Family: Ivy 1, Santa 0

So as I was driving home from playgroup tonight, with Ivy and Rose sitting in the back, Ivy suddenly begins an interesting conversation. Here is a partial re-enactment, for the benefit of history.

Ivy: Daddy, I have a friend at school who says that her Mom and Dad are Santa Claus for her.
Glenn: Ah.
Ivy: She's wrong, right?
Glenn: What do you think?
Ivy: "I think that she's wrong, and that Santa Claus comes to her house."
Glenn "Why do you think that?"
Ivy: Because.
Glenn: Ah.

A few minutes pass. At this point, I have two worries. The first of which is that Rose will rouse from sleep, overhear this discussion and get upset. The second is that Ivy will press the point further and become upset if I tell her the truth.

Ivy: Daddy, would you tell me the truth?
Glenn: Yes, but I want to ask you some questions. Why is this important to you?
Ivy: I just want to know the truth.
Glenn: Is it because you're curious? Or because you're afraid you won't like the truth?
Ivy: Curious, I think.
Glenn: Do you remember when you asked me about Santa's reindeer, and I said that they could fly because they were magic?
Ivy: yes.
Glenn: I also told you once that magic was "just pretend", and when I said that about the reindeer, you said 'But you said magic was pretend.' At the time, I asked you what you thought about that, and you said you didn't know. What do you think now?
Ivy: (with dawning smugness) I know! I know! Mommies and Daddies dress up in Santa clothes.

Interestingly, at this point, Ivy, rather than bursting into tears, became fascinated by the logistics of the illusion. Most of this centered around Mall santas and the fact that they looked different, which she confessed to having observed. But I thought the following was interesting:

Ivy: Do the mall santas carry the presents to the Mommies and Daddies?
Glenn: (laugh) No, the parents buy the gifts.
Ivy: But how can they go to the store at night?
Glenn: No, we buy them beforehand.
Ivy: Then we'd see them sitting on the counter!
Glenn: We hide them.
Ivy: Oh!

Finally, I asked her if the discovery made her sad, to which she said no. In fact, she was very excited to tell mommy that she was "in" on the big secret. I told her not to tell her sister, but I imagine that's a doomed effort and that Ivy will let the truth slip sometime as Christmas approaches. We'll see.

I share with you this final exchange we had while talking about my elaborate marble trail.

Ivy: (suddenly) You ate the cookies and milk!
Glenn: Yes, they were very tasty cookies.
Ivy: Thanks, daddy!