Questions and Answers
While putting Phoebe to bed on Sunday night, she asked me, "Is the Easter Bunny real?" I responded with a somewhat evasive "What do you mean?"
P: Well does an easter bunny put candy in plastic eggs then hide them all around the house, or is it you and mom?
BJ: You might be on to something but we need to talk about this tomorrow.
The next day Phoebe had largely forgotten about her question but unfortunately her question was a little too poignant and I wasn't prepared to evade a direct request for clarity or truth. Heather and I gathered Sophia and Phoebe into our room and I hinted to Sophia that "Magic wasn't real, but people can still make magic happen." She quickly understood the implications but there were words that needed to be said in response to some direct questions.
Heather spoke to them first and explained our love and caring for them. They asked her point blank, "Is the easter bunny real?" Heather's eyes welled up with tears understanding the implications and passage from childhood naivete to being in on the secret, "No Baby." You could see the impact of the statement in the eyes of the girls as their brains raced through permutations and implications based on this new knowledge.
S: WAIT, so then Santa's not real?
H: No Baby.
S and P Both talking at the same time: So you stay up late and do all those things? You hide eggs, and wrap presents and set things up? Wait is the tooth fairy real?
H: No babies.
S: How can you get our tooth under our pillow.
B: We're quiet and patient. We move slow and watch you in your peaceful sleep then gently reach under your pillow to exchange your tooth for a little bit of money.
S and P: Is this Why're you're always tired on Holidays?
Heather and I, with some tears in our eyes, both hug our daughters and explain that yes and we love doing it. We'll continue to do it too. We did make them promise to keep the magic inside of them so that other mommies and daddies, if they play santa claus or the easter bunny, can make magic for their children and have the chance to explain to them how the magic works.
It was an interesting and tender moment. We'll still play santa, easter bunny, and especially the tooth fairy. I let them know that even though they know the secret they still won't be able to catch us.
We hugged them and held them. The most amazing thing was watching them realize the work we did to maintain the magic
P: Well does an easter bunny put candy in plastic eggs then hide them all around the house, or is it you and mom?
BJ: You might be on to something but we need to talk about this tomorrow.
The next day Phoebe had largely forgotten about her question but unfortunately her question was a little too poignant and I wasn't prepared to evade a direct request for clarity or truth. Heather and I gathered Sophia and Phoebe into our room and I hinted to Sophia that "Magic wasn't real, but people can still make magic happen." She quickly understood the implications but there were words that needed to be said in response to some direct questions.
Heather spoke to them first and explained our love and caring for them. They asked her point blank, "Is the easter bunny real?" Heather's eyes welled up with tears understanding the implications and passage from childhood naivete to being in on the secret, "No Baby." You could see the impact of the statement in the eyes of the girls as their brains raced through permutations and implications based on this new knowledge.
S: WAIT, so then Santa's not real?
H: No Baby.
S and P Both talking at the same time: So you stay up late and do all those things? You hide eggs, and wrap presents and set things up? Wait is the tooth fairy real?
H: No babies.
S: How can you get our tooth under our pillow.
B: We're quiet and patient. We move slow and watch you in your peaceful sleep then gently reach under your pillow to exchange your tooth for a little bit of money.
S and P: Is this Why're you're always tired on Holidays?
Heather and I, with some tears in our eyes, both hug our daughters and explain that yes and we love doing it. We'll continue to do it too. We did make them promise to keep the magic inside of them so that other mommies and daddies, if they play santa claus or the easter bunny, can make magic for their children and have the chance to explain to them how the magic works.
It was an interesting and tender moment. We'll still play santa, easter bunny, and especially the tooth fairy. I let them know that even though they know the secret they still won't be able to catch us.
We hugged them and held them. The most amazing thing was watching them realize the work we did to maintain the magic
That is so sweet. And sad when they start to grow up.
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