The grandma took rather drastic action (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Every family has different traditions when it comes to Christmas – and for some, that doesn’t include Santa Claus.
While the man in the big red suit is a staple in some households, others are a little more open about how the presents appear under the tree.
But for one grandparent, the fact that her grandson doesn’t believe in Father Christmas, was enough of an issue to get him banned from her home on December 25.
Taking to Reddit, the grandma explained that she is a mum to a daughter, 25, and two younger children, aged nine and seven.
Her daughter’s son – the poster’s grandson, who is five – was raised ‘without the Santa magic’ and she’s worried that he could ‘ruin’ it for her younger children, who do still believe in Old Saint Nick.
She explained: ‘I asked my daughter if she’d please talk to her son, because I wouldn’t like the magic ruined for them.
‘I still put packages under the tree with “from Santa” on them, and leave out cookies and reindeer treats.
‘My daughter told us she wouldn’t make her son lie, and my children are old enough to understand if her son decides to say something.’
This was not the answer the poster was hoping for her. ‘I told her if she wouldn’t talk to her son, they could spend Christmas at their apartment.
‘My daughter didn’t like that and said I was choosing my younger children’s happiness over hers, and that I was being completely unreasonable.’
While the posters husband supports her, he admits she’s being a little ‘high strung’, but she insists she just wants to ‘keep the Christmas magic alive.’
Despite her explanation, commenters were shocked by the grandma’s behaviour.
‘Eventually, the younger kids are going to figure it out and not care about Santa anymore. But [your] grandson will remember not being allowed to attend Christmas.’
Another agreed: ‘The Santa magic will fade, but the hurt you inflict on your daughter and grandson will last far longer.’
While a third added: ‘Casting out your daughter and grandson to try to keep your kids believing in Santa for another year is just not worth it… Christmas is way less magical in a fractured family.’
Many were also quick to point out the odd phrasing of ‘daughter’s son’. ‘It speaks volumes that you refer to your grandson as “her son”’, one wrote.
Others suggested the poster could use this situation as an opportunity to teach her younger children about different cultures.
‘Could you explain to your children that not everyone believes in Santa and that’s ok?’ asked one thoughtful Redditer. ‘What happens if your kids have friends that are Jewish or Buddhist or parents that perhaps aren’t able to provide the “Santa” experience? Does it really have to be that binary?’
A second added: ‘I grow up in country where there are multiple religions Christians, Jewish, Muslims, so about 1/3 are those who celebrate Christmas, and we invited each other for holidays.
‘It’s so simple to explain to kids that there are kids who don’t believe same way.’
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She wants to ‘keep the Christmas magic alive’…
