What should we explain to our children about the Three Wise Men?

What should we explain to our children about the Three Wise Men?

Christmas is a very special time, especially for the youngest ones in the house. It is a season full of magic, light and presents. Until one day the uncomfortable question arrives:

• Dad; is it true that the Three Wise Men are the parents?
• Why do you say that?
• The kids in my class say they don't exist, that it's the parents.
• And what do you think?
• Well, on the one hand I think they do exist but on the other I think they don't. Tell me the truth.
• It's true, we parents are the ones who make the presents.

And then you see how disappointment and anger flood their eyes with tears:

-You've lied to me!!

And in those moments you are left speechless…

What should we do when this moment arrives?

1. It's important to tell the truth.

We should not deceive our children, we should not stray from the truth, because sooner or later they will find out. Denying a reality is not the most appropriate way to clear up their doubts and worries. If they ask us such a direct question, we must answer and we cannot stray from the truth

2. Distinguish a lie from a secret.

Many children will consider that their parents have lied to them and it is important to help them understand that it is not a lie, it is a secret that passes from parents to children to keep the excitement and the magic of the Three Wise Men alive. It is a secret that parents must keep until their children grow up. Making this distinction is essential so that the trust in the parents is not affected and so that they do not believe that a lie is acceptable if the goal is a good one, in other words, so that the end does not justify the means.

3. Tell them a story.

Explain the story of the Three Wise Men, the one we all know, and how that story has become a beautiful tradition. "Legend has it that the Three Wise Men thought that bringing presents to children all over the world would be wonderful in order to commemorate this very special day, but they could not do it alone, so after much thought, they had a great idea: they would use pages. But those pages had to love children very much and know their tastes well. Is there anyone who loves children more and knows them better than their own parents? And that is how they decided to turn all the parents in the world into their pages." This is a beautiful story that can explain a beautiful tradition.

4. Make them part of it.

Even though they now know the secret, the excitement should not end; now they are the ones in charge of keeping the secret in front of the young children of the family and of the whole world. Now they are grown up and are part of the other side of the magic.

We all remember when and how we came to know this great truth. That is why when our children ask us the uncomfortable question, we want to know how to answer. It depends on our skill whether they remember it in a special way.