"Just tell me mom, is it true? Is it really you and dad doin' all that?"

Noah, my 7 year old second grader came home from school Friday to tell me a little girl in his class told him there is no Santa Clause! She informed him that it was "the parents doin' all that." He demanded to know if that was true. "Just tell me mom, is it true? Is it really you and dad doin' all that?" I responded with my tried and true response of, "All I know is if you believe in Santa Clause, he will come see you." That did not work this time, he was not falling for it. He demanded the truth, although his sweet face did not want to hear the truth and I did not want to fess up! My mind raced trying to come up with something that wasn't a complete lie that would allow me the joy of that innocent surprised face on Christmas morning still believing in the magic of Santa Clause.. just one more year. Where was his dad at a time like this?! Oh yeah, a high school football game! Nothing.. I couldn't lie. I kept it simple with, "Yes it's true." He did not want to believe me. "Why are you messing with me?" he asked through tears. Oh my word! What was I thinking, could I go back and say I was just kidding, there really is a Santa? It was too late. He mourned the loss of Santa all of about 5 minutes. So now he knows the truth, which led to the truth about the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. His final response.. "Why do ya'll do that?" This of course led to the "Don't you say a word to your friends" discussion. The secret proved to be too big for him to hold in. He couldn't stand it. He rode right over to his friend's house only to announce, "I know a secret about Christmas, but I can't tell you because I don't want to spoil the magic!" So, I appologize to all of the parents of Noah's friends if he spills the beans. At least the "Santa can bring anything" pressure is off! I am a little sad though.. it is too soon.