Through the Eyes of Children

As a baby, Tyler, my seven year old, didn't get his first two teeth until he was a year old, so it's only understandable that he would lose them late also. He's had a bottom one loose for a few weeks now, but his top ones suddenly became so loose I thought they'd fall out when he wasn't looking. Last Wednesday, one of his top teeth became so loose that he walked around the yard, with a fan club of friends cheering him on, trying to get that tooth out. After about an hour, it finally gave up its struggle and realized that Ty was stronger than it was. He'd finally lost his first tooth. He was so proud I thought he was going to burst. Thank goodness I was ready. I'd hidden a few singles in my room for just this occasion - I don't usually carry cash on me so I knew I had to be prepared for Tooth Fairy visits.

We took pictures to send to the kids' dad in New York, so he wouldn't completely miss out on the experience; and I posted Ty's good news on my Facebook page. Zach was getting very upset because, while he had a lower tooth that was also loose, it just wouldn't come out no matter how hard Zach tried. He was just so disappointed that Tyler would get a dollar from the Tooth Fairy but he wouldn't get anything. All three kids went to bed that night, as usual, and I had to stay up a little later than usual to make sure Ty was really asleep when I went in to make the tooth/money exchange.

What was really funny was that, the next morning after I woke them, Ty didn't even look under his pillow to see what the Tooth Fairy left him. He just went about his business of getting ready for school. It was Zach who made the discovery for Tyler. When I asked Ty why he didn't check under his pillow, he responded that he figured she'd leave the dollar on the dresser or something. I explained how it works so he'd be prepared for the next Tooth Fairy visit. Then it was off to school.

I drove them that morning because, by the time Zach got his shoes on, it was too late to walk. I watched them walk up to the door of the school, and Tyler was all smiles as he passed friend after friend. As I wrote on Facebook, it was like he'd reached a childhood right of passage with the loss of his tooth. He was just grinning from ear to ear, showing off the gap where his tooth had been. He was so proud that I couldn't help but laugh to myself. I was totally enjoying the experience with him. I can't remember if I was that proud or not when I lost my baby teeth, but I guess I must have been at some point.

Then, four days later, Ty was outside playing by himself when he came running into the house trying to stifle a smile. I looked up at him from where I was sitting and he thrust his hand toward me with his other top tooth proudly displayed in his palm. Then he smiled fully and I couldn't help but laugh at his big, toothless grin. It also gave me a pang of longing because my first-born baby is no longer a "baby." He's getting his grown-up teeth now and will never again have that same adorable "little kid" smile that he had just nine days ago. He's growing up; but that's to be expected.

Two day ago, Zach jumped on the bandwagon and lost that bottom tooth - finally. He came bursting through the door after school, grinning and whooping that his tooth fell out. The nurse gave him a tiny green treasure chest to hold the tooth so he wouldn't lose it on his way home. Of course, he was glad it fell out, and he was looking forward to the Tooth Fairy visit, too; but his biggest concern was not that he'd lost the tooth, but that he wanted that dollar. He couldn't care less if people noticed the tooth was gone; he wants to go shopping and wants to know what the Tooth Fairy looks like.

Bedtime that night, this past Tuesday, was the same as it is every night; but I still had to make the exchange when I went to give them their extra kisses before I went to bed. Every night I go into their room to make sure they're covered and kiss them on the cheek while wishing them happy dreams. I tuck them in at bedtime; this is just my little extra for the night. So, I made the tooth/money exchange under the corner of Zach's pillow. We'd left the Tooth Fairy a note asking her to take the tooth but to leave the treasure chest so Zach could re-use it when he needed to. That she did. She took the note and the tooth, but left the dollar and the treasure chest. Then Mom went to bed.

Not twenty minutes later, I was semi-sitting in bed watching TV when I heard the boys' bedroom door open and heard one of them run to the bathroom. I started to get nervous, thinking I'd been caught in the act. Zach came to my bedroom door asking if he could sleep with me; he was scared. I told him to go get his tooth so the Tooth Fairy could find it where he was sleeping. He ran back to his room and came to mine all smiles, dancing a little jig. She'd been there already, unnoticed; or so I thought. As Zach climbed into my bed, I asked him if he'd seen her come to his room and he nodded. Then I got really nervous. I asked him to tell me what she looked like and he said, "She was very tiny, and all sparkly." I asked him how big she is and he held his thumb and forefinger about an inch apart. WHEW!! I'd thought I was in for a slew of questions and child disappointment.

The next morning, when Zach came downstairs after getting ready for school, he gave me a full-blown account of his Tooth Fairy experience. He saw a little, sparkly light come flying into his room and under the corner of his pillow. Then he saw his tooth floating away as the Tooth Fairy collected it. Then she returned to his room and he saw the dollar floating toward him as she carried it right under the corner of his pillow and left it. When I asked why he didn't get me so I could see her too, he said, "Next time she comes, I'll ask her to wait so you can meet her." That would be great.

Tyler didn't seem too upset that he didn't get to see her when she visited him; but Zach told everyone he knew about her visit and his chance encounter. And to think, I was nervous about having to explain why the Tooth Fairy looks like me. I guess I worried for nothing. :)