Do you have younger children? As each of mine has learned the Santa story, I lessened their "pain" by letting them in on the fun. :) They then were given the joy of helping to fill the stocking of the next child younger (I have three, one still believes). So my oldest got to help choose items for the middle child's stocking. Then he in turn got to help with the youngest child's stocking. They put a LOT of thought in to those stockings. When my youngest learns the story she will get to help stuff the dog's stocking. She'll love that. If you don't have other children or pets, you might let her be Santa for a neighbor or someone you know who could use a lift by stuffing a stocking for them and leaving it secretly from Santa. My kids thinking BEING Santa beats believing in Santa any day. :)