I don't remember when I first found out this fact myself. Maybe it was so traumatic that I completely blocked it from my memory. More likely being the younger of two children I just started picking up on the fact from things my sister said. And there in lines the crux of my son's problem.
It was a big enough blow having to be told that I was Father Christmas, and by that I don't me I do the whole red suit, white beard and levitating reindeer bit. It was a shock to him I know, probably not helped by the fact that I threw in the truth about the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy at the same time - it may seem cruel but I was working on the 'sticky plaster' theory of ripping off in one quick go rather than dragging out the pain. It was hard for him but he quickly came to terms with the fact. But what he finds hardest is that he knows the truth and yet his sister doesn't.
Some siblings would love to have such a feeling of power and one-upmanship over a sister or brother. But for my boy it was more the fact that his sister can still feel the magic while he has to stand by and pretend. He therefore keeps asking when I'll be breaking the news to her, hoping for sooner rather than later. Possibly so that he has someone with whom to share the pain and maybe because he can't face another Christmas pretending or as he put it "lying".
And he's right, these are lies! How can you be telling your kids to to be honest and truthful one minute then spinning a yarn about a rotund, sack wielding housebreaker the next? It's the same problem you face when telling them not to be cruel to animals and then handing them a stick and a piñata! Okay bad example, after all the piñata had it coming for scoffing all the sweets in the first place!
Actually when you think about it the whole Father Christmas business sits at odds with the Ten Commandments thing. Come Christmas there are no end of false idols, not to mention coveting your neighbour's ass, or more likely their Nintendo 3DS. God and the little baby Jesus have to fight for centre stage with St Nick. And the no stealing or killing is tough to keep away from when you're a parent hunting the length and breadth of the country for the last available 'must have' toy of the year! And the little darlings will only honour their father and mother until they discover that you are the real stocking-stuffers!
No, I'm afraid my son will have to tow the line for at least a few more Christmases before his sister gets the bad news. But knowing my daughter, who is currently nine going on nineteen, she'll suss it out before we tell her. In fact she may well be pulling a reverse sibling-sting on her brother right now. She probably knows it's all a lie but won't let us know that she knows so as to make her poor brother squirm just that little bit longer!
It's enough to make your head ache. Ah well! It'll all be over by Hogmanay and until then just keep taking the tablets...
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