Fairies or God?

"So,  Beloved Daughter, do you believe in Father Christmas and tooth fairies?" I enquire casually, as we are driving to her friend's 10th birthday party - comprising a 4pm disco and make-up pamper session (no boys invited).

My heart is actually beating quite fast in apprehension, dreading her answer, despite the apparent matter-of-factness of my question. I am beginning to think it's a bit weird that my ten year old seems still to believe in all this stuff, especially in view of what her older brother has introduced her to on the internet. She is calm watching Hot Fuzz, and laughs at Borak; but still can't sleep after films like 'Hook!' and Doctor Who.

Last year, as part of her Father Christmas letter she asked him to leave a signed photo. "For proof that he exists," she
explained to me.

A month ago she was on her way to another birthday party and I dug out a birthday card from my collection for her to give, with a picture of a fairy on it.

"Oh it was you," she said, accusingly. My brain ground around in its spectacularly slow way. I realised she was referring to a card I had written to her, with the same picture, pretending it had come from the toothfairies, apologising that it had taken them three months to give her some loose change in exchange for her tooth which had got lost when the bed was made. Now I was cornered.

"Yes, OK, it was me that wrote you the card," I admitted; "because I thought it was a bit mean of the toothfairies to leave it
so long to give you money for your tooth."

She appeared to accept this explanation without question.

I am slightly worried about her blind faith and naivity. Her brother stopped believing in fairies and Father Christmas
when he was about seven.

"If you don't believe in Father Christmas, you won't get any presents from him," I had warned him. So he kept up the pretence
so as not to lose out.

WHY do we go through this charade? What really is the point? Why are we lying through our teeth to our children, year in, year out, when all is so blindingly obvious? Especially when Santa forgets to eat his mince pie or drink his sherry, as happened last Christmas. Does this really engender trust between children and their parents?

Anyway, back to our car journey. Daughter pauses, and says "I believe in Father Christmas and fairies because I think it's better to."

"Do you believe in God then?" I counter.

"Yes, in the same way," she replies.

"Of the three, are there one or two that you believe in much more than the others?" I query.

 "No - all about the same," she says. "I believe in mythical creatures too," she continues.

"What, things like dragons?" I say.

"Well nice ones. So what's the biggest bird? Umm, if you could cross an ostrich or an emu with a horse, then you'd get a Pegasus. That would be nice."

"Um, yes, like unicorns and things," I say. "So, do you believe in reindeers?"
 
"Yes, silly Mummy, they're real. I've met loads of them at Pennywell Farm and places."

"OK, just checking," I mumble, as we turn into the balloon festooned driveway gates.

Hmm - so God clearly ranks alongside Father Christmas and toothfairies. I'm not sure I'm too happy about this.

Next time I see my 14 year old cynical son, I will say, "I know we've never formally acknowledged whether or not Father Christmas and fairies exist or not, but would you mind telling your little sister the truth about them?"

I don't know if this is the best route to take, but much as we all admire a lively imagination, and have a desire for our children to enjoy their childhood, whatever that really means, I do think it is time that my lovely dreamy daughter put her feet a little more firmly on the ground, before she gets horribly teased by some more worldly contemporary.

But I don't want to be the one responsible for imparting such a ground-shattering disillusion.