Magic Extractor Extraordinaire

Most will remember that G penned me into a corner and got the "truth" about Santa out of me during the spring. Which left us in the odd position of our younger child "knowing" and the older...um, not.  Last week we were watching home videos - some of Christmas - and clearly it was on G's mind. After a couple of scenes she looks at me and says, "Mom. Tell her."

C: Tell me what?

I promptly ignore both of them.

G: Mom, TELL her.

That gets a warning look.

C: Mom, seriously, tell me what.

Deciding that I'm probably not getting out of this, and taking into consideration that the child is going into 4th grade, I take a deep breath...

M: Okay, honey, you know how we've always told you about St. Nicholas and how he was a real person that used to bring gifts and food to children and families that needed it. And I've always told you that that is where the ideas of Santa came from and that Christmas is really about the birth of Jesus, right?

  so far so good, she's nodding thoughtfully

Well, the truth is that there is no man with a bunch of elves living at the North Pole. Moms and Dads got the idea of Santa Claus from St. Nicholas and continued doing nice things for their own children.

long, long, long pause
crestfallen look

C: So, I suppose this means there is no Tooth Fairy either. And you and dad were the ones that did _________ and __________ and ___________. (Fill the blanks in with any manner of gift giving, audible "Ho, ho hos" or money left under pillows.)

She is completely defeated. Saddened. Disappointed. Just as I knew she would be. It was obvious to me sometime in 2nd grade that this dear child was not going to peacefully transition to this "wink, wink" stage about Santa. And for 2 years I've been putting this conversation off.

Turning to G, I say, "You see? THIS is why I didn't want to tell her." To which G replies, "Yeah, well, it was still the right choice."

I know, but why oh why, did I have to be the one to suck magic out of the world for her?