Thank you, Tooth Fairy, for instigating many uncomfortable conversations. Why do some kids get $0.50, some a dollar, and some get two? Why do some kids get special coins or presents when they lose their first tooth? Why do some kids get a note, a toy, a car, when they lose a tooth? What does the Tooth Fairy look like? How does she fly? Is she tiny or big? What in the world does she do with all those teeth?
Ella recently lost her first tooth. It had been loose for ages, and for days had been at that gross stage where it moves around on its own every time she opened her mouth. She didn't even notice it was gone until we were reading for bed and I asked her what happened. She remembered spitting something in the sink when she brushed her teeth. Yes, her first tooth and been lost down the drain.
There was the inevitable break down that only a type-A child with a very type-A mother can produce. She worried that the Tooth Fairy wouldn't leave anything because there wasn't a tooth to collect. She worried the Tooth Fairy wouldn't even show up since there was no lost tooth in the house. She worried she would get in trouble with the Tooth Fairy and it would affect later tooth profits. Ethan was actually very reassuring and told her about the time he lost his tooth at school and the Tooth Fairy still came. This brought on all the questions about how different kids have different experiences with the Tooth Fairy.
We decided that there are many, many, MANY tooth fairies that are in charge of different families. They have individual relationships with their assigned families and individually decide how to reward the child for the tooth. I never thought I would have to have deep philosophical discussions about flying tooth collectors, but there you have it, the ever amazing job of a mother!
p.s. We decided that our tooth fairy has a tooth alarm that goes off when someone loses a tooth. We left a note explaining what happened and she was very understanding. Thank goodness!
p.p.s. What would someone do with all those teeth? We came up with: build a really disgusting castle; sell them to dentists in poor countries; and maybe she is a hoarder, the likes of which have never been seen. Any other ideas?
8 comments:
The tooth fairy (or fairies, as the case may be) are from a kingdom where teeth are used as a form of currency, a bit like ivory or a precious gem here. Tooth fairies are a mixture of treasure hunters and treasurers that comes out to be pure awesomeness. Like Indiana Jones with wings.
I think they just like to dissolve them in Coke.
AND, the thought of a dentist in a poor country putting those teeth into his patients makes my skin crawl.
I'd say that she fills up mason jars with them, but then what??
Check out my jewelry box sometime and you'll know what she does with them. I vote for the "hoarder", because the children who lost those teeth grow up, and someday, those teeth are all you've got left.
signed - Retired Tooth Fairy.
I love your blog. Seriously.
We have also had to leave a note for the tooth fairy explaining why the tooth was not available for pickup because it was lost in the grass somewhere. She still came luckily. Then Will got the brilliant idea that he could find a small white rock and make some money on the side that way. Unfortunately for him the tooth fairy is a little smarter than a 6 year old boy.
Parenthood is the best!
Alternative fuel source.
Oh my gosh...I love your blog! You're so funny! Samantha was super excited to get two quarters when she lost her first tooth, that is, until her friend told her she got $5.00. What the heck? I'm not giving my kid $5.00 for losing a tooth!
Have you ever read your kids the book, Air Mail to the Moon? It's a funny one! It's about losing a tooth.
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