My daughter is going to turn six in a few days. She came to us at bed time about two weeks ago and said “Daddy, I know that fairies are not real. And I know that the fairies that are real can’t fly. I know that there’s no way anyone can get into our house because it is locked up and we have an alarm.”
Dramatic pause.
“So, I think that the only one who can get my teeth from under the pillow is either you or mom”.
My wife glared at me as this is our only child and Annie wants to have fun playing these roles for a while. Madeleine has only lost two teeth so far. But I just have a hard time directly lying to my child. So I try another route.
“Don’t you think it’s way more fun to pretend like fairies come and get the teeth?”
“No. I like the truth the best. Is it you and mom?”
“Yeah, it is. But you can’t tell anyone at your school.”
“Okay. Good-night” And it was just that easy.
Once she left my wife and I began discussing our ambivalence. On the one hand, we’re proud that she’s so smart and so logical, but on the other hand we really wanted her to enjoy some of the fun things of childhood.
“Mommy!” Madeleine yelped after sneaking back into the den.
“What is it?”
With a grin as big as a samurai sword my daughter announced “And I know who the Easter Bunny is, too!” then giggled as she ran back to her room.
No comments yet about “you-know-who” in red and white, but we’ll see what happens this coming December.
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