LIES I BELIEVED AS A KID!

“Santa Claus is a myth. But he's a good myth — he teaches children about kindness, generosity, and lying for a good cause.” - Garrison Keillor

“The Tooth Fairy teaches kids that they can sell body parts for money.” - Conan O'Brien

“The Easter Bunny is a wonderful way to introduce children to the concept of betrayal.” -

Stephen Colbert

I grew up in a family that was honest about most things. However, like most kids, my brother and I believed in Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny! My parents went to great lengths to make us believe until we were beyond the age of most kids.

Santa Claus

Santa Claus is a wonderful myth. I grew up knowing that he loved children, brought gifts, and gave our parents his phone number so that he would know what we were up to. Not only did he talk to my parents, he watched us and knew if we were naughty or nice.

I could never figure out how Santa carried our gifts in one big red felt bag. My parents told me it was magic. I somewhat believed them but remained skeptical.

Then there was Santa’s schedule. Santa visited our house on Christmas Eve but went to my neighbor’s house on Christmas morning. My dad told me that Santa delivered gifts alphabetically by the mother’s maiden name. (My mom’s maiden name started with an A. My neighbor’s name began with a P.) I thought Santa was crazy and didn’t manage his time well.

On Christmas Eve afternoon, we would go out as a family. We would go to the snow, catch a movie, take a ride, or go bowling. After that, we would go out to dinner, and by the time we got home, Santa had delivered our gifts. It never occurred to me that Mom didn’t even get in the car until we sat there with Dad for ten minutes. Mom was putting out the gifts.

At one point, I asked my dad if there was really a Santa Claus. He said, “The spirit of Santa will always be alive.” As I got older, I found that confusing. As a young “tween,” I would have preferred to hear the truth!

I still like Santa Claus. I decorate the house with a collection of them every Christmas.

Tooth Fairy

Did you wait for the Tooth Fairy to come the night you lost your tooth? The first tooth I lost was a scary thing. It was loose, and I didn’t want to tell my parents in case it was something I did to loosen the tooth. The gums around the tooth started to bleed. I went to my parents, and my mom explained what was happening while my dad reached into my mouth to pull my tooth. I thought, “What the heck!!” I was confused.

Then I was told that if I put my tooth under my pillow, the Tooth Fairy would bring me a quarter. (Yes, I am old; that is all the money I received!) I tracked which teeth were adult teeth and which were baby teeth. When I wanted money, I would push on a tooth to loosen it, and after a day or two, I would pull it out! As far as I know, my parents never found out.

Once, after losing a tooth, I found nothing left under my pillow. I wondered why and eventually discovered the truth. The Tooth Fairy was my mom, and she had forgotten to place the quarter under my pillow.

EASTER BUNNY

I felt the same anticipation for the Easter Bunny as I did while waiting for Santa Claus. When Easter Sunday came, I would wake up to find an Easter basket filled with sugar-free candy and a toy. Afterward, my brother and I would search for Easter eggs.

I learned that the Easter Bunny didn’t have a workshop to dye all the eggs, so a few days before Easter, we boiled and dyed the eggs, and the Easter Bunny would take them out of the refrigerator and hide them. On Easter morning, my brother and I would search for the eggs and see who found the most.

I’m not sure when I stopped believing in the Easter Bunny. At some point, I asked my dad if I could help hide the Easter eggs that year. I no longer believed.

As I got older, I began attending church, and Easter became my favorite holiday. It is through Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead that my sins are forgiven, and I have asked Him to live in my heart as my Savior and Lord. I will live in heaven with Jesus!

As my dad would say, the spirit of all these characters lives on. I believed in them much longer than most kids. I am grateful for the times my parents went out of their way to ensure my holidays were fun and filled with magic!

Have a blessed day!!