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Elevating My Tooth Fairy Game
Updated: Feb. 19, 2021
Originally Published: May 15, 2016
So, it happened again. The Tooth Fairy didn’t show up at our house last night. I knew that tooth No. 6 had fallen out just before dinner, but my mind was occupied with calming my wailing toddler and ensuring he actually consumed something. My son was thrilled, but he’s been through this before, so it was more like a gentle wave than a grand celebration. He placed the tooth in a little bag, cleaned up his mouth, and hurriedly tucked it under his pillow while moaning about starving to death if the meatballs didn’t cook faster. The night rolled on.
Then, this morning, I went upstairs to wake him for school and found a tearful 6-year-old clutching that little baggie. The Tooth Fairy hadn’t come. Yikes. I felt like I had failed as a parent.
Isn’t it my job to protect my son’s innocence and sense of wonder by embodying all those magical creatures? Shouldn’t I work hard to make special occasions memorable, only to let some mythical being take the credit? I’m completely exhausted by this charade, and he’s only 6! I still have two younger kids who will eventually want the same fairy-tale experience. Someone please help me before I ruin my kids’ childhoods with my slip-ups!
Last time I messed up, it was straightforward. He misplaced his tooth and wasn’t sure if the Tooth Fairy had come. I dashed upstairs while he was brushing his teeth, slipped a dollar under his pillow, plus an extra 50 cents as a peace offering, and told him to look again. Crisis averted! This time, though, it wouldn’t be so easy.
Thinking quickly—especially in the morning—is not my strong suit. But something had to be done! I started brainstorming reasons for the Tooth Fairy’s absence, and my son bought into it completely. Here’s what we came up with:
- She had a particularly busy night and just hadn’t made it to our house yet.
- The dog was sleeping in his room. Maybe the Tooth Fairy is afraid of dogs?
- Dad locked the windows before bed, so she couldn’t get in!
We decided to write a note to the Tooth Fairy, but, of course, that never happened because we were running late for school. Honestly, managing my time as a parent is a Herculean task, let alone managing my kid’s schedule. Somehow, my son left for school all smiles, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to fix my blunder.
At the end of the day, I know I’m not a terrible parent, just an imperfect one. I can barely remember to brush my own teeth among the chaos of bedtime routines, cleaning up after the kids, and squeezing in work before I crash for the night—much less remember if a tooth is waiting for me under a pillow. Tomorrow will likely be just as hectic as today, and I can only hope to do better.
One day, my son will uncover all my parenting secrets and appreciate the lengths I went to keep his childhood enchanting. But for now, it’s time to elevate my Tooth Fairy game, even if I can’t bask in the glory of it.
If you’ve found yourself in a similar parenting predicament, you might also want to check out more tips on home insemination at this blog post, or visit Make a Mom for expert advice. For additional resources, Women’s Health provides excellent information on pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary:
In this humorous recounting, a mom reflects on the challenges of maintaining childhood magic as her son discovers that the Tooth Fairy didn’t come for his lost tooth. She juggles parenting responsibilities while feeling the pressure to create memorable experiences. The article offers light-hearted insights into the trials of parenthood and the inevitable slip-ups that come with it.