Trinity asked me tonight if the Easter bunny is real. Of course, my 4 year old is sitting right there and at his age I didn’t want to spoil things yet. So, I danced around the question for as long as possible!
I asked her what she thought. (She’s 8 btw and in 3rd grade) She said she thinks he’s real, but I could hear the unsure in her voice and her eyes looked like she was ready to cry! Ok, I said, what brings this question up then? Her friends at school said he wasn’t real, that it’s the parents that put out the candy and hide the eggs. What did you say to them I asked. She said she told them there’s no way the parents can put the candy out at night and hide the eggs because they are in bed sleeping! Ha, that made me laugh! To be that innocent again to think that everyone is asleep all night long. If only! I asked her what they thought of Santa. Oh, they believe in him because he’s magic, but the Easter bunny is something made up. They don’t believe in the tooth fairy either apparently. Trinity still does because of some sly workings of my husband! He really saved the day that time! The more she told me about what her friends were saying the more it sounds like they’ve been having this debate for awhile.
At what age did you figure it out? What age did your kids figure it out? Did you tell them or did they put 2 and 2 together? I don’t remember what age I was, but I remember that it was Christmas morning and as we opened presents I noticed that Santa’s writing and Grandma’s writing sure looked the same! I started to say something to my mom and she gave me the “shhh” and head shake because my younger brother was right there. Ahhhh I said to myself, but I wasn’t disappointed. I smiled and thought no big deal and as long as my brother still believes I’ll keep getting extra presents! I hope my daughter isn’t disappointed about it all and realizes that we can still do all the fun stuff at each holiday. I guess time will tell. Let’s just hope I make it through this weekend
Us Girls..Our Views 
You’ll do fine!! Keep the magc for as long as you can.
I was in second grade when I learned there was no tooth fairy. I cried like my heart was broken because I suddenly realized that meant there was also no Santa Claus or Easter Bunny!! I was devastated!!
You may have to bring Trinity in on the “magic”. This collusion between the two of you may make her feel special and grown up.
I believe the Easter Folklore and History to be pretty amazing and interesting. I was brought up in a traditional Italian family. We have a lot of stories about various holiday figures. We keep them alive, no matter what your age! A Folklore is a folklore, right?
the fact that our neighbor dressed up like santa when I was younger clued me in and I promptly ruined it for all the other children. (that was my job right?) 😉
I’m not sure about my kids. I think they caught onto the tooth fairy the quickest because I always fell asleep before they did and they’d wake up before me and there would be their tooth and no money still under the pillow. I always had to tell them there were so many teeth lost that day she was running late and would get there. Sometime during the day I would try to sneak in but my kids have always been the smart ones who would sneak behind me sneaking and bust my ass. I would even make up stories like she called me to tell me she was really late and had me pick up the tooth so nothing would happen to it and she’d be back for it later and if I left a quarter she would pay me back. They didn’t fall for that for too long.
Aw, that’s a tough question to answer… Part of growing up, though, I guess, is becoming more attuned to the reality around vs. the magic of things. It’s too bad, though. Have you ever read a book called Sophie’s World? I reccomend it – it’s basically a novel that teaches about philosophy but in an interesting and entertaining manner. There’s a bit there about how little children always ask “why?” constantly and expect answers. We stop asking that question so much as we grow up.
I don’t remember when I realized there wasn’t a tooth fairy… I don’t think I was too disappointed, though!
My next-door neighbor was about 3 years older than I, and I have 2 brothers who were closer to her age, so the debate was going on while I was fairly young. I fought on the side of Santa/Easter Bunny for a while before I gave in – partly because my parents, who were always right, believed in them. Eventually I had to admit the truth to myself. I don’t remember exactly how old I was – probably 7-ish. It really didn’t bother me, but a couple of my siblings took it harder.
I recall once when my little brother was 9 and someone mentioned that there was no Santa. My brother was shocked. I said, “oh, I thought you already knew.” His answer: “oh yeah, sure, of course I know there’s no Santa . . . but . . . [hopefully] there IS an Easter Bunny, right?” To which I couldn’t lie. I think most of us shed both beliefs at the same time. As far as the tooth fairy goes, I was in 3rd grade when I lost my first tooth, and I’m sure I didn’t believe at that point. I lost my first tooth while camping, so I didn’t have a pillow to put it under anyway . . . .
My parents never did fess up about Santa (there was always someone young enough to still believe).
I don’t remember exactly when I stopped believing in the Easter Bunny. I think that one year I believed, and the next I didn’t, and I didn’t think much about it.
I first had my suspicions about Santa Claus when I dumped out my stocking one year and saw that Santa shopped at Costco. But I did hold on to the belief probably much longer than I should have. The story of my first real jump into boring adulthood is a long and involved one. But, sufficed to say, the day I stopped believing completely was jarring. I was 12.
I can’t remember when I stopped believing. Bailey does believe in Santa, but he’s starting to doubt the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny. He’s almost 9 so I know I don’t have much time with his still believing in Santa. He’s already questioned him this past Christmas because he found the boxes the toys came in. Jason told him that Santa is a busy busy man and he can’t do everything so he asks us parents to help him out sometimes. The Santa Radar really helped keeping that belief alive this year too!!! He’s super excited for the egg hunt but he’s a lil hunter so of course that would excite him!!! Just going out to his Grandma and Grandpa’s gets him excited.
Oh yea….what did grandpa do to save the day with the tooth fairy? Not sure I ever heard that story!!
