Outing the Tooth Fairy

Aaron has had a loose tooth for a very long time. It has been so long, I don't even remember exactly how long. I know when he had his six month cleaning this past summer, it was already loose and had been for a while. We asked the dentist about it and he said it should come out soon. I almost called the dentist's office last week to see how long we should wait, but last week was early release which throws all of our schedules off, so I put it off until this week. Aaron woke up yesterday morning and said it was so loose he was sure it would fall out any second, so I didn't call the dentist.

He came home from school yesterday and was having his snack. He said the tooth hurt and he just wanted it out. I know the baby teeth get to a point where they are so loose and what hurts is the point of the root poking the gums. If I can get a good grip with a napkin and give it a twist and a yank at the same time, the tooth usually falls right out. By this point the tooth is so loose, it doesn't hurt to pull it out.

At first Aaron didn't want me to pull it out. However, one of his dreams right now is to be become a Navy Seal when he grows up. He is only nine and I know this will probably change a dozen times before he chooses a career field, but we are milking this one for all it is worth. For example, here is a conversation and Aaron and I had a dinner last week.

Me: Aaron, I want you to take at least one bite of asparagus. You just have to try it.

Aaron: (Makes a twisted gagging face just thinking about it.)

Me: When you are a Navy Seal you may have to eat really nasty things like on Man Versus Wild (a survival show). Eating your asparagus is great training.

So he ate the asparagus. He didn't like it, but he ate it.

Last night the conversation went like this.

Aaron: My tooth is so loose. It really hurts.

Me: Do you want me to pull it out?

Aaron: No! It will hurt.

Me: No. It is so loose it won't hurt at all.

Aaron: Yes. It will.

Me: When you are a Navy Seal you may have to go through really painful situations and show lots of bravery and courage. Letting me pull your tooth would be great training.

He let me pull his tooth and it didn't even hurt. I left in in the napkin I used to pull it with and placed it on the kitchen island.

When we got home from church last night, Aaron remembered to get the tooth to put under his pillow for the Tooth Fairy. It was no where to be found. Of course, the one time I want the other people in this house to not pick up something they see and throw it away, it is gone. I told him to write a note to the Tooth Fairy and stick it under his pillow. He is certain this will not work and continues to search for the missing tooth. I start to fabricate some lie to convince him that the Tooth Fairy will indeed accept the note, but I looked at PK and I think we could tell by the look on the others face that it was time to out the Tooth Fairy...and Santa, and the Easter Bunny and the Leprechauns. I just looked at PK and said, "Do it out of ear shot of Hannah."

I know Aaron is nine and probably should have been told a long time ago, but I really wanted to do one more Christmas. PK took him down to the playroom and told him the truth. He said Aaron was a bit disappointed, but he snapped back quickly. He was really surprised about the Leprechaun's.

Each year the kids build a Leprechaun trap for St. Patrick's Day. If they don't catch a Leprechaun, the Leprechaun leaves them a little treat. You can read the post from last year here . As you will see, the kids didn't catch a Leprechaun, but as the Leprechauns do every year they turned our milk green, turned our toilet water green and left us some Leprechaun Dust. Last year they even drew on my face while I was asleep. When PK was explaining to Aaron that the Leprechaun traditions were just for fun, Aaron asked, "Then how did Mommy get those drawings on her face and where did the Leprechaun Dust come from?" PK assured him it was all me and it was just so the kids could have fun.

I made sure PK covered all the bases (Did you tell him about Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Leprechauns, too? Did you tell him NOT to tell Hannah? Did you tell him God is real and we will NOT be coming to tell him otherwise?). Then Aaron came into my room with an index card. He had written on it that he couldn't find the tooth he had lost and taped on a small white Lego in its place. He told me he hoped the Tooth Fairy left him a Lego guy instead of money and gave me a huge grin. I found little Lego packages in the Halloween treats at Target that include three pieces to create a Lego guy. I picked up a couple to put in his stocking. PK was totally shocked when I pulled one of those from my stash. I told him that is what good planning ahead does for a person.