He knows....

The conversation that I have been dreading for the past couple of years happened today. I had hoped that it would wait until after Easter but that didn't happen. I knew that this question has been coming for a while now because he would start to question me about it but would end the conversation when he was close to an answer as if he wasn't ready to know for sure. Today he must have been ready to hear the answer because he asked me in a serious voice with a "I really want to know the truth" tone.

Ethan:"Mom, is the Easter Bunny real?"

Me: "Are you ready to hear the answer no matter what it may be?"

Ethan: "Yes"

Me: "No. He is not real but since you are old enough to know the truth you are also old enough to keep it to yourself and allow others to believe."

Ethan: "I know it is you and Dad."

Ethan: "Does this mean the Tooth Fairy isn't real either?"

Me: "No."

I felt good about the conversation even though I am somewhat sad that he knows the truth. It was time and he handled it well. We have always taught our children that the Easter Bunny and Santa are not what we are to focus on but instead on the birth and resurrection of Jesus. Still we allow them to believe in this bit of magic that is part of childhood. Hopefully I have a few more years before I need to have this conversation again.