The tooth fairy

Anyone who believes they have been visited by the tooth fairy recently should not read this post. Assuming all those people are now doing something else I will continue.... It is a sad day in our house today. Yesterday Jessica (9 yrs) lost a tooth. There was the usual discussion about how much money she would get and how she planned to spend it. Her friend was over most of yesterday and today. I noticed some conversation about belief in the tooth fairy. Jess and I were in the car this morning and she asked the question - "Is the tooth fairy real?" She has asked before but I realized that my usual evasive answers wouldn't do the trick this time. "What do you think?" I asked. She smiled and said she didn't think so - but I sensed that had I said yes she would have been relieved to go on believing. I have never lied to her but somehow the myth has been kept alive! Well we are all straight on the facts now. I am very sad. I feel like this is her first step away from being a little girl. And I don't like it. I was proud of her though because she did know the truth but was very gracious about her transition. After a while of gazing out the window and thinking she said "so what about Santa?". I thought to myself, well why don't you just rip my heart out and jump all over it. So I spilled the beans about that too. We agreed that she will never speak of this to her siblings and we will still pretend. Well we have seen "The Polar Express".
I do feel good about the fact that she is really clear about the difference between that and who she believes Jesus to be. He is real to her. I love that about her and Him. Even though I did cry today I am glad about who she is growing up to be - even if it's a little quick.