Goodbye Childhood

It all ended last Easter.

What ended? The 'Magic'. That's what ended.

My daughter found out that, "The Easter Bunny is dead." That is a direct quote taken from boysmile's mouth.

Nice.

In the end, she wasn't devastated, nor was she much surprised. She started having questions last year when Santa left a note for her and it suspiciously looked like our markers. Hmmm.... She did ask some about the Easter Bunny on that fateful April day which led to boysmile just blurting out, "HE'S DEAD!" At least that's how I remember the conversation going.

So the other night we went to Macy's. As we walk in the door they have a big red mailbox set up with a table that has paper and pens to write a letter to Santa. Every letter that is written, they donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. There was already a dad with his two young kids writing letters at the table and I say in my most excited-to-still-have-an-inner-child-in-me voice, "Hey Spanky, do you want to write a letter to Santa?!" Thinking this will all be fun and magical and we can dream about what Santa is going to bring us this year when he comes down our apartment chimney and leaves presents in our stockings that hang over the fireplace that we don't have. I was met with a, "No, he's not real mom!" Nice. Cover your ears little children!

Needless to say, the dad of the other kids looked up in our direction and we shared a little chuckle. His kids still believe. He obviously hasn't had the heart to ruin his wife's fun yet and spoil the 'magic' that happens at Christmastime.

In the end, this does sadden me quite a bit. I like writing magical notes on Christmas Eve and half eating cookies, but leaving messy crumbs (because Santa doesn't have time to clean up since he has so much to do that night), and munching on carrots (for the reindeer), for little children to wake up to in amazement in the morning. The 'magic' of the holidays has left our house. No doubt it will still be the best time of year. No doubt we still have our family and our health and a roof over our heads, but my daughter has lost a part of her childhood. Gone. Never to be seen again.

At least I have Pete. Although at this rate, I'm pretty sure he won't have any chance at ever believing in Magic. Too bad.