Every year around this time I become a terrible liar. The lie is older than I am. See, I tell my kids about Santa and then I use that red-suited specter to keep the boys in line. Being boys wanting toys, the Santa myth is highly effective. I warn them about the naughty list. I tell them Santa will be sending them a video shortly in order to let them know if christmas will be happy or sad.
This is likely a form of abuse. Fear mongering at the very least. Still, in the world of parenting, fear works. Sometimes you need a stick and sometimes a carrot. Santa exists as a both at once. This is a small lie and one most kids seem to forgive of their parents. It is also a common lie; the one we parents tell in order to maintain peace and keep a bit of the mystique about christmas