No criticism here!
When Onyxx was 7, first-response-trained-husband saved a little girl's life in a car accident. He made the paper, and BM saw it... So she then told the kids that he lied to the newspaper, and to prove he was a liar, that Santa didn't exist, it was their father, and that's why they didn't get everything they wanted - because he would not buy it.
Jett did not remember, so we had a couple of years to ease him into the spirit of things.
In 2006, I made a donation to Toys for Tots in the kids' names. On Christmas, I had Onyxx open and read it - and then she demanded to know where the money was. I still make donations - they go in my grandpa's name, letter to my Mom.
A couple years later, husband and I took one look at ALL the GIFTS under the tree and put on the brakes - just too much!!! We asked the grandparents to back off, and we now do one "big" gift and one "small" one, plus stocking stuffers - and last year, Onyxx thought our soup kitchen idea was great, until it came time to commit to it.
The kids have always known who the tooth fairy was and Easter Bunny as well. EB is stepmom, and she doesn't wear ears, and we no longer do baskets. TF is Dad.