Let me preface by saying… I failed.
I failed hard.
My five year old had no idea who the tooth fairy was.
How does that even happen?!?!
I’ll tell you… His closest sibling (other than the baby) is ten and has a complicated mouth so most of his teeth have been removed by the dentist. And I guess we sort of just forgot to talk about the tooth fairy 🤷🏼♀️
So… Yesterday, Tim had his first loose tooth. He was quite concerned, as he thought his teeth were a permanent fixture in his mouth. He came up to me, gently covering his mouth and whispered, “Mom, I think I have a problem.”
We discussed baby teeth and adult teeth, and how ALL of his teeth will become loose and be replaced by his grown-up chompers. Tim thought that was weird stuff.
The older kids attempted to help educate him on losing teeth, and then further blew his mind by informing him that the tooth fairy brings you money in exchange for lost teeth.
“That is the silliest thing I have heard! You guys are kidding!” He exclaimed.
We spent hours going over the details and semantics of the tooth fairy and the monetization of losing teeth. It took Tim all night to wrap his mind around this new information.
I assured him the tooth fairy was very quiet, and she would only swap his tooth out for money if he were sleeping. Tim excitedly went to bed.
The next morning as I’m preparing my coffee, I hear cries from Tim’s room.
“The tooth fairy didn’t even come! I told you she wasn’t real!” Tim wailed.
Tim has an interesting setup on his bed (because nothing this child does can ever be normal). He has two sets of pillows and blankets, each situated on either end of his bed. He will sleep at one end or the other at random, and apparently will also switch places in the middle of the night, as the tooth fairy had deposited money under the opposite pillow in which he woke from.
I asked Tim if he checked his other pillow, and he continued to sob as he tossed the pillow out of the way.
“Oh,” he chuckled as he wiped his tears away. “That tooth fairy is a trickster!”
He proudly tucked his tooth fairy money away with promises to go to the Dollar Tree to purchase candy (his current favorite thing to do, as candy is contraband in our home).
I love all of my children so much… And with each new stage and passing birthday, I love them so much more that my heart feels like it may burst. It’s is breathtaking watching them grow and learn and navigate their lives. The trials and errors they have conquered, their achievements.
I love their individuality and differences and quirks. They are all so different, and so amazing.
We have decided that Oliver officially completes our family (unless I can talk Mike into a puppy), so I am acutely aware of the milestones that Tim and Oliver both achieve will be my last to witness.
Watching my people discover the magic of life is awe-inspiring. To see them look at Christmas lights with pure wonder and joy, or be absolutely beside themselves over the simple things in life is what this journey is all about.
It’s not toys and vacations, it’s the little things that count. It’s the magic of the tooth fairy and Christmas and Saturday mornings picking dandelions.
It’s snuggling and reading stories and building forts.
It’s drives with teenagers and talks about things that are big to them.
This life will keep moving regardless whether or not we choose to stop and enjoy it.
Enjoy the little things, friends. Enjoy the magic ✨