We are happy to introduce another new KidzVuz Parents blogger, Linda Grant. Linda is a social media and marketing professional by day and by night she blogs at nycsinglemom.com detailing the funny exploits of raising her adoptive tween daughter in New York City and trying not to be run over by the craziness that defines the city.
My daughter lost her tooth the other day and of course, as she has done for years, she put her tooth under her bed so The Tooth Fairy could leave her money. Before she went to bed, she told me, “I hope The Tooth Fairy doesn’t forget to leave me money like the last time.”
Seriously, the last time, she lost a tooth, I completely forgot to leave her money and she woke up the next morning, rummaged under her pillow and was ready to break into tears when she did not find any money. I responded with some ridiculous line about how The Tooth Fairy has lots of kids to visit every night and would probably come that night. And of course, The Tooth Fairy made an appearance and all was right in the world.
As I did not want to go through the same experience and have to in essence lie again for my forgetfulness, I wrote myself a note so I would not forget and waited for my daughter to fall asleep and put the money under her bed before I turned in for the night. But I was wrong about her being asleep.
Later that morning, she found the money and asked me with a serious tone, staring me down like a prosecutor on Law and Order, “Mommy, did you put the money under my pillow? Are you The Tooth Fairy? ”
Should I have been surprised to be confronted with the question? Well, yes. Who wants to let go of the little stories we tell our children when they are young. Once they know the truth, it means they are growing up and frankly, I just want to her to hold onto her childhood fantasies as long as possible. So there I was faced with lying again or telling the truth. What did I do? I punted.
“Why do you believe, I am the Tooth Fairy? I asked trying to put off answering her.
“Because I saw you put the money under my pillow.”
“Really, are you sure. Maybe you dreamed it.” Again trying to avoid the inevitable.
“Mommy, I know you are The Tooth Fairy. I have known for a long time.” She said in a matter of fact tone.
“Are you kidding! But why didn’t you tell me? I asked slightly hurt.
“Because, I know it’s important to you and I wanted the money.” She said hugging me.
Who knows how long she has known about The Tooth Fairy. My daughter is oddly intuitive about how important rituals mean to me so I am actually happy she did not tell me earlier.
So I guess Santa might not be making an appearance this year. God, I hope so since I am pretty exhausted having to stay up late on Christmas Eve and put toys and bikes together in the dead of night.
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