Is the Tooth Fairy Too Busy?

My seven-year-old son lost another tooth a couple nights ago. Of course, I did not arrive home until after he was in bed so I had no knowledge of it until the next morning. This is how I found out:



I went into Max's room to wake him as usual and we followed our usual routine of a little quiet wake-up time, he gets out of bed on his own or I help (his choice) we fool around a couple minutes then I leave him to get dressed and ready for school while I complete my morning routine. So, yesterday we are fooling around on the floor of his room and all of the sudden he bolts to his feet, sprints across the room, and makes a diving leap onto his bed. I say, "Oh, no you don't!" Because I thought we was getting back in bed, which he sometimes does.



He eagerly lifts his pillow and his face melts. I look on as he lifts the little baggie with his tooth inside and says, "Awww, no tooth fairy." I was so sad. I had no idea that the tooth fairy was supposed to make a visit or I might have been able to plant a little reminder in her ear. I reply, "Well, Boo, a lot of children must have lost teeth last night and so she was really busy." That did not make him feel any better but it maybe provided an explanation for him to mull about.



So, last night when I tucked him in he lifted his pillow to check for his tooth with a hopeful gesture that the tooth fairy might not forget. Well, guess what? When I woke him this morning, the first thing he did was lift his pillow and check. The tooth fairy is so awesome, she remembered! Max had two brand new $1 bills under his pillow and he was so excited.



I know how busy parents are so the tooth fairy must be swamped. But it's the little things that mean so much to our children. Sometimes I forget that and it takes these little lessons to reinforce.