Oh, and a promise.

[conuly]

I vow to never go up to you and call you a lying liar who lies just because you tell your kids about Santa or the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy and present these as fact (even though that *is* lying I understand that you probably have the best of intentions, anyway) so long as you promise not to say to my face that people who do otherwise are denying their kids a childhood, are joyless individuals, and clearly don't let their children pretend anything for any reason whatsoever. And I'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from making pleas to "innocence" - that's a pretty word that's kinda hard to pin down, like a butterfly.

Because that's just annoying.

So, yeah. You refrain from telling me all the little judgments you make regarding my views and/or motivations; and I'll do likewise. (Truth is, I don't go around judging people for indulging in popular ritual lying. I actually don't *care* that much. I just get really annoyed when those same people I'm not judging get on my case (or the case of people who agree with me) for being "self-righteous" or for whatever other reason they can come up with. And then all bets are off - because, as I've said before, if I don't like lying to children I sure as heck have no compunction about being honest with you.)

Comments

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

I swear I've gotten more criticism for saying that I wouldn't do the Santa thing with my own kids than I have for being an atheist. What puzzles me most is the assurance that I will raise children with no imagination. Having a sister five years older who loved to tease me, I don't think there was ever a time when I considered Santa to be any more real than the Muppets, and yet I still grew up to be a writer and fantasy geek with a fascination for world mythology.

[(Anonymous)]

I blame "Miracle on 34th Street".

Although, my in-laws really have no imagination. I
llbe playing with the baby and he would make a "rawr" face, so I'd say something like "Who's my little lion? Are you my little lion?" And my MIL would say "He's not a lion, he's a baby!" I have no idea how I'd do Santa with that attitude even if I wanted to!

[conuly]

Oh dear. That's really sad.

[conuly]

I've never yet understood how telling a makebelieve story to your child and expecting them to believe it encourages imagination. Having *them* make up stories? Sure. Reading stories to them that they know are fiction? Definitely. Telling them something with an air of "totally factual"? Uh....