Frickin Leprechauns!

My son built a leprechaun trap last year in first grade, and I almost blew it when I questioned their existence. I had no idea he really thought they existed. He was very upset, to say the least. This year, the second graders didn't do any traps, and I thought that we had escaped the farce. Until Monday night, when I discovered him in the kitchen making a trap. Good lord. It went fine, he made the trap, put some "gold" in it (a.k.a. pennies) and a cookie, in case the money wasn't enticing enough. So, imagine my surprise, at 5 the next morning, when I hear him crying, calling for me because he's afraid he may have caught one, and doesn't want to go downstairs and find one in his trap.

After telling him to go back to sleep, at least for another hour, I just brewed in my bed. Thinking that this is ridiculous! Seriously, I don't mind the whole Santa fabrication, or the tooth fairy.. but when leprechauns are waking me up in the wee hours, I start to get pissed.

Luckily, he didn't catch one.. Then last night, at bedtime, he asked me if I had thrown away the trap. I said that I would.. He was afraid that the leprechauns might come back and try to get his money, and the cookie (which had already been eaten by his little brother, who in my opinion is way scarier than a leprechaun) But I told him not to worry, that leprechauns only come out on St. Patty's day, and that they were now with their pot of gold at the end of some rainbow far away from here. I also added that they aren't scary, they are jolly old men who are just greedy, and want to be rich.. I thought this was enough.. but then 10 minutes later, I can hear him crying again, calling for me. He thinks that he spotted one. On his bureau. It was little and green, and it may have had claws. Well folks, that was enough for me. My mom thinks that I ruined something for him by telling him the truth, that imaginations are important for children.. Duh. I know that, but this is part of some adults imagination.. and when it starts making my 7 year old cry, then the jig is up! I'm not sure he totally believed me, when I told him that they aren't real. He seemed genuinely shaken up by thinking that he just saw one. But it did allow him to settle down, and get to sleep. He hasn't mentioned it at all today. I'm hoping he won't. I don't want him to start wondering about all the other "stories" we've fed him, like Santa and the Easter bunny, although he may be outed too as both my boys have expressed concern once again, about the life size rabbit roaming around our house.. it's never ending!