knew my parents bought me the presents. They all said “from Mom and Dad” on them. My mom didn’t want Santa to get the credit for anything except delivery. I also knew he didn’t slip down our non-existent chimney, but at least they still snuck the presents out in the middle of the night for the big morning reveal.

Maybe Mom was in a bad mood that day. Maybe I asked about Santa one too many times. Whatever it was, I’ll always remember the words, “You know Santa’s not real right?” Coming out of her mouth and crushing a little of the Christmas Magic right out of me. And then I cried while my mom backpeddled and tried to explain something about the Christmas spirit being real and blah blah blah.

But all I could hear was … it wasn’t real. To me part of it was, until my mother told me it wasn’t.

Now we have a son and it’s time for us to decide – will Santa be real for him? How do we set him up to still believe in Christmas magic, yet not have some soul crushing revelation later? Personally, I’m excited to bring back the magic. I’m ready to welcome Santa back with open arms.

And when the day comes and he asks me if Santa real?

Yes! But…..

Good thing I’ve got a few years to work on that one.