A young girl I tutor in reading asked me this question this week.

My boys didn’t grow up with Santa. I frankly told them that he was a myth and that we were Santa. They quietly kept the secret when other kids talked.

When my boys were older they told me their kids were going to think Santa was real because we had taken all the magic out of Christmas.

But that doesn’t tell you what I told Keyona.

I told Keyona that I had never met Santa.

She said of course I hadn’t because I hadn’t gone to the North Pole.

I also told her that a little girl named Virginia had asked a reporter that question and he had told her, “Yes, Viriginia, there is a Santa Claus.”

That made Keyona happy.

But my son pointed out that I was lying to her by omission. And I was, in fact, attempting to deceive her. I don’t think it is the same as lying though, but that may be because I did it and I don’t want to be a liar.