Updated: Feb. 19, 2021
Originally Published: May 15, 2016
Photo by EvgeniiAnd / Shutterstock
It happened again—last night, the Tooth Fairy skipped our house. I knew my daughter’s sixth tooth had fallen out just before dinner, but my focus was on appeasing my cranky toddler. My daughter was excited, but after five tooth-losses prior, it wasn’t a big deal. She placed her tooth in a bag, cleaned herself up, and dashed it upstairs to put under her pillow, all while insisting she would starve if dinner wasn’t ready soon.
Fast forward to this morning, and I found my tearful daughter clutching an empty plastic bag. The Tooth Fairy had not visited. Oh no—what a parenting fail!
Isn’t it my responsibility as a parent to keep the magic alive? Shouldn’t I put in the effort to make holidays memorable while allowing this whimsical creature to take all the credit? I’m exhausted from the charade, and she’s only six! I have two younger children who will soon be in the same boat, and I can’t help but feel like I’m ruining their childhoods with my forgetfulness.
Last time I dropped the ball, it was easier to fix. She couldn’t find her tooth, and I quickly slipped a dollar under her pillow while she brushed her teeth, adding a little extra change for good measure. Crisis averted! But this time, I was in deeper trouble.
Thinking quickly—especially first thing in the morning—is not my strength. But at that moment, I needed a plan. I started brainstorming reasons why the Tooth Fairy hadn’t made it to our house, and surprisingly, my daughter bought it. Together, we came up with some plausible excuses:
- She had a super busy night and just didn’t reach us yet.
- Our dog was asleep in her room, and maybe the Tooth Fairy is scared of dogs.
- Daddy locked the windows before bedtime, so she couldn’t get in!
We even decided to write a note to the Tooth Fairy, but time got away from us as we rushed to prepare for school. Managing my time as a parent is a challenge, but managing my kids’ schedules is even tougher. Despite the morning chaos, my daughter left for school in high spirits, but I was left contemplating how to fix my blunder.
At the end of the day, I realize I’m not a bad parent, just a flawed one. With everything on my plate—getting the kids ready for bed, cleaning up, and squeezing in work—I can barely remember to brush my own teeth, let alone collect a tooth from under a pillow. Tomorrow will undoubtedly be just as hectic, and I hope to do better.
One day, my daughter will learn the truth about the little secrets of parenting, and I hope she’ll appreciate all the effort I put in to keep her childhood magical. For now, I need to step up my Tooth Fairy game, even if I can’t take credit for it.
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Summary:
In this candid exploration of parenting, Emily Johnson shares her experience of forgetting to play the role of the Tooth Fairy for her daughter. Despite the chaos of daily life, she realizes the importance of maintaining childhood magic and vows to improve her efforts. The narrative highlights the challenges of parenting, the importance of imagination, and the need for support and resources.