A mum from Australia has been met with a barrage of online abuse after revealing that she told her children that Santa Claus isn’t real. Tenae Adamcic, 28, made the decision after her three-year-old son, Dejan, became scared of the jolly man in red.
The decision didn’t sit well with many Instagram users, who called Tenae a “liar” and a “terrible mother” for shattering their son’s illusions. Some even accused her of robbing him of the magic of Christmas.
Tenae, who also has a daughter, Freja, with her husband, Ognjen, 31, took to Instagram to share her perspective on the matter. She explained that she and Ognjen had decided to be honest with Dejan about Santa because they wanted him to learn the difference between reality and fantasy.
“We wanted to help him understand that there are things in the world that are real, and things that are pretend,” Tenae said. “We also wanted to make sure that he wasn’t afraid of Santa or of other things that might seem scary to him.”
The backlash from the online community was swift and harsh. Many users criticized Tenae for her decision, arguing that it would rob her children of the joy and wonder of Christmas.
“How dare you take away the magic of Santa from your kids?” one commenter wrote. “You’re a terrible mother.”
Another commenter called Tenae a “narcissist” for prioritizing her own beliefs over her children’s happiness. “You’re just making yourself feel like a better parent,” the commenter wrote.
Despite the negative comments, Tenae stood by her decision. She said that she would rather be honest with her children, even if it meant disappointing them.
“I want my kids to know that they can always trust me to be honest with them, even if it’s about something they’re not happy about,” Tenae said. “I also want them to learn that it’s okay to question things and not to take everything they’re told at face value.”
Tenae’s decision to tell her children about Santa has ignited a debate about the role of honesty in parenting. Some people believe that it’s important to be honest with children as soon as possible, while others believe that it’s okay to let them believe in the magic of Santa for a little while longer.
Ultimately, the decision about how to handle Santa is a personal one. There is no right or wrong answer, and each family should decide what is best for their children.
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