'My daughter found out the Elf on the Shelf isn't real because of an article I wrote.'

"Mum, is Santa real?"

This question has always filled me with complete and utter dread.

For years, I have effectively used multiple strategies to answer:

• Distraction: "Who wants a milkshake?"
• Deflection: "As if we'd buy you all those presents!"
• Doubling down: "Santa only brings presents to kids that believe."

I wanted the magic of Santa to last forever. Or so I thought.

Watch: The signs to use when celebrating Christmas. Story continues after video.

Last week my daughter was reading old articles on Mamamia to tell me how to be a better writer (yes, this is what I live with). Naturally, she stumbled upon an article in which I moaned about having to move the elves EVERY SINGLE NIGHT of December.

Oops.

She looked me squarely in the eye with a smirk and said, "I know the elves aren't real". The game was up. There was no coming back from the cold, hard evidence that the elves that have arrived on the 1st of December for the last 13 years are, in fact, stuffed toys.

Cute stuffed toys. But stuffed toys, nonetheless.

Our Elf On A Shelf. Image: Supplied.

THIS COULD BE A CAUTIONARY TALE ABOUT HOW WHAT YOU WRITE ONLINE STAYS ONLINE FOREVER, BUT LET'S STICK TO THE TOPIC.

My first thought... I hope I didn't 'out' Santa.

My second thought... Actually, I hope I did.

Santa has undoubtedly brought years of joy and magic to our family Christmas. We have written him letters, baked cookies, left gifts, sprinkled reindeer dust, and woken at 3am to unwrap gifts left in pillowcases under the tree.

I expected that after 15 years of playing Santa at Christmas, I would be devastated to say goodbye.

My family. Image: Supplied.

Instead, the only emotion I feel is relief.

• Relief that I don't have to create the magic of Santa in secret.
• Relief that I don't have to use two different wrapping papers and not mix them up.
• Relief that I don't have to remember the following year what wrapping paper Santa used (because the kids sure do).
• Relief that I don't have to tell more stories about how Santa can get down chimneys to visit every house across the globe in one night or why Santa can't deliver iPhones or Xbox consoles to our house, but he can to friends.

What will I say when my daughter inevitably asks if Santa is real?

Honestly, I don't know.

I know I won't deflect, distract, or double down. It's time to fess up. Not in a big emotional speech about how the magic of Santa lives in all of us. More in a 'how awesome are the stories of Christmas' kind of way.

Read more from Angela: Last year, a 'perfect' Christmas almost broke me. This year, I'm lowering the bar.

I might take the easy way out and tell her I have a new article for her to critique.

As for the elves, they turned up on the 1st of December, as always. Just because the kids know it's me doesn't make it less fun; perhaps, weirdly, we will all enjoy it even more!

Angela Eves is a mum to four crazy humans and two even crazier golden retrievers. Requires coffee to function. Believes everything is better when coloured, from hair to walls, and anything in between.

Feature Image: Supplied.