My Children Have Uncovered the Truth About Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy — And It’s Liberating

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About a year ago, my 9-year-old son, Max, shuffled downstairs one morning, clutching his Tooth Fairy money in a crumpled fist. With a grin, he declared, “I know you’re the Tooth Fairy, Mom! I pretended to sleep last night to catch you!”

The night before, during our bedtime routine, he had asked if the Tooth Fairy was real, and I had fibbed, telling him she existed. My heart wasn’t really in it; I was starting to struggle with this charade. It’s so much easier to maintain the magic when they’re little.

I knew I had snuck in a bit too early that night. I was wiped out and ready for bed myself. When I peeked into his room, he looked so peaceful in the glow of the moonlight, I couldn’t resist slipping the money under his pillow. But later, I found myself reflecting on how exhausting this entire act had become. For over a decade, I had bent over backward to make every holiday special. I mean, one year the Tooth Fairy left my oldest an entire coin collection! This was all self-imposed stress, and I needed to put an end to it.

So when my son made his revelation, I wanted to do a little dance on our kitchen island in my bathrobe. I wasn’t even sad about it! This mom was done with the ridiculous farce! Goodbye to the pressure of trying to outdo myself and farewell to this unrealistic fairyland nonsense. To all those Pinterest boards with elaborate holiday ideas: I’m done! The truth is, it had all been a massive deception, and I was beyond tired of maintaining it.

In that moment, I realized that if he had figured out the Tooth Fairy, it was time to come clean about everything else too. To my surprise, they didn’t seem to mind. Clearly, they had been aware for a while and had just played along to keep me happy. And honestly, it did make me happy—until I went full Buddy the Elf on them.

As magical as it once felt, I recognized that I had already crafted that experience for them, and it was perfectly okay to step back now. If they were old enough to stay awake to catch the Tooth Fairy, they were ready to hear the truth. As they grew older and wiser (thanks for that, kids), it became increasingly difficult to pull off hiding the Elf, disguising my handwriting on Santa’s letters, or stashing away special Santa wrapping paper.

As kids mature, their understanding of magic evolves, and mine are no exception. At their ages now, they grasp the magic of giving and helping others. They find joy in generosity, almost as much as in receiving gifts. Just recently, my daughter lost a tooth and asked my husband if he was going to leave money under her pillow. He said he wouldn’t be, but the Tooth Fairy might. She replied, “I know the Tooth Fairy isn’t real, but I still want my money.” So instead of the sneaky pillow maneuver, we just handed her a few bucks. It was a straightforward, honest exchange. She even tossed the tooth in the trash herself. No more sneaking around—just a fresh, honest approach to it all, and honestly, it feels quite magical.

Just the other day, we were enjoying some not-so-great fast food, laughing about all the tricks I used to pull to keep the magic alive. My kids wanted to know my secrets—where I hid the elf, the special Santa wrapping paper, all of it. So, I shared my tricks with them.

As I was revealing my secrets, I noticed two wide-eyed toddlers at a nearby table, listening intently to our conversation. I immediately stopped and shot the mother an apologetic look. She smiled back, “Don’t worry, I don’t think they understand yet. Honestly, I can’t wait until I get to this point! Please tell me I won’t have to deal with it until they’re as old as yours!”

So, when that moment comes for you to tell your kids the truth about Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the like, remember to keep it within your four walls. It’s tempting to spill the beans in public, but save that honesty for home.

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In summary, embracing honesty with my kids about the myths I once perpetuated has been liberating. It’s a new phase in our family life where we can share laughter and stories without the burden of secrecy.