My wife and I raised our boys (twins, 6, and their brother, 1) to believe in Santa. My sister decided against it with her little ones (6, 4, 2 and 1). We will be together for a day around Christmas, and she wrote that if Santa comes up, her oldest will spill the beans, causing confusion and possibly heartbreak. She suggested we tell our children not to mention Santa, and asked what I thought. What do you think?

Jason, Berkley, Mich.

Remember that treacly jingle for kiddie clothes (that made me well up every time): “If they could just stay little til their Carters wear out”? Well, I wish they could stay little even longer, Papa Bear. But control that we do not.

The only thing I’m sure of is that asking either set of children to stay mum on the subject practically guarantees that Santa will become the main event. That’s life with little ones (and forbidden fruit, generally). Keep quiet about it, and ask your sister to do the same.

Fortunately, your broods are young enough that near-constant adult supervision is required — lest Social Services be called in. If anything troublesome crops up, the adult on call can change the subject. (I recommend candy.)