Rhonda Lapp's recent posts

Recent public discussion board posts (showing 1-9 of 9).

Sabrina, I belong to a parents message board you might fit in well with. hehe. Have you ever heard of unschooling?

Not really a traditional "job", but I'm a stay at home mom. I guess I don't really fit the description, being as young as I am. I really do love it, though. It's nice not having to wonder what could happen while I'm not with my children, and I haven't had to miss a single milestone since birth. The way I see it, I made the decision to have children, and it's my place to raise them, not a babysitter or a daycare. I imagine once they're a little more self reliant I'll take on at least a part time job, just for the finacial bonus.

I'm not trying to change your mind. You and your child are free to believe anything you wish. (Please keep in mind it's simply a debate, and I'm not attempting to insult either) I'm just trying to say that letting my kids believe in santa in no way harms them. It's simple, childhood fun. I'm also very sure they'll be fine when they find out the truth. You can't really expect to call me twisted for something like santa, and expect me to agree with you? You're making a big deal out of nothing, and I assure you that Santa is a VERY small issue when it comes to issues with parenting. There are much, much bigger things to be worried about.

I really don't see how God factors in with Santa, other than I see that you pride yourself in being a non believer, which is fine, but I think you're pushing that a little too hard. Let kids be kids for a while. There's no harm in it, they aren't going to grow up to be pathalogical liars because they believed in Santa. We're slowly taking all the fun out of childhood. You might be raising your child to be "the one leading the charge of thinkers" but at the same time you're taking away her ability to have faith in ANYTHING...so how will she learn to have faith in even herself? Faith isn't a dirty word. My kids will not be sheep, following along because "everyone else does it", but they will definatly have simple, fun, free childhoods to enjoy. I'll be enjoying seeing my kids grow to be perfectly happy, functional adults. There's nothing wrong with wanting your kids to question things, but you're destroying the short time of innocence they have to begin with.

I do see your points. I'm usually all about being honest to my kids about everything. It would also be very hard to steer your kids completely clear of Santa anyway...have you never been out during the holiday season? Santa is fun for them, they enjoy the whole "magic" aspect of it, and I can't take that away from them. I'm pretty sure everyone that learned the horrible truth about santa is perfectly fine and did not end up hating their parents forever for it. It does no harm. I'm curious to what's bullshit about Christmas? I can't find anything bad about getting together with loved ones, exchanging gifts.

If that's the case, then most of the world must be just as twisted as I. Little kids believe in many things that aren't real, whether we put the idea there or not. Mine insist on monsters being real, and I don't reinforce that at all. Kids have HUGE imaginations and I think taking away anything mythical from them dampers that imagination. I do anything I can to make my kids happy, and if believing that Santa brought them gifts makes them that way, so be it. It's not "getting off" on my children's joy, it's knowing that you're doing something right when you see your kids eye's light up. I don't see how that can be using my kids like "playthings". You're SUPPOSED to be happy about your kids being happy, you're supposed to encourage their imaginations. With no Santa, I think kids would be missing out. Is it really that much better for a child to get presents once a year just because that holiday calls for them?

Good point, Rob. I didn't mean to come off as sounding like suicide was no big deal. I didn't consider the fact of dying as painlessly as possible either.

For as long as I can remember, I've never believed in anything like Santa. Then again, I think it's just a part of my DNA to be a non believer. ;) I DO however let me kids believe in such things, and I think it's for the same reason most other parents do...there is almost nothing better in the world then seeing your children wake up to presents they believe Santa brought them on Xmas morning. I think most kids figure out Santa and the like aren't real before parents have to break it to them anyway, so I don't really worry about that. I also agree with Burkey on the fact that these fairy tales teach certain morals.

I don't agree with being able to tell someone it's not their right to choose when to die, but what I understand even less is why she asked for permission? I imagine it would be considered suicide still, so why not just do it? No court is EVER going to grant someone the right to take their own life...and you don't see many people asking. Most people just do it if they feel the need that badly.