A grandmother has faced a backlash after revealing she banned her grandson from attending their family’s Christmas celebration because he doesn’t believe in Santa Claus.
The 43-year-old woman – who did not reveal her name – said on Reddit that she doesn’t want her younger children – who are nine and seven – to have their Christmas ruined by her 25-year-old daughter’s son.
She explained that her daughter had not raised her son with the ‘Santa Claus magic’ – adding that her eldest refused to tell her son to lie for the sake of her mother’s other children.
The 43-year-old grandmother wondered if she was wrong for excluding her daughter and son from their Christmas celebration in a thread titled: ‘Am I the hole?‘
A grandmother has faced a backlash after revealing she banned her grandson from attending their family’s Christmas celebration because he doesn’t believe in Santa Claus (stock image)
At the beginning of the post she said: ‘I have children with very large age gaps.
‘My eldest is 25, I had that with an ex from high school. Then we separated, and much later I married my husband.
‘My youngest two are nine and seven. My younger children believe in Santa Claus, while my daughter’s son does not. She didn’t raise him with the magic of Santa Claus, which is fine, but I just wouldn’t want to ruin it for my kids who do believe in Santa Claus.”
As the holidays approached, the grandmother shared her Christmas experience from last year – apparently so she couldn’t make the same mistakes again.
She explained: ‘I was celebrating Christmas at my house and I asked my daughter to please talk to her son as I wouldn’t want the magic to be ruined for them.
‘I still put packages under the tree with ‘from Santa’ on them, and leave out cookies and reindeer treats (birdseeds).
“My daughter told us she wouldn’t let her son lie, and my kids are old enough to understand if her son decides to say something.”
However, her daughter’s reaction led to a fierce argument.
The 43-year-old woman said on Reddit that she doesn’t want her younger children – who are nine and seven – to have their Christmas ruined by her 25-year-old daughter’s son
The grandmother demanded that her daughter and her son leave her house and celebrate alone.
She added: ‘I told her that if she didn’t want to talk to her son, they could spend Christmas in their apartment.
‘My daughter didn’t like that and said I was choosing the happiness of my younger children over hers and that I was being completely unreasonable.
‘My husband supports me, but thinks I might be a bit tense now that our children are getting older. I just want to keep the Christmas magic alive. ‘
At the end of the post, the 43-year-old woman wondered if she was an “a**hole.”
People flooded the comments section, slamming the grandmother for kicking her daughter out.
One person said: ‘Can you explain to your kids that not everyone believes in Santa Claus and that’s okay? What happens if your children have friends who are Jewish or Buddhist, or parents who may not be able to provide the “Santa Claus” experience? Does it really have to be so binary?
‘I sympathize with wanting to give your children the happiest holiday memories and feel unhappy about throwing wrenches into those plans, but it seems like there have to be creative solutions here that ensure other members of your family not feel unwelcome. You are the hole.”
People flooded the comments section, slamming the grandmother for kicking her daughter out
Someone else wrote: ‘Santa Claus is a cultural figure, not a religious one.’
Another user added: ‘Absolutely. Her new family has a higher value than her daughter and grandson.
“This is why she can so easily withdraw the invitation. From the husband’s reaction, we can see that it is her choice for this decision and not the husband who pushes her in this direction. It’s obvious you’re the asshole.’
“Christmas magic also involves asking a five-year-old to lie, and if he doesn’t, he and his mother are isolated for the holidays? Maybe alienate your daughter? You’re the asshole,” another user added.
Another person wrote: ‘Does anyone else think it’s wrong that she keeps referring to her grandson as ‘her’? [daughter’s] son”? ‘
Someone else said: ‘You’re the asshole. Your need to keep the Christmas magic alive according to your definition does not alter the fact that another part of the Christmas magic is about family. Your willingness to avoid your daughter and grandchild over Santa speaks volumes about you and what you value in life. ‘
“If Christmas will be more magical without your eldest child and grandchild, then I guess this is all fine. Edit to add: You’re the asshole,” another user commented.