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Parenting
Enhancing My Tooth Fairy Strategy
by Mia Thompson
Updated: Feb. 19, 2021
Originally Published: May 15, 2016
So it happened again—the Tooth Fairy didn’t visit our home last night. I knew that tooth No. 6 had fallen out just before dinner, but I was preoccupied with getting dinner ready for my wailing toddler. My son was excited, having experienced this before, so there wasn’t much of a celebration. He placed the tooth in a baggie, cleaned up his bloody mouth, dashed upstairs to hide the tooth under his pillow, and then immediately began complaining about his impending starvation if the meatballs didn’t cook faster. The evening rolled on.
The next morning, I went upstairs to wake him for school, only to find my 6-year-old sobbing over a plastic bag. The Tooth Fairy never arrived. Ugh. I feel like a terrible parent.
Isn’t it my job to preserve my son’s sense of wonder by embodying all these magical characters throughout the year? Shouldn’t I make holidays special while letting some mythical creature take the credit? I’m so over this, and my son is only 6. I have two younger kids who will be in this same situation soon. Can someone please rescue me before I ruin my kids’ childhoods with my parenting blunders?
Last time I messed up, it was more straightforward. He couldn’t find his tooth and was unsure if the Fairy had come. I rushed upstairs while he brushed his teeth, slipped a dollar under his pillow plus an extra fifty cents as a peace offering, and told him to check again. Crisis averted! But this time, it would be trickier.
Thinking on my feet—especially in the morning—isn’t my strong suit. Yet, I knew I had to respond quickly. I began brainstorming reasons the Tooth Fairy hadn’t shown up, and my son eagerly participated. Here are some of the excuses we concocted that might help you if you find yourself in a similar bind:
- She had a very busy night and just didn’t get to our house yet.
- The dog was sleeping in his room. Maybe the Tooth Fairy is scared of dogs?
- Daddy locked the windows before going to bed. She couldn’t possibly get inside!
We decided to write a note to the Tooth Fairy, but of course, that never happened because we were in a rush to leave for school. Managing my time as a parent is tough, but managing my kid’s time is a whole different challenge. My son left for school in good spirits, but I had to think about how to fix my major oversight.
In the end, I know I’m not a bad parent—just an imperfect one. Between getting the kids ready for bed, cleaning up after them, and trying to finish my work before I sleep, I can barely remember to brush my own teeth, let alone collect a tooth from under my child’s pillow. Tomorrow will likely be just as chaotic, and I’m not expecting it to get any easier. I just hope to do a little better.
One day, my son will uncover all my parenting secrets and appreciate the effort I put into making his childhood magical. For now, though, I need to step up my Tooth Fairy game, even if I can’t take credit for it.
If you’re looking for more tips on navigating parenting and the magic of childhood, check out our post on the at-home insemination kit here. Also, for those interested in health, the Daily Green Juice Antioxidant Super Serum is a great resource here. And for information on pregnancy and home insemination, WebMD offers a fantastic overview here.
Summary:
In this candid reflection on parenting, Mia Thompson shares her struggles with maintaining the magic of the Tooth Fairy for her son after forgetting to collect his lost tooth. Despite the chaos of daily life, she acknowledges her imperfections and resolves to improve her parenting efforts while nurturing her children’s sense of wonder.