The truth about Santa

I've talked about this before. I don't go crazy when buying Christmas gifts for the kids. We stick to the four gift rule:

They also each get one present from Santa and their stockings are filled with little trinkets. And I'll probably get them each a Christmas Eve package: Christmas pajamas, popcorn and treats, and then we'll watch a movie.

We aren't big on encouraging the belief in Santa. In fact, we didn't discuss Santa at all until Bug was in preschool and every other kid started telling her about the fat man. But now Bug is 8 and in the 3rd grade, and she has already asked several times, "Just tell me the truth: Is Santa real?"

I always respond with my standard response: "Children who don't believe in Santa get socks and underwear for Christmas."

But this year, I will be telling Bug the truth about Santa, using this letter as a guide.  I am very nervous about this. I don't want to spoil the magic of Christmas for her. But really, I can't remember a time that I ever thought Santa was real, and I still think Christmas is most magical time of the year. So hopefully she'll be ok with it.

I'd love to hear from some of my readers about this-- did your kids ever believe in Santa? If so, when did they learn the truth, and how did you handle it?