The tooth fairy was no were to be seen the past couple nights and created quite a ruckus at our home.
The first night I simply forgot, after all it had been 24 days since the darn snaggle tooth came out. It's been sitting in a bowl in the dining room waiting for Eli to decide to put it under the pillow. He said he wanted to look at it some more, but then took no action and we all forgot about it.
When he told me he was putting in his tooth pillow I thought I hope I have cash and promptly between reading a late night magazine with a glass of wine it slipped out of my mind. In the morning Eli was quite upset that the tooth fairy didn't come.
I immediately lied.
Oh, you had it in the bowl so long she probably didn't KNOW to come. Let's put it out again tonight.
The next night was my night to put Eli to sleep and I fell asleep in his room - woke up, stumbled downstairs and went to bed.
Eli ran into the sun room the next morning - with a distressed and angry voice "the tooth fairy didn't come again!!!"
WHAT?! I replied. Are you sure? (dramatic lie and action of sweeping arms and shocked face)
YES! he said holding his tooth out as proof.
Quick thinking lead to a quick tooth fairy lie - hmmm, I bet you need to put a note out cause the tooth fairy still thinks you're saving it.
I write a note myself and stick it on my lamp and post the picture to Facebook - it simply says "Eli tooth" - because I'm concerned Eli will come into my room and see the note - and I can tell him that it's a reminder to write his note. This time it's a premeditated tooth fairy lie.
That night as I was getting Eli ready for bed he said, I think you are the tooth fairy and you forgot because you fell asleep, right?
No, I lied, do I look like a tooth fairy?
He looked kind of confused so I took the opportunity to say, Let's write that note so your tooth gets picked up.
We put the note with his tooth pillow.
A couple friends reply back on FB - this and the note on my lamp keeps me honest.
Just before 10 pm - mission accomplished and I still wonder about all that lying. Is it really lying when you are talking about myths you're keeping alive or do tooth fairy lies not count? Hmmm, some thing to think about.
Hey Will I never thought of it as a soft pitch ... and it was. Interesting thought.
I guess I'm the one not ready to let go of "what if it was possible?"
Posted by: Michele Corey | July 01, 2010 at 02:44 PM
Eli showed a lot of awareness, and even gave you the soft pitch to come clean. It sounds like he is old enough to know and still have the fun of it! Maybe you can let it soft slip back in an upcoming conversation. Our job is to raise the child into an adult...I think he might be ready for the next level.
Posted by: Wilbur | June 30, 2010 at 07:09 AM
Tooth Fairy lies do NOT count! A child's imagination is a very important part of believing in their dreams when they're older. Just sayin'.
Posted by: Kira | June 29, 2010 at 05:17 PM