Guest guest Posted November 11, 2008 Report Share Posted November 11, 2008 Trish, I do not have a special needs child so you may just want to throw my opinion in the trash but allowing a teen or even adult to remain pure and innocent in our world where most children are growing up too fast and seeing too much too soon sounds like a blessing! Santa Claus reperesents everything good: love and chairity and kindness. Why not allow your child to continue believing in a figure who represents everything good and kind? Sounds like you have a wonderful, loving young adult who is able to see this world as we all probably should! God Bless! Kathy Subject: Santa ClausTo: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 1:25 AM Question for parents of teenagers on the spectrum: Do they still believe in Santa? I have an 18 year old who still firmly believes. Do we tell him or not? His 15 yo NT brother says no, his 13 yo Asperger's brother says tell him. Comments anyone?trish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2008 Report Share Posted November 11, 2008 Let him believe. I'm sure my 9 year old will believe always... Maggie EvertsCommunication Strategiesmaggietmck@... To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 1:25:59 AMSubject: Santa Claus Question for parents of teenagers on the spectrum: Do they still believe in Santa? I have an 18 year old who still firmly believes. Do we tell him or not? His 15 yo NT brother says no, his 13 yo Asperger's brother says tell him. Comments anyone?trish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2008 Report Share Posted November 11, 2008 How refreshing to read this email! I don't celebrate Christmas, but it is such a wonderful time of year for those who still believe. I taught Elementary for many years and I think there is so much that happens in life to take away from the 'magical' that this is something NOT to take away. How wonderful that he still believes! I'd leave it as a magical thing and not take it away. One of my favorite books that I read to my 3rd graders was The Polar Express, and I would keep a bell in my pocket and gently jingle it after I read the story and then again throught the week before the holiday break. My students loved it. Nothing wrong with believing! Fran Think Autism.Think Cure. Subject: Re: Santa ClausTo: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 8:02 AM Let him believe. I'm sure my 9 year old will believe always... Maggie EvertsCommunication Strategiesmaggietmckyahoo (DOT) com From: Trisha Rice <rice.trishtx (DOT) rr.com>To: Texas-Autism- Advocacy@ yahoogroups. comSent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 1:25:59 AMSubject: [Texas-Autism- Advocacy] Santa Claus Question for parents of teenagers on the spectrum: Do they still believe in Santa? I have an 18 year old who still firmly believes. Do we tell him or not? His 15 yo NT brother says no, his 13 yo Asperger's brother says tell him. Comments anyone?trish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2008 Report Share Posted November 11, 2008 My 12 year old ASD son still believes. I think this is something we are going to have to tell him very soon....before Christmas talk starts at school. He is in regular classes in junior high this year and I think it would be a source of great teasing and laughing at him. I love that his pure little heart believes, but its not worth putting him through the teasing and laughing at school. Sigh. Santa Claus Question for parents of teenagers on the spectrum: Do they still believe in Santa? I have an 18 year old who still firmly believes. Do we tell him or not? His 15 yo NT brother says no, his 13 yo Asperger's brother says tell him. Comments anyone?trish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2008 Report Share Posted November 11, 2008 Trish, I agree with the responses you've received so far on this subject, however, my concern with a child that age on the spectrum is...would this be something that would make him stand out even more with his NT peers? I don't know specifics about your child--ie. whether he's mainstreamed and around other NT kids or not--this might make him that much more "different" or open him up to ridicule. On the other hand, if he is in more of a "secluded" environment in school--and doesn't deal with NT kids much--it's really not an issue. My boys are 14 and my son Joe is mainstreamed for some classses and this is a concern I too have had regarding his belief in Santa. Will he open himself up to ridicule one day in PE if he talks about Santa Claus coming to our home? It's a hard call. a Santa Claus Question for parents of teenagers on the spectrum: Do they still believe in Santa? I have an 18 year old who still firmly believes. Do we tell him or not? His 15 yo NT brother says no, his 13 yo Asperger's brother says tell him. Comments anyone?trish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2008 Report Share Posted November 11, 2008 Are you sure he still believes? My son indicated that he did and then spelled for us that he did not but kept up appearances in case the presents stopped coming. Unless he lives in a fish bowl I'm sure other kids have talked around him and he has figured it out for himself even though he may not have been looking at them or even appearing to be listening. Trina fran katz wrote: > > *How refreshing to read this email!* > ** > * I don't celebrate Christmas, but it is such a wonderful time of year > for those who still believe. I taught Elementary for many years and I > think there is so much that happens in life to take away from the > 'magical' that this is something NOT to take away. How wonderful that > he still believes! I'd leave it as a magical thing and not take it > away. One of my favorite books that I read to my 3rd graders was The > Polar Express, and I would keep a bell in my pocket and gently jingle > it after I read the story and then again throught the week before the > holiday break. My students loved it. Nothing wrong with believing!