[imported_Aim]

Our 9yr old daughter has been asking a lot of questions about the Easter Bunnie being real. And Santa Claus being real. And she does this in front of her 3yr old brother. So my husband decided that she needed to be told what exactly happens when the Easter Bunnie or Santa comes.

Her little heart is broken. She took it so hard. I feel so badly for her. We thought since she was asking so many questions, that she already knew the real answer. Apparently we were wrong. I wish we could take the words back. I don't know what to do for her now.

Sometimes it sucks being a parent. It's so hard to know when and what to do.

 

[Di]

Don't be to hard on yourself, this parenting stuff is really tough. I can say that as my kids our now in their 20s and it still is not easy. Sometimes you just wish you could wrap them up in your arms and protect them from all the hurt, unfortunately or fortunately we cant- all we can do is the best we can do and love them with all our heart. I still remember the day my daughter found out about Santa Claus, and its been 15yrs.- the funny part is, she doesn't, they do get over it, probably way before we do! Take care, and Happy Easter!

 

[imported_Melissa]

Aawwww, Aim, I'm sorry. Don't beat yourself up about it. You did what you thought was right, and that's the best we can do. The little buggers didn't come with an instruction manual after all.

Riley's 9 and we're going through the same thing right now - how much does he know, should we be telling him... - but we don't have to deal with the second, smaller, set of ears listening in.

 

[Janna and Boomer]

I remember finding out when I was about 4 or 5. I was heartbroken at the time too, but I got over it so fast...kids just bounce back. I'm sure it's harder for you than it is for her!

Don't beat yourself up, you're still a good mom! I think all you can do is make it as fun for her as possible! She'll still love Easter, and Christmas, and the Tooth Fairy... Just in a different way.

 

[AngusFangus]

I remember I was about five when I found out too. I don't remember it bothering me at all. ??? I think I just thought that I knew a grown-up secret now.

Don't worry...today's tragedy will be tomorrow's distant memory! Such is the joy of youth!

 

[2LabsInNEPA]

Don't be hard on yourself - I would have done the same thing. There are no "exacts" in parenting and we all do things along the way of raising our kids that we wish we would have done a little differently. All we can ever do is what we think is right.

 

[Labs4life]

I know it's sad, but you both will be fine. I remember my youngest coming to me at around age 6, telling me there was no such thing as Santa Claus. I asked her where she heard that from and she told me in school.... Last year! I was surprized she never mentioned it sooner and when I asked why she said she didn't want to upset us. I guess she figured we still believed.

 

[Lizzie-May]

You did what you thought was right.. and she will be fine.. I know how you feel exactly.. my 9 year old Jack has also been going on about this too in front of his little brother 4 year old Ben.. He said he believes in Father Christmas (Santa) but not in the tooth fairy or the easter bunny.... we have avoided discussing it so far but I know it is coming sooner rather than later, we will have a chat about it and ask him to keep it from his brother.

 

[Anne]

That must be so tough. Poor kid. But, don't beat yourself up about it. You did what you needed to do.

Along the same lines, *slight hijack*, sorry! We were at a friend's house last night. They were telling us how they had to tell their 9 year old son about Santa b/c his two younger brothers had already figured it out. After they got finished he looked sadly at them and said "Well. *sigh* At least there's still the Easter Bunny."

I am so sorry your daughter is having such a tough time with this. Hopefully, today, she will look at things with a new light when she figures out that the Easter Bunny still comes, even if the "truth" has been told.

 

[imported_Aim]

Thanks everyone.

This morning is much better. She was really worried holidays wouldn't be fun anymore, since she was in on the secret. But she had a great time this morning with her brother.

 

[ThatsMyGirl]

Thanks everyone.

This morning is much better. She was really worried holidays wouldn't be fun anymore, since she was in on the secret. But she had a great time this morning with her brother.

That is how we handled it with our son. At Christmas he got to stay up late and help us put out the Santa gifts. He really enjoyed being "in the know".

My feeling about it was that as soon as they came out and asked, they were going to get a straight answer from me. My son was in 3rd or 4th grade. My daughter figured it out really fast so he didn't have but a year or two to enjoy "knowing" without her.

 

[Buddy and Bailey]

it's hard. my kids are 8 and 9 and I wonder the same thing- do they believe -I ask them they say they do but they ask so many question. I always answer them with what do you think. It seem to work.