Easter was the holiday I had to come clean w/ my son

[MissMillie]

He was never into candy (especially chocolate) but I would put together something for him. One year I got him a fish bowl w/ some gold fish. I put some of that plastic grass to form around the bottom of the fish bowl.

This particular year--I think he was 6 or 7--I got him some jax and some marbles, a small fishing pole, and a few other small items.

I had given up alcohol for lent, and lent was over, so I had a couple of snifters of brandy and went to bed before putting everything out for him.

He woke up and came into my room in tears. "The Easter Bunny forgot me!"

So I had to explain to him that he had not been overlooked, but Mommy had forgotten to get the Easter Bunny's gifts together.

Smart kid didn't buy it. "Mommy, you're the Easter Bunny, aren't you?"

"Yeah."

"And Santa?"

"Yeah."

"And the Tooth Fairy?"

"Yeah."

Crushed. It would have been nice if he had been thankful instead, but what can you expect from a 6 year-old.

What's your story?

[GreenEyedLefty]

1. My kids never confronted me.

There is a 9+ year gap between my oldest and my younger two. Oldest was a faithful confederate. Younger two have known the real deal for years (they are 18 and almost 15) but played along.

[Heartstrings]

2. Both my kids "pretended" they didn't know....

They're 39 and 40 and still do......

[MissMillie]

4. I went to great lengths to disguise Santa

I always told him that Santa brought one gift, and that all the others were from Mommy.

I purchased two rolls of identical wrapping paper, but would only use them for two gifts--one for him and one for me. And I'd save the wrapping paper to use year after year.

[Freddie]

3. Easter Bunny was the turning point for my daughter

She was 7. We were coming home from her piano lesson and out of the blue : "Mom, there's really no Easter Bunny, right? You buy all the candy?" I admitted this was so. "Then no Tooth Fairy? Then no SANTA CLAUS??!!" I said yes, you figured it out. "YOU buy us all those toys?" Yes, me and my friend Mr. Visa. After a minute to let her absorb the truth I had her promise to not tell her brother, who was 3. She promptly told him.

[Fla Dem]

6. Ya, but how long after that did she think you had a friend called Mr. Visa?

[Freddie]

13. She has her own kids now

7 and 3, same ages. Either the big one hasn't caught on yet or figures she gets more stuff by still believing.

[Canoe52]

5. I was caught playing the tooth fairy.

My son woke up as I was taking his tooth from under his pillow and leaving some money. The questions and truth about the Easter bunny, Santa... came out the next morning.

[Fla Dem]

7. I don't think there was ever a defining moment...it just evolved.

[crazycatlady]

8. I don't have kids

I had just turned 7 and we were spending Easter in CA with my aunt/uncle/cousins (slightly older than me). My male cousin was 9-10 at the time.

When we were about to go to bed, I was saying how I was excited for the Easter Bunny to come. He looked at me and said "do you really think some jackass rabbit is hopping down the street giving kids baskets?" i had never heard the term jackass before that (sheltered kid).

That was when I stopped believing in the EB. I played along for the next few years for the sake of my sister (then 4). It was really ruined when we asked for a paw print, and the kitten (a birthday present when I turned 9) was running around with ink on her paw.

[MissMillie]

9. too cute! you asked for a paw print!

It kind of reminds me of the Cadbury commercials.... the other animals trying to be the Cadbury Bunny. I imagine lots of kids think bunnies lay eggs.

[crazycatlady]

10. that's one of my all time favorite commercials

We'd ask Santa for a reindeer paw print too.

Didn't appear until the cat came into the picture.

[earthshine]

11. I was about 5. I caught my Dad red handed taking the tooth and dropping off a quarter.

Suffice to say, it did not go well for him.

[PoorMonger]

12. I dont have kids yet , but

I think I was aware when I was 6 and my brother was 7. My dad went to pretty big lengths with Santa. He would do the traditional milk and cookies deal and also made footprints in the fireplace with a special boot he never wore. We found the boot ( still with ashes on it) one time when we were getting bundled up to go out in the snow. Then there were the neighbors from across the street who were all too happy to tell us that adults were liars.

Though I think that in the back of our minds we knew but we wanted to believe. I don’t really recall thinking about the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy; though my aunt who is a children’s dentist has a practice called The Tooth Fairy, so we were maybe more aware of that being a creation for fun.

My nephew who is just 5 and a half most likely has it figured out already, but he gets just one big present from Santa and the rest from family. Still think he’s clever enough to know.

[elleng]

14. My daughter (now 33) asked something about 'Santa,'

not sure what age, maybe 7. I gave an honest answer, something like 'some believe....' My husband never forgave me. Imagine being TRUTHFUL with one's children!

Otherwise he was a pretty good father, and they adored him. We later separated, and then he died. 'Thanks' for the memory.

[elleng]

15. A Scottish 3 year old's take on Easter

https://www.facebook.com/BBCScotland/videos/1674177669278658/?hc_ref=ARQ_jertowGnCnY0kdI0aMyEUYkZNBcK4LRassrQjStjTsoY_B33fr7S-qr3h65X3hs

[Delmette2.0]

16. That sounds like my son.

When he figured out that I was Santa he immediately, angerly surmised that the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny were fake also.

Since then ( he is now 37 years old) we have had some amazing discussions. He listens to both sides of politics and knows how to bait me in to giving him the feminist mother look.

I know he ultimately agrees with me and I'm pleased that he knows both sides of most issues.