I refuse to ‘gaslight’ my daughter, 9, by telling her about Santa as it could cause TRAUMA… but it has divided opinion

A COUPLE who say they refused to “gaslight” their toddler daughter about Santa have been slammed by other parents online. Mathew Bourdreaux, 46, and spouse Aurelian, 44, insist they are not “taking away any magic” with their policy of straight talking with Helena, now nine. SWNSMathew and Aurelian with their daughter Helena on a visit to Santa and Mrs Claus[/caption] SWNSThe couple hope to raise Helena ‘to be humble and appreciative’[/caption] Mathew, a crafter, and music teacher Aurelian claim not being open with kids can cause psychological trauma. Instead they let her decide for herself at the age of two if she wanted to have visits from Father Christmas and the tooth fairy. The couple, from Camas in Washington state, US, say they “play along” to “keep her happy”. Mathew said: “Why would I participate in this large scale global gaslighting? read more on santa claus MEET SANTA Here's where the kids can visit Santa this Christmas GROTTIEST GROTTO? Christmas grotto branded worst in UK after Santa turns up with no beard “Before adopting our child, we researched parenting and thought of the potential psychological impact lying could have. “We decided we would never deceive her – parents don’t need to tell any of their kids this is real. “It has normalised group lying and deception. It doesn’t need to be a part of society.” Helena started to ask questions about Santa before the age of three and her parents stuck to their principles. Mathew said: “It wasn’t a sit down conversation – she started to ask questions and have an awareness of him. Most read in News HOLIDAY HORROR London mum found dead in shallow grave in Peru as cops hunt boyfriend 'SINISTER SECRET' Moment woman 'drags suitcase containing her friend's decapitated BODY' WATCH THIS SPACE I’m a time-traveller from 2671 - these huge events are coming VERY soon NO ANSWERS Paedo who lived where Leah 'remains' were found 'was in jail when she vanished' DOOMSDAY PREP Calls for radiation pills & survival training as UK 'unprepared' for nuke war 'CONFESSION' Nurse 'wrote "I'm evil, I killed them on purpose" after murdering 7 babies' “She asked who he was and it’s at this point most parents say he’s real – we decided not to. “I’m not taking away any magic. “From my perspective, we’re having a blast pretending. “The magic never ends and pretend never ends “We decorate the house with homemade decorations, make cookies, exchange presents, get up super early and spend quality time together as a family.” The dads hope to raise their daughter “to be humble and appreciative” so don’t spoil her on Christmas day – instead giving her a handful of presents and celebrating being together as a family. But they have been hit with a furious response from other parents on social media over their stance on Father Christmas. Mathew hit back: “There is a morality in lying and not lying – the second choice is the right choice. “Honesty is the most important component of parenting, and the truth is the way you should go.” Read More on The Sun WATCH THIS SPACE I’m a time-traveller from 2671 - these huge events are coming VERY soon AIR WE GO You've been using your Air Fryer wrong & it's why it's such a nightmare to clean Last week a mum shared a “savage” letter from the tooth fairy warning her seven-year-old son to take better care of his gnashers. And a girl in the US wrote a bratty note to the tooth fairy specifying exactly how much money she was after “or else”.