It’s wasn’t grandpa Nikki. It was Toby but I have no idea what it was he did. I never heard it either.
I thought you wrote this Joy!! LOL Sorry Sue I see it now. I missed the very 1st part where is says YOUR 4 year, I assumed it said my 4 year old grandson. So much far speed reading, I have to slow my self down!!
This just breaks my heart to think both Bailey and Trinity are both old enough to even be having this conversation 😦 I really hope nobody will ruin it for Christopher.
I’m not sure how old I was but I was older like Megan. There were just a few things I couldn’t figure out and I wasn’t going to admit that or talk about it because I knew the longer I believed, the longer it would go on. I also way over believed for my brother. I was 10-12, I just don’t remember but I have clear memories of trying to figure it out.
I’m not sure I ever had “this talk” with Jason and Toby. I just knew when they knew and they knew I knew but they still always got gifts from Santa and the Easter Bunny still came. Heck, the Easter bunny still comes here to this day. What’s the matter with a little dreaming in our lives? I don’t think it hurts anything.
I also think that what Trisha said has a lot of merit to it. Let this Easter go and if she still has questions, fill her in and let her know she’s a grown up now and has to let the magic continue for Christopher. It will let her think she’s got something that’s between you and her and will make her feel special.
The tooth fairy story…..Trinity lost one of her teeth, put it under her pillow, and then Toby and I forgot to put the money under there that night! I got to work and remembered so I called Toby. (I start work b/4 they are even out of bed!) Low and behold that morning both kids were up already. Trinity got up and said the fairy hadn’t come yet so as Toby was getting Christopher ready he slipped into Trin’s room to put the money under her pillow and she found it when she was getting dressed. She was so excited and after that she said, “Mom, I know the tooth fairy is real b/c you were gone and Dad was helping Christopher so it couldn’t have been you guys!”
LOL!! That is so cute.
That is adorable!! I have forgotten too and the tooth fairy was just late. She had a lot of teeth to pick up that night. He was okay with that answer!
I think I was about 5 or 6 when my older brother clued me in on the Easter Bunny and Santa.
I think my older daughter was about 9 when she figured it all out. My 9 year old still believes in Santa and the Easter Bunny. I got lucky because my oldest daughter has so much fun helping me keep them alive that she hasn’t told her little sister anything!
I think I was about 8 when I finally figured it all out. Our boys were around the same age when they figured it out. My four year old of course still believes in the Easter Bunny, Santa and the tooth fairy. I hope the magic stays with him for as long as it can. 🙂
Taylor stopped believing in the 2nd grade.. I managed to stretch it until she was in the 3rd grade but also made it VERY clear she was not to ruin it for her siblings who are all younger than her.. Christmas this past year was a big deal here b/c she had stopped believing in santa and some people got together and delivered presents to my kids on christmas eve at about 11:30 at night. We were all in bed but taylor had gotten up to go to the bathroom and heard a really loud bang and ho ho ho.. She locked herself in the bathroom and wouldn’t come out. She was shaking so badly. She now believes in santa again but doesnt believe in the easter bunny or tooth fairy.. As long as she doesnt ruin it for the others i’m fine..
What?!?
Instead of cooking and dying eggs, I’m cooking brown eggs. Voila! Coloured eggs! (no children here)
P.S. Love your banner.
I still believe.
I think the whole thing was said best in “The Santa Clause”… “seeing isn’t believing, believing is seeing…. Children hold the spirit of Christmas in their heart.” I think it’s the same with the Easter Bunny. That magic is still alive for me, it’s just a little more advanced form of magic.
oh, yeah… and one more quote…
“Neil, have you ever seen a million dollars?” “No.” “That doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist…” Just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
So, just to be sure, snuggle a little closer in your beds Saturday night, and magic will happen!
I think I was 14 when I realized that it didn’t make sense for a lucky rabbit’s foot to be lucky for everyone except the rabbit. I mean rabbits usually have four of them. Unless of course there’s an organization similar to “Locks of Love” where rabbits donate just one of their lucky feet.
I agree with Trisha. Maybe just tell her but let her know you want to keep it special for Christopher still, especially since her friends mostly know. But nothing wrong with her still believing either!!
I don’t remember ever believing in an Easter bunny! My mom never told us there was one, so we knew it was my mom hiding our baskets. That is great your kids have such an imagination! Good for you guys. You are great parents!
I remember being like Trinity, upset and teary eyed when I found out Santa wasn’t real. I even remember asking my mom and her telling me the truth-cuz my younger bro already knew!!!
I liked Jason’s response that Santa and the Easter Bunny need mom and dad’s help. As a child we never believed in Santa(we would have been very disappointed for we never received very much)however, I remember my father(now in heaven)seeing bunnies around the farm and telling us it was the Easter Bunny. My mom would color eggs(with onion skins)and put them in baskets the night before Easter. One Easter my sister Dorothy(now in heaven)said adamantly that she had seen the Easter bunny come and he was wearing a red scarf. Until she passed from this world she always stuck to her story…we had some good laughs over this.
I believe that if we teach our children that Santa and Easter Bunny exist and are real and then to tell them later that it was not true(a lie then) may cause distrust. If we tell them about Jesus and that He was an actual person, died and rose(history proven) then we expect them to believe this too…perhaps they will think it is a fairy tale as well…..just a thought from a gramma’s heart.
Happy Easter to all. Thank you Jesus for suffering and dying and making eternal life available to us for the asking.