We Must Lie to Kids About Santa Claus

It's Christmas Eve.

The kids are contentedly snoring away, dreaming about the big day. You've placed the last bow strangled box so perfectly under the Christmas tree that Martha Stewart herself would applaud. You're satisfied, but nearly wiped out. You settle down with a mug of eggnog and whisper to your wife, husband or significant civil union joined other that you're glad the hard part is over.

Just when you've relaxed you notice a stray gift which was somehow forgotten. It peaks out of the Toys R Us bag mockingly. You summon energy reserves fueled no doubt by that spiked eggnog you just downed and go fetch the gift, so you can complete the Normal Rockwell painting you nearly screwed up.

Suddenly without warning, not even a rustle of bed sheets nor the soft sound of cushioned bunny slippers, a tot stands before you accusingly. His face is twisted in fear, shock, perhaps even anger. "You're really Santa?" he hisses. What do you do?

"Lie." advises Robert South of TSPS - The Santa Preservation Society. "Simply lie to the child. Remember what the Grinch did? Lie!"

Why should we be lying to our children? South explains it's historic preservation we're protecting plus something a little bit closer to home. "Santa Claus is a beloved institution. If we burst the bubbles of gullible children earlier and earlier, before you know it, there won't be a Santa anymore. No Santa? There goes the toy industry!"

South, to some, sounds like an alarmist, but is he really?

"Look, the fact is the earlier you tell children there's no Santa, a bit of childlike innocence goes along with the revelation. Remember when you found out? Did you grow up fast? I sure did! I remember not wanting the more "kiddie" type toys right then and there. Now, if my parents had waited at least another year, I would have been overjoyed to get a nutcracker or teddy bear. After I found out Santa was a scam, hey I wanted a BB gun or boxing gloves right then and there. I wanted to take it out on somebody good, you betcha!"