* > *Fran > * > ** > ** > */Think Autism.Think Cure./* > > > > > > > > Subject: Re: Santa Claus > To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy > Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 8:02 AM > > Let him believe. I'm sure my 9 year old will believe always... > > Maggie Everts > Communication Strategies > > maggietmckyahoo (DOT) com > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > *From:* Trisha Rice <rice.trishtx (DOT) rr.com> > *To:* Texas-Autism- Advocacy@ yahoogroups. com > *Sent:* Tuesday, November 11, 2008 1:25:59 AM > *Subject:* [Texas-Autism- Advocacy] Santa Claus > > Question for parents of teenagers on the spectrum: Do they still > believe in Santa? I have an 18 year old who still firmly believes. Do > we tell him or not? His 15 yo NT brother says no, his 13 yo > Asperger's > brother says tell him. Comments anyone? > > trish > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2008 Report Share Posted November 11, 2008 You can tell him about the Spirit of Santa being in all who give without expecting anything to be given back to them--not only at Christmas, but all year as well. It is fine to believe in Santa that way. I am saddened that some of my son's peers no longer believe, and they are not in Kindergarten yet. My son who turns four this month asked for " Christmas House " as soon as the stores put up the stuff and has been sitting mesmerized by the ceramic village (complete with a snow man and Santa) inside the stereo cabinet (with industrial strength velcro straps closing it in several spots) and is talking about Santa. He has never been afraid of Santa, and always glad to get into his lap (well, except at 11:30 on Christmas Eve when he was 1 month old)--maybe b/c he looks like Santa with blue eyes and white hair--he finally found someone who looks like him!! Bonnie, mom to 3.75 yrs, Autism, Albinism Are you sure he still believes? My son indicated that he did and then spelled for us that he did not but kept up appearances in case the presents stopped coming. Unless he lives in a fish bowl I'm sure other kids have talked around him and he has figured it out for himself even though he may not have been looking at them or even appearing to be listening. Trina fran katz wrote: > > *How refreshing to read this email!* > ** > * I don't celebrate Christmas, but it is such a wonderful time of year > for those who still believe. I taught Elementary for many years and I > think there is so much that happens in life to take away from the > 'magical' that this is something NOT to take away. How wonderful that > he still believes! I'd leave it as a magical thing and not take it > away. One of my favorite books that I read to my 3rd graders was The > Polar Express, and I would keep a bell in my pocket and gently jingle > it after I read the story and then again throught the week before the > holiday break. My students loved it. Nothing wrong with believing!* > *Fran > * > ** > ** > */Think Autism.Think Cure./* > > > > > > > > Subject: Re: Santa Claus > To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy > Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 8:02 AM > > Let him believe. I'm sure my 9 year old will believe always... > > Maggie Everts > Communication Strategies > > maggietmckyahoo (DOT) com > > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > *From:* Trisha Rice <rice.trishtx (DOT) rr.com> > *To:* Texas-Autism- Advocacy@ yahoogroups. com > *Sent:* Tuesday, November 11, 2008 1:25:59 AM > *Subject:* [Texas-Autism- Advocacy] Santa Claus > > Question for parents of teenagers on the spectrum: Do they still > believe in Santa? I have an 18 year old who still firmly believes. Do > we tell him or not? His 15 yo NT brother says no, his 13 yo > Asperger's > brother says tell him. Comments anyone? > > trish > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2008 Report Share Posted November 11, 2008 My son loves Santa's bells, but that is as far as it goes for him! I remember the year he traumatized poor Santa.... Just too much for my son with autism -- I put him on Santa's lap and he ripped his beard off, pinched, kicked, and poked the poor jolly fella! I think Santa went into early retirement after that! LOL M. GuppyMy autism journey isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.... Texas Autism Advocacy: www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org "There are some aspects of a person's life that we have no right to compromise. We cannot negotiate the size of an institution. No one should live in one. We cannot debate who should get an inclusive education. Everyone should. We cannot determine who does and who does not get the right to make their own choices and forge their own futures. All must.">> From: Maggie Everts <maggietmckyahoo (DOT) com>> Subject: Re: [Texas-Autism- Advocacy] Santa Claus> To: Texas-Autism- Advocacy@ yahoogroups. com> Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 8:02 AM>> Let him believe. I'm sure my 9 year old will believe always...> > Maggie Everts> Communication Strategies> > maggietmckyahoo (DOT) com>>> ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -> *From:* Trisha Rice <rice.trishtx (DOT) rr.com>> *To:* Texas-Autism- Advocacy@ yahoogroups. com> *Sent:* Tuesday, November 11, 2008 1:25:59 AM> *Subject:* [Texas-Autism- Advocacy] Santa Claus>> Question for parents of teenagers on the spectrum: Do they still> believe in Santa? I have an 18 year old who still firmly believes. Do> we tell him or not? His 15 yo NT brother says no, his 13 yo> Asperger's> brother says tell him. Comments anyone?