A childhood belief about father christmas

My daughter has always been a cynic. I tried desperately to keep her believing in the fantasy, going so far as to have a friend drop off gifts from Santa inside my house while we were out of town. That worked for another couple of years, every time she'd start to wonder I'd remind her...but finally and mind you she was only 6! She insisted that I tell her if Santa was real...Convinced that she really wanted to know and uncomfortable with out and out lying, especially since she'd been so persistent about her doubts for so many years in her young life, I tried the old "the SPIRIT of Santa is real, the spirit of love and giving..." but no, she wasn't buying any of it and insisted she wanted to know if Santa was a real person.

So finally I broke down and confessed that I was her Santa Claus, and yes I was the one who wrapped her presents and put them under the tree like all little girls and boys parents, and that's why some children recieved more at Christmas than others...While I was rambling her eyes grew huge and round and she blurted out, "Your Santa?! Where are all your reindeer and how do you get around the world in one night???" I guess she wasn't quite as ready not to believe as I had thought :)