On the clock

by , posted on May 30th, 2012 in Parenting



beach

I can’t tell if she’s playing me.

My six year-old.

She lost a tooth – her eighth – at school the other day. The teacher put it in an old film canister (for you young ‘uns, film was something that used to go in cameras, and when you took it out, you put it in this little black container with a gray top) and Sage brought it home. She was a little worried the Tooth Fairy wouldn’t know there was a tooth in there, but I assured her the Tooth Fairy knows all.

And then I convinced her not to stick in under her pillow, since Sage seems to wake up every time the Tooth Fairy visits.

So the next morning I’m in the shower and Sage comes in. Very upset. Tears pooling in her eyes. Cheeks flushed.

“Mommy? The Tooth Fairy didn’t come!”

Somewhere, maybe even in that very shower, the Tooth Fairy smacked itself in the head.

When I toweled off, I told David. He said not to worry, the Tooth Fairy had just left a dollar.

“That was Daddy,” Sage said. “He left it while I was in the bathroom. Maybe the Tooth Fairy is on vacation. Mommy? Is there a Tooth Fairy?”

“What do you think?” I asked.

She didn’t answer. But I started to guess that she was doubting the whole operation. She told me Daddy always brings her money. She sees him!

Imagine my surprise when, right before bed the next night, she once again put her canister out.

“I’m going to try again,” she said.

Youthful optimism? Still wanting to believe? Hopeful she’d score another dollar from Daddy?

I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t sure at all.

She woke up the next morning, and when she found a dollar in the canister instead of her tooth, wonder had been restored.

But I know we’re on the clock.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Share

Tags: ,

Comments

14 Responses to “On the clock”

  1. Annabelle Says:

    May 30th, 2012 at 1:59 am

    Horrible Mom Confession:
    I totally cannot wait until my (youngish) kids admittedly don’t believe in these kind of things any longer. I hate all the pretense and trickery. I don’t think its magical, I think it’s a weird social norm and since I have no strong religious conviction against said norm I’m stuck participating so my kids don’t feel left out. I say bring on the cynical years.

    [Reply]

    julie gardner Reply:
    May 30th, 2012 at 12:57 pm

    I always hated the tooth fairy crap and (fairly early on)got sick of the Easter Bunny.

    But I have to admit that losing Santa kind of hurt my heart.
    (I know. Big fat sucker.)

    Sure it’s easier…but it’s weird to be on the other side where my kids know. And I do think Christmas morning lost a little of its magic at that point.

    Still, I’m sure as hell not ready for grandkids. So.
    I’ll take it.
    julie gardner recently posted..I don’t mean your kid, of course

    [Reply]

    Cheryl Reply:
    June 4th, 2012 at 3:02 am

    It would be sad if there was no excitement xmas morning!!

    [Reply]

    Cheryl Reply:
    June 4th, 2012 at 3:02 am

    We don’t do Easter but my kids like to hunt for eggs with the neighbor kids, so…

    I worry my youngest will be cynical early because of his older sibs. They’ve already been warned that even if they don’t believe, especially in Santa, then they don’t receive – especially if they tell their little bro.

    [Reply]


  2. Jen Says:

    May 30th, 2012 at 9:55 am

    So far with Hayden, we have been good about playing the tooth fairy but I worry with the triplets. Will this continue?
    Jen recently posted..The Secret of Field Trips

    [Reply]

    Cheryl Reply:
    June 4th, 2012 at 3:02 am

    I could not keep track of teeth if I had three losing them at the same time!!

    [Reply]


  3. Arnebya Says:

    May 30th, 2012 at 10:55 am

    Our tooth fairy is a drunken, forgetful heifer (and then she only gives dollars or whatever spare change she can scrounge up). I love that kids believe in magic, but truth be told, much like Annabelle above, I’m ready for it to be over. I’ve considered not doing it at all for the boy (he’s 2). But a part of me also thinks, why deprive him of something he might think is magical?
    Arnebya recently posted..Our Home Is

    [Reply]

    Cheryl Reply:
    June 4th, 2012 at 3:03 am

    Yeah, I agree: the little guy shouldn’t get gypped. Plus imagine when he’s talking to his friends when he’s a teenager or older and they’re all – you never had the tooth fairy leave you money?

    [Reply]


  4. Cameron Says:

    May 30th, 2012 at 11:25 am

    I’m a total Scrooge about the coming tooth fairy years. I don’t want the pressure, and I’m not sure why we reward children with money for shedding their teeth.

    Maybe the tooth fairy will leave floss.

    And therapy vouchers.
    Cameron recently posted..Signs and Boundaries At Sea

    [Reply]

    Cheryl Reply:
    June 4th, 2012 at 3:04 am

    Just wait til F loses his first one…

    [Reply]


  5. Jenni Chiu Says:

    May 30th, 2012 at 2:26 pm

    If she’s smart, she’ll keep it going until she’s out of baby teeth. Also, don’t forget about inflation – the tooth fairy needs to keep up with the times.
    I remember when I told myself I wouldn’t participate in the lying that is Santa, etc… Then I had actual kids.
    Jenni Chiu recently posted..The anniversary uncelebrated.

    [Reply]

    Cheryl Reply:
    June 4th, 2012 at 3:04 am

    We lie to kids all the time. I mean, nobody really thinks vegetables taste good, right? Also, we were all much better parents before we had kids.

    [Reply]


  6. angela Says:

    May 30th, 2012 at 7:40 pm

    I can’t imagine. You know how my kids sleep. I am going to make a little thing that hangs on their door or something. None of this under the pillow for us!
    angela recently posted..Sometimes I’m Wrong

    [Reply]

    Cheryl Reply:
    June 4th, 2012 at 3:05 am

    Maybe Dylan could BE the tooth fairy. Since he’s up already. :)

    [Reply]


Leave a Reply


CommentLuv badge


« previous  |  next »

Dashed Line