>> trish>>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2008 Report Share Posted November 11, 2008 LOL! Poor Santa! When I was 3 my lollipop the elves gave me got stuck in Santa's beard--and I yanked. It was his real beard. I thought I would never get anything for Christmas again! My parents had me write " I'm sorry " to Santa and mail it to him My son happily " molested " the Easter Bunny--trying to reach in thru the mouth and climb in--you know that is where the person's face is! My son is vision impaired and could not see her inside. You can see her in the picture--he knocked the black netting off LOL! He is laughing in the bunny's lap in the pic! Bonnie, mom to 3.75 yrs, Autism, Albinism My son loves Santa's bells, but that is as far as it goes for him! I remember the year he traumatized poor Santa.... Just too much for my son with autism -- I put him on Santa's lap and he ripped his beard off, pinched, kicked, and poked the poor jolly fella! I think Santa went into early retirement after that! LOL M. GuppyMy autism journey isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.... Texas Autism Advocacy: www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org " There are some aspects of a person's life that we have no right to compromise. We cannot negotiate the size of an institution. No one should live in one. We cannot debate who should get an inclusive education. Everyone should. We cannot determine who does and who does not get the right to make their own choices and forge their own futures. All must. " >> From: Maggie Everts <maggietmckyahoo (DOT) com>> Subject: Re: [Texas-Autism- Advocacy] Santa Claus> To: Texas-Autism- Advocacy@ yahoogroups. com > Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 8:02 AM>> Let him believe. I'm sure my 9 year old will believe always...> > Maggie Everts> Communication Strategies> > maggietmckyahoo (DOT) com >>> ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -> *From:* Trisha Rice <rice.trishtx (DOT) rr.com>> *To:* Texas-Autism- Advocacy@ yahoogroups. com > *Sent:* Tuesday, November 11, 2008 1:25:59 AM> *Subject:* [Texas-Autism- Advocacy] Santa Claus>> Question for parents of teenagers on the spectrum: Do they still> believe in Santa? I have an 18 year old who still firmly believes. Do> we tell him or not? His 15 yo NT brother says no, his 13 yo > Asperger's> brother says tell him. Comments anyone?>> trish>>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2008 Report Share Posted November 11, 2008 I most definitely would not tell him about Santa Claus. Let him believe forever and that wuold be great. I have a friend who is 33 and is mentally challenged and she still believes and has the best CHristmas' ever. Why ruin it for him? I say never tell him. Levine Austin -----Original Message-----From: Texas-Autism-Advocacy [mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy ] On Behalf Of Trisha RiceSent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 1:26 AMTo: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Subject: Santa Claus Question for parents of teenagers on the spectrum: Do they still believe in Santa? I have an 18 year old who still firmly believes. Do we tell him or not? His 15 yo NT brother says no, his 13 yo Asperger's brother says tell him. Comments anyone?trish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2008 Report Share Posted November 11, 2008 My 21 year old daughter with ASD still believes….sort of. She has significant doubts (but rarely voices them), but just in case…she believes about halfway. Heck, I still believe. Believing in Santa Claus is about believing in good, in the good of mankind, in kindness and giving selflessly…at some point he will make the transition from believing in an actual “person” and in believing in the “idea”. You can always tell him what to tell others if they ask him and he doesn’t want to get teased or is afraid of being teased…that he believes in the “idea” of Santa Claus. Then it won’t matter if he truly believes or not. Just my .02 worth nna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2008 Report Share Posted November 11, 2008 This is how my wife and I felt. We were planning on telling him before the Christmas season of his sixth grade year. We figured the middle school kids would make fun of him. We actually ending up telling him sooner (last month) because he lost a tooth and wanted to take some of the " fairy dust " that the tooth fairy leaves at our house to school to show the other kids. We took him into our room after his younger sister had gone to bed and showed him the " fairy dust " , actually gold glitter, and the teeth he and his sister had lost. We told him how it was difficult for young children to understand some things (like the spirit of giving and the importance of oral hygeine) and that adults tell them stories to make it easier. The part he liked best was when we told him he now is old enough to understand these concepts without the help of the stories. It made him feel grown up. We talked about how it was important not to tell younger children the truth, but it was O.K. to talk about it with his peers. We let him spread the " fairy dust " and put the money under his own pillow so that his sister wouldn't wonder why the tooth fairy no longer visited him. He was so excited to be in on the secret and can't wait until Christmas so he can help put out presents from Santa. > > My 12 year old ASD son still believes. I think this is something we are going to have to tell him very soon....before Christmas talk starts at school. He is in regular classes in junior high this year and I think it would be a source of great teasing and laughing at him. I love that his pure little heart believes, but its not worth putting him through the teasing and laughing at school. Sigh. > > > > Santa Claus > > > Question for parents of teenagers on the spectrum: Do they still > believe in Santa? I have an 18 year old who still firmly believes. Do > we tell him or not? His 15 yo NT brother says no, his 13 yo Asperger's > brother says tell him. Comments anyone? > > trish > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 15, 2008 Report Share Posted November 15, 2008 Our 14 year old still believes and I have no intention of telling him differently. Our kids face enough challenges all year, let them have a happy day. Tonya From: Texas-Autism-Advocacy [mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy ] On Behalf Of Trisha Rice Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 1:26 AM To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Subject: Santa Claus Question for parents of teenagers on the spectrum: Do they still believe in Santa? I have an 18 year old who still firmly believes. Do we tell him or not? His 15 yo NT brother says no, his 13 yo Asperger's brother says tell him. Comments anyone? trish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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