Innocence lost

I'm a strong advocate for keeping kids kids. Seriously, why force them to grow up?
But when my daughter asks about babies, I just can't lie or sugarcoat it or anything. It is what it is--this is how babies are made. Yet, when she asks about Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, I lie. I hide behind platitudes and Christmas spirit thoughts.
She asks me, "Is there a Santa?"
I answer with a question,"Do you believe in Santa?"
"Yes," she says with conviction. "There has to be a Santa because how else would all the kids get toys all on the same night?"
And that should end the discussion. But if she asks me about how babies are made, I have to tell her. I have added a few details, like, you have to be married, but that came back and bit me.
She asked, "How did Aunt Alyssa have a baby if she's not married?"
Ooops!