The Tooth Fairy....Who came up with this concept? Really, why do we as parents do this to ourselves? Oh!!!! Such a good idea! Tell the kids to put their newly lost tooth under their pillow and some Fairy will come into the house and take the tooth and leave them money! So what is supposed to happen when they actually loose the tooth they lost and then the next day re-find that tooth in the car and start freaking out????
Day 1:
Sitting so sweetly (this is Corbin so sitting at all is sweet) at the table doing his school work and chewing on a Starburst, Corbin looks up at me, spits out his tooth, and ever so calmly says, "look mom I lost my tooth."
It was one of the silver ones. One of my nightmares that plays over and over of him getting that tooth fixed. I'm so glad its gone!!!
Me: Okay, Zach can you put it in the car when you go out there so we don't loose it.
Zach: Okay. (okay when an 11 year old is in the midst of all his friends is like saying "yeah mom I will do that....NOT!".)
When we got home the freak out began....
C: Mom!! I lost my tooth!
Me: I know that's great baby!
C: No!!!! I can't find my tooth!! Its gone. It will never come back! The tooth fairy will never come again!!! (Can you say drama? He doesn't get that from me.)
Z: It's not a big deal you just lost it.
Me: Z if you don't stop you are going to make it worse!!!(please stop telling him stuff it just makes him more anxious!!!! Then we all have to deal with more drama and really isn't there enough of that already without adding to it?)
At this time I am on the phone with my mother who brilliantly says "Give Zach the phone"
As Zach gets off the phone we hatch a plan to hide a rock wrapped in tin foil in a bag and put it under Corbin's pillow. Good idea right? Right...That's what grandmother told us to do.
Me: Corbin look Zach found it! (I blame this whole thing on the 11 year old and my mother, its more fun that way.) I'm going to put it under your pillow, don't mess with it anymore, Okay?
C: Okay mom.
Day 2
C: Mom! The tooth fairy left me a Golden Dollar. I am so happy!!!
Me: I'm so glad for you love!
Sitting in the car 4 hours later......
C: MOM!!!!! MY TOOTH IS HERE!!!! The tooth fairy didn't give me a golden dollar it gave me a silver one! (where this logic comes from who knows. I stopped asking and go with it.) Now she has to come again and give me a golden dollar!!!!
Me: Corbin its fine. The tooth fairy left you the right dollar she just didn't get your tooth.
C: NO!!!! She got a rock!!!(how the heck did he know? Little monster!)
Me: Its okay. We will fix the problem take a deep breath. (Inside my thoughts are what the heck am I going to do? Really why does he have to be so smart? Oh yeah cause the alternative is stupid....) So I start calling his father....Do you have anymore golden dollars?
Dad: No....(he gets on the phone with Corbin) Corbin, you don't get another dollar just because you found the tooth. The tooth fairy doesn't like to be tricked so you better put it under your pillow again so she can take it back with her. (How much therapy is Corbin going to need later by us telling him the tooth fairy doesn't like to be tricked.....Especially when his mother and brother did the tricking. Sigh. Well, I have said for years, if they aren't in therapy by twenty I haven't done my job.)
C: Yeah she doesn't like rocks. (Really?????)
Day 3
C: Mom, the fairy took my tooth. I'm sorry you were right it was the correct dollar I received, I was wrong. (He's 7 and already light years ahead of most men. I hope he can keep that phrase for later in his life.)
WARNING EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL:
Wikipedia says:
In early Europe, it was a tradition to bury baby teeth that fell out. When a child's sixth tooth falls out, it is a custom for parents to slip a gift or money from the tooth fairy under the child's pillow, but to leave the tooth as a reward. Some parents also leave trails of glitter on the floor, representing fairy dust.
In northern Europe there was also a tradition of tann-fé or tooth fee, which was paid when a child lost their first tooth.[6] This tradition is recorded in writings as early as the Eddas, which are the earliest written record of Norse and Northern European traditions.
Parents tend to view the myth as providing comfort for children in the loss of their tooth.[5] Research finds that belief in the tooth fairy may provide such comfort to a child experiencing fear or pain resulting from the loss of a tooth.[9] Mothers especially seem to value a child's belief as a sign that their "baby" is still a child and is not "growing up too soon".[5] By encouraging belief in a fictional character, parents allow themselves to be comforted that their child still believes in fantasy and is not yet "grown up".[
Okay fine, its comforting for the kids.......But lets just add one more stress to parents. I asked Zach two days ago when he figured out that the tooth fairy wasn't real....When my last two teeth came out and it took a week for the fairy to remember. Whoops, bad mommy!
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