the tooth fairy
During our recent exploits with my daughter Bee and the tooth fairy, I've been thinking about my own childhood. When I was 7 or 8 I wrote my fairy a letter, and tucked it under my pillow along with my tooth. I wish I still had it, but from what I remember I drew a picture of her and asked her what she looked like (I always imagined something like the blue fairy in Pinocchio with blonde hair, a sparkly blue dress and wings).
When I woke up in the morning I saw that the tooth fairy had left a note for me! It was written in a manly scrawl and had a drawing of an unshaven lumberjack, carrying an axe. It said "This is what I look like. Love, the Tooth Fairy". I couldn't believe that of all the rotten luck, my tooth fairy was a lumberjack!! I think I shed a few tears that morning as I ran into my parents room to tell them about my tooth fairy. I wish I could see how my mom reacted (she probably had no idea, the drawing was clearly my dad's doing). Years later, it makes me laugh.
It appears we aren't the only ones who have forgotten their tooth fairy duties from time to time. Many quick-witted parents have come to the rescue of tardy tooth fairies, telling stories of fairies caught in storms and cobwebs. Here are a few ideas I thought were brilliant:
-My sister-in-law says that she takes her wedding ring off when a child looses a tooth, and puts it on her dresser. All day long when she looks at her bare finger, she remembers, and then when she gets ready for bed (after the kids have gone to sleep) she sees her ring on the dresser and remembers to check under the pillow.
-Amy wrote:
"The tooth fairy forgot to come visit me once. I believe I was crying when I showed my mom. The solution? She stuffed my chubby, nearly newborn baby brother into my little sister's ballet tutu, taped a dress-up crown on his head and carried him into my room in a flying motion. She told me that the fairy was very busy and has asked my brother to cover for her but forgot that he was just a baby. I loved the resolution but never believed after that one, so use that sort of solution with caution."
-Jennie says:
"At our house the child who loses a tooth writes a post-it note telling daddy the good news and it goes on the bathroom mirror. Good thing the tooth fairy sees that note while she/he is brushing teeth!"
-I also heard of a family where the tooth fairy leaves change from a different country each time (coins family or friends have brought back from recent trips) and then they spend the next week learning all about each country.
Love these ideas! Any other tips or ideas out there?
03.12.2012
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