Of Easter Bunnies and Santas.....

I don't have a photo for this one.

I just couldn't bear to pull out the Canon and snap it in the face of the little one, whose very belief system was hanging in the balance.

But you can probably picture it.

Just having discovered a small stash of Easter goodies in the back of a closet, Ellie walked slowly over to me, face reddening. Question marks flashed like lightning in her eyes.

"Mom," she asked in a measured voice, "Is.... there...."

"Is there..... really an Easter bunny?"

Tears tiptoed in her eyes.

I gave the standard, "what do you think, honey" response, but I knew that it was too far gone and that really, it was time.

Time.

Time for the Princess of Hearts to find out the truth. She has always had questions. But she stayed firm in her belief that fairies and bunnies and big jolly men and elves somehow existed in a parallel universe.

She has heard kids say that Santa is not real.

But Ellie still believed.

Until today. Once I gently nodded to her that yes, sweetie, your hunch is right... there is not a big bunny hopping around delivering presents to kids... or even a man in a Red Suit who flies on a sleigh loaded with gifts, a little quirky smile slowly arrived upon her face. The tears still brimmed, but I could see in her eyes that it was going to be OK.

Then, she broke the tension: "Next time, hide the presents better!"

Ha.

Just then, the phone rang. It was out-of-town Tom. Ellie answered. Their conversation went like this.

Ellie: Hello?
Dad: Hey girl! Whatcha doing?
Ellie: Well, I just asked mom if the Easter bunny is real.
Dad: Oh really? (pause) What did she say?
Ellie: Well dad..... (getting the timing just right) apparently........ he's not.
Tom: (laughing!)

That's my girl.