Even God Believes in Fairies

In the days following Natalie learning "The Truth" about the Tooth Fairy and Santa -- I asked her if she was doing okay.
"Yeah, I'm good."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I found this star leaf on the playground at school.  It is magic and allows me to grant wishes."
"Hmmm..."
"Look, it's snowing.  I did that."
Natalie then went on to explain how she knows all about fairies.
"You see, before I was born God was going to make me a fairy, but then you had begged Him to give you a daughter.  So, He took most of the magic out of me.  He took out the little and he took out the wings, but He left a little bit of magic in.  I'm actually a fairy girl."
"When did you learn of this?"
"The other day...I think God knew I was really sad about the Tooth Fairy not being real so that's why now I can grant wishes.
"Really."
Yeah, my friend Bella wished to be able to fly."
"Wow. That's a tall order."
"Tell me about it."
"Ella wants to be a Jedi with a green light saber...I don't know how I'm going to make a light saber. And...my teacher, Mrs. Raymond, asked for it to snow up to her big toe tomorrow and for it to be sunny the next day."
"I see..."
Dear Lord:
Thank you for keeping the magic alive in my fairy girl's heart.

He's Some Kinda Wonderful

I pride myself on being honest...but when I became a parent, I traded in some of my honesty cards in favor of developing a sense of wonder and magic with my children.

Today, the house of cards came crashing down after Natalie began grilling me about the Tooth Fairy's responses to the letter she'd left her the night before. She'd lost a molar (3rd tooth in a month) and had set out her Little Critters tiny bed with blanket along with a few Cheerios, a button and a glass bead (because everyone knows fairies love found objects...especially shiny things).  She figured her fairy was tired and hoped she might rest and enjoy a bit of refreshment before leaving our home.  In my desire, to play the role best, I went as far to figure out what my fairy name would be by using the Fairy Name Generator program.  I wrote, erased and rewrote my answers several times...not quite sure if I'd disguised my handwriting well enough...or written small enough.

My fairy name is Bindweed Goldwitch.  I chose elderberries as my favorite food and honeysuckle as my favorite color.

Initially, Natalie was thrilled to find some of the Cheerios she'd left had been eaten, the tiny bed unmade and answers to her questions...but something nagged at her and she continued to fire questions at me.  I did my best to deflect and evade, but something nagged at me, too. She wanted the truth. I found I could no longer lie...because the truth about little white lies is that they always need to be fed by bigger ones. In my head, a battle waged between preserving wonder and maintaining trust with her.When I finally conceded, she stopped, eyes wide and unblinking.

"What?...you mean it was you who left the glitter?...who ate the Cheerios and the berries and ...
TEARS
"So...Isaac was right," she continued.
TEARS
"I have no more wonder.  I'm heartbroken...no Santa either then...wait..."
"So there's no phone number for Santa?"...
Oh, the jig was up.

I held her and cried, too.  I cried for her loss of innocence and wonder.  I mourned over the loss of watching her engage in the fine art of fairy house-building. I had tried to break the news gently by sharing with her The Truth About Santa letter so as to preserve her love of magic. Instead, it only made her wail more

"I guess I'll just have to be an author then!" she cried.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I was hoping to grow up to become one of Santa's elves!...but now I'll just have to be an author," she explained.
Oh boy.  What have I done?...I've ruined my kid. And then another thought struck me -- what if she stops believing in God?...I've asked her to believe in so many things that weren't true...but God, although we've never seen him...He's different...but, what if she doesn't believe in anything I say anymore?...
Between sobs, I interjected, "But, you know God is real, right?"
"Of course I do," she responded indignantly.
I breathed a sigh of relief as I realized my child's sense of wonder was still very much intact.

Dear Lord:
Growing-up is so painful.  Thanks for giving me smart kids to help ease the process along.

Tooth Fairy Ache

As a Mom I'm used to juggling many hats...from short order cook, gardener and maid to taxi driver and occasionally, pest exterminator.  But, last night my timing was off and I forgot to put on my tooth fairy crown.  This morning I awakened to, "Mahh-mee look," said Natalie, as she held out her special tooth fairy box to me which still contained her precious pearl she had so excitedly placed in it the night before.

"Why didn't she come?" she asked while her big blue eyes searched mine for an answer.

My heart sunk.

Dang it.  I forgot...again.

I admit it.  Of all the hats I wear, I seem to misplace this one with incredible frequency.  As a result, I've paid the price both with my wallet and in coming up with creative excuses for why the tooth fairy is often untimely with her deliveries.

So, while the kids got dressed and ready for church, I set "Operation Tooth Fairy Do Over" in motion. I found a nice crunchy, maple leaf on our lawn and went to work crafting a message from the forgetful little sprite.  When it was time to leave, I sent the kids out first and then I dashed back into the house to set the stage.

"Dear Natalie I'm sorry I'm late!  Got lost.  Then, my wings got caught in a spider web."   

 

Three down...only 17 more to go!

Open Up and Say Ahh ha ha

Today, I had an appointment with the dentist.  So, the two hour window I would normally use to squeeze in as many errands and chores I can while Nat is in preschool, was spent in a reclined position having three, ancient fillings replaced.  Oh, the joys of growing older.  But, there’s always a silver lining, and in my case it has been replaced with a tooth-colored composite one.

It seems only fitting  I share some thoughts and experiences I’ve had with my kids and their teeth.

With Noah, brushing his teeth has always been a well-waged battlefield.  When he was two, I found the only way to brush his pearly whites was for me to become a human pretzel.  I’d sit behind him and wrap my legs around his body so I could pin both his arms and legs down and keep my hands free to brush his teeth.  It worked great...until he learned the art of head-butting. Ouch.  At three, I told him there were bugs in his mouth.  He opened his mouth wide and was all too willing to have me brush them away, but still gagged on the taste of bubblemint.  Thankfully, we were introduced to Pediatric Dentistry of Sunset Hills. They are educated in dealing with kids with sensory issues.  Not only do they know how to make visits pleasant, they found a paste Noah loved.  Wait for it…chocolate ice cream flavored toothpaste. Blech.

When Noah was six and a half, he lost his first tooth.  He was so proud.  He walked around with it in a little plastic dish.  He talked to it saying, “I’m going to miss you tooth.” 

When I told him to be careful not to lose it so he could put it under his pillow, he responded, “No, I don’t want to…It’s lucky…It’s a lucky tooth!”

 

When he turned eight, I was still trying to convince him of the benefits of brushing.  I told him, “If you don’t brush your teeth you’ll lose them or they’ll have to drill holes in them.” 

His response, “I want gold teeth then I can be a pirate.”

When Natalie lost her first tooth a few months ago, she looked me in the eye and asked, “Is there really a tooth fairy or is it just you, Mom?” 

I responded like any good parent not wanting her five year old to lose her belief in all things magical – I skirted the issue then answered her question with a question, “Why do you ask?

Yesterday, Natalie had a visit with the dentist....
Natalie: "I love the dentist. I think I want to be one when I grow up."

Me: "That's great, Natalie! You'll have to go to school and study really hard,"  

Natalie: "Um...actually I don't think I want to be a dentist. I think I just want to be a big blob."





Natalie with the prize she chose for being a good patient.