Growing Pains

My daughter is now nine years old.  She told me the other day that she still believes in the Easter Bunny because she wants to.  I feel a bit strange about this.  It's not that I'm desperate for her to grow up.  I miss my sweet, curly haired toddler.  But I am beginning to wonder at what point I should challenge this whole Easter Bunny/Father Christmas thing.  That's assuming I should.  Maybe it's better to let her wander through life believing in such things.  But I don't like deception.  And to be frank the stress of getting caught filling up her stocking at Christmas is something I could do without.  Certainly once she's ten.  But I don't want to crush her dreams.  And if we're now at a point where she's deliberately choosing to believe these things, does it mean that deep down she knows they're not real?  She's just not quite ready to give up on the illusion just yet?  And if that's the case, maybe it's the same with all her friends.  Maybe she's not the sole believer in her class at school.  Maybe she's not heading for a painful future.  But one thing I am certain of, there are painful times ahead for her.  And they'll very soon be here.