It Happened...

I knew our days were numbered, but that doesn't mean I was ready for it. We woke up Easter morning to Jackson telling us he found his Easter basket. He was so excited! Grace was still sleeping, but not for long. Jackson woke her up and she ran around the house to find where it was hidden. After it was found, she came into our room and asked, "Did you hide the Easter basket, Mommy and Daddy?" I was silent for a few seconds until these words came out of her mouth, "Be honest." I have always answered that question with what they believed and left it at that. Well when those words were said, it was time to confess. I told her yes we were and we love watching the joy you have when you see the gifts you have been given. It didn't seem to phase her very much. She just went on her way and proceeded to tell Jackson. Jackson's reaction was a little different. He looked at me with a dazed look and said, "Really, you are?" I knew his reaction was going to be very different. Jackson is a sensitive boy who has a huge imagination. I know there were times he thought about the Easter Bunny and pictured him hopping around our house leaving the gifts. The next question he asked was one that I knew would come shortly after (Grace was not in the room). He asked if Santa was real. Of course, I told him that we were and Santa is a part of the magic of Christmas. I found a letter a while back that I am going to print out and give to him. It goes like this:
You asked a really good question, "Are Mom and Dad really Santa?" We know that you want to know the answer, and we had to give it careful thought to know just what to say.
The answer is no. We are not Santa. There is no one, single Santa.
We are the people that fill your stocking and choose and wrap the presents under the tree-just as our parents did for us. their parents did for them, and you will do for your kids someday.
This could never make any of us Santa, though. Santa is lots and lots of people who keep the spirit of Christmas alive. He lives in our heart-not at the North Pole. Santa is the magic and love and spirit of giving to others. What he does is teach children to believe in something they can't see or touch. Throughout your life you will need this capacity to believe; in yourself, in your family, in your friends, and in God.
I know this may make you sad to lose some of the magic you once believed now that you know the secret-but the truth is that you now just know a different kind of secret and I hope you never forget that Santa is love, magic and happiness.
I do ask of you to help me keep Santa alive for your little sister, cousins, and friends who still believe in him as a person. A child has to be ready to understand this kind of secret and magic and now that you know you can help me continue on this tradition for our family and other families. Just as you found joy in believing in Santa as a person I can assure you that you will have the same feeling in watching others believe in that magic.
I plan on sharing this letter with Jackson in hopes that he understands the new "secret" that he found out.
We have told him not to tell Grace or even give any hints. I know it is hard for him, but it is part of him growing up and maturing in this way. It is important that we keep the magic alive in her for the time being.
Every once in a while Jackson will look at me with that sweet little grin. I know exactly what he is thinking...and I wink at him and say, "Shhh."