Growing up

My husband and I have been talking a lot as to when to have the talk with our daughter. Oh, not the sex talk and how your body changes...I've already started those talks with her. No, I'm talking about Santa, the Easter Bunny, St. Nick and yes, the Toothfairy. I remember CLEARLY the night my mother told me there was no Santa. I was in 4th grade (my daughter is in 4th grade). I was in the minority in my grade (being a believer, that is). My parents didn't want me getting teased in school. It happened on Christmas eve on our way to church. It sucked! I cried. I was mad. And then I had to "keep it a secret" from my little sister. I told my hubby we were going to talk to our daughter well before Christmas eve. We've been working up the nerve and the right time to talk with her. We know many in her class have older siblings and those kids in her class have been talking about 'No Santa' for a couple of years.

We did it last night.

No tears. No anger. She was quite impressed that her father and I have taken such great care in keeping her faith in Santa so strong. She was even more impressed when she thought of all her gifts - "So you and dad bought me my bike? And the guitar? The My Twinn doll? When would you do that? Where would you hide them? How did they get under the tree?" She actually smiled, like she was ready to hear it all. Then she told us to have no worries about her little brother, that she'd probably forget it all by morning. That didn't happen. She was in the bathroom with me as I am getting ready asking me more questions and I needed to tell her "not now; Your brother will be up any minute and may hear us talking." Throughout the day, my mind has wondered to my little girl, who is growing up so fast, and wondering if she is bursting inside to talk about the new information she now has.

She'll be 10 soon. She is still my little girl. My girl who now knows the truth. Losing a tooth, Christmas and Easter won't be the same. I feel sad.