The annual parenting debate about Santa Claus has taken on new urgency thanks to a viral TikTok video from a mom who says she broke the news to her daughter too early and immediately regretted it.
The TikTok creator, known as @read_between_the_whines, shared what she calls a “cautionary tale” for parents dealing with kids coming of age who are beginning to question Santa’s existence. Her experience has resonated with thousands of parents grappling with the same dilemma.
The mom explained that she used to firmly believe in always being honest with her children. Last Christmas season, her oldest daughter started asking pointed questions about Santa’s validity. When directly asked if Santa was real, she would carefully reply with neutral statements like, “A lot of people believe he is.”
The pivotal moment came on Christmas morning when her daughter, noticing that her younger brother received bigger gifts, said she didn’t think Santa came for her. The mom saw this as an opening for an honest conversation.
She compared Santa to beloved characters like Anna and Elsa, explaining that he was “a really fun magical thing to imagine” and revealing that she and her husband were actually Santa. The response was immediate and heartbreaking.
Her daughter began crying and rapidly connecting the dots about everything related to Santa, from the elves to the cookies left out on Christmas Eve. The mom described watching “the innocence and magic leave your child’s body” as one of the most devastating experiences she’d ever had as a parent.
Her advice now? Lie about this one thing. She argues that since parents don’t lie to their children about much else, keeping the Santa magic alive is worth it. She encourages parents to let their kids naturally reach their own conclusions rather than forcing the conversation.
The video sparked a wide range of reactions. Some parents shared equally heartbreaking stories of their own Santa revelations. One mom recalled having to “pinky promise” she wasn’t Santa, leading to tears from both mother and daughter. Another described having to leave the house to cry after her children learned the truth from their aunt. Others argued against the Santa tradition entirely, with one commenter questioning why they would set their child up to eventually say, “You lied to me my whole life.”
Perhaps the most heartwarming response came from someone who shared how a teenage boy rescued her childhood belief. After she saw her dad assembling toys, the boy cleverly explained that Santa sends gifts via the mail and parents assemble them, allowing her to believe for several more years. She now considers it an act of remarkable kindness.
The debate continues with no clear consensus, but one thing is certain: The moment when childhood magic meets reality remains one of parenting’s most emotionally charged experiences.
