I was 5 when my mum gave me a devastating order on Christmas Eve

When I unwrapped my gifts on the day of Christmas, I was hit with a sudden feeling of sorrow.

I was only five years of age and I was fully aware of what I would receive.

Is it possible? Yes, it all began the evening prior.

One night during Christmas Eve in 2002, I was abruptly woken up by my mum while it was still very late. In a hushed, slurred voice, she urged me to accompany her into the darkness.

We walked quietly through the completely quiet hallway to where she had hidden the gifts for me and my siblings in her bedroom without wrapping them.

Just when I thought things couldn't get any more perplexing, my mother's partner abruptly sat upright in their bed, appearing greatly displeased.

"He whispered, 'You shouldn't have involved her' with a cruel tone. However, my mother chose to disregard his comment."

Looking back now, I have a feeling that he had an idea of what was going to happen, but I was completely clueless. I was only focused on the fact that I had to carry these heavy bags down the stairs, while my younger brothers (who were aged five and three) got to relax.

My mother made me sit down in front of a heap of playthings, gift wrapping and adhesive tape and instructed me to assist her in preparing everything for the morning of Christmas.

I remember feeling a sense of pride about it. My mother used to call me her 'mini me' and this made me feel like she was giving me an important role as her assistant. I felt like I was being trusted with a 'grown-up' responsibility and honestly, I was just thrilled to spend time with her.

I sat across from my mother and we began to wrap the presents. I was bubbling with excitement as I caught glimpses of the gifts I had been hoping for, ranging from dolls like Barbie to toy cosmetics and fake makeup products. I eagerly inspected and played with each toy before clumsily covering them with coordinating wrapping paper.

We spent approximately an hour wrapping everything up, and after we finished, my mother put me back to sleep.

While I was falling asleep, I reflected on how enjoyable it had been spending time together, playing with toys and having conversations. Nonetheless, when Christmas Day arrived and I woke up, it hit me with a sudden realization.

I wonder if those toys were intended for me. In that case, what exactly did Santa deliver to me?

As my siblings eagerly ran down the stairs, their excited chatter about Santa and guessing their possible rewards for good behavior started to flood my own thoughts.

As soon as we arrived at the tree, the only thing I noticed was the identical wrapping paper that was fully visible, along with my uncertain ability to wrap presents.

I was able to identify every present before it was unwrapped since I had recently played with the same dolls just eight hours earlier.

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I felt really disappointed when it became clear that what I had suspected was true. Santa had not left even a single gift for me or my siblings.

After the initial thrill of playing with the toys our family had sent us faded away, I consulted my mother to confirm my doubts about the existence of Santa Claus.

I was anticipating that she would inform me that I made a mistake. Maybe he was simply preoccupied and required our assistance, or some other clarification.

Instead, she looked at me from the corner of her eye and made a signal for me to stay quiet, then instructed me to stop my foolishness. However, once my brothers were gone and couldn't hear us, she warned me that I had to keep our conversation a secret from them.

I felt crushed. The enchantment had disappeared. It was at that moment that I realized, my fondness for Christmas had come to an end.

Since then, I did not experience the holiday season with the same level of enjoyment.

As the sleigh glided through the towns, watching Christmas movies, attending pantomimes, and catching a glimpse of the beloved 'Santa' were just activities I partook in for the benefit of my brothers. Although I would feign exhilaration, it was all make-believe.

To be honest, I was envious of their enthusiasm and conviction. Additionally, I felt frustrated and puzzled as to why my happiness had to be sacrificed in order to accompany my mother.

I began making constant remarks about the non-existence of Santa Claus. As a reaction, my mother would advise my siblings not to pay attention to me.

She would say in confidence that she wanted their festive cheer to last until they reached 12 years old (obviously, she believed that was the right age to dispel the magic, but not in my situation).

When I reached the age of eight, my family was placed in the hands of the authorities for care.

I confessed to my younger brothers, who were 8 and 6 at the time, about the night I was wrapping presents. I shared with them the realization that Santa couldn't possibly be real. This admission was quite distressing for my twin brother initially, but we now reflect on how unfair it was that our mother robbed me of this belief.

Even though I have never brought up this specific occurrence to her, she has also not shown any remorse. Presently, we have experienced several issues and are no longer close. Nevertheless, this instance is a clear display of her lack of concern for my welfare.

I would have preferred to wake up with no gifts and just pretend the elves forgot, but unfortunately, the mother prioritized herself over her children and didn't consider the effects of her behavior.

I am currently 27 years old and the ages of my two young children are getting close to the age I was when I discovered that the enchanting Christmas magic was not real. The mere thought of ruining their joyful Christmas experiences devastates me.

The sheer amount of curiosity in a youngster's brain is something that's hard for me to grasp. I can't fathom ruining their joy when I glimpse into their gaze, hence I make it an effort to create an enchanting December for them.

During the Christmas season, we enjoy watching movies related to the holiday, decorating our surroundings with ornaments, and keeping presents hidden until the children are asleep. Then, we carefully bring the wrapped gifts downstairs, anticipating the excitement they will bring on the following day.

Throughout the day, we enjoy cheerful music and indulge in Christmas-related cartoons while singing songs and reading books. As our little ones grow up, we plan on having them place a glass of milk and some tasty cookies for Santa, along with a list of their desired gifts that we can deliver to the North Pole.

I will certainly maintain the enchantment until they arrive at their own decision.

I desire to maintain their youthfulness and optimism for as much time as I can- if only my mother had done that for me.

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For an authentic winter wonderland experience, visit this enchanting city.

One of Tesco's popular Christmas dishes is being recalled due to a potential moth infestation. The supermarket chain has issued a warning to customers who may have purchased a certain product from their stores. The recall is an important safety measure to ensure that the affected product does not cause any harm to customers. If you have purchased this item, be sure to return it to the store for a refund and choose an alternative option for your holiday meal.

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