Friday, April 13, 2007

To Tell or Not To Tell...

That is the question. What is the answer?

I can't even remember when I realized that mom and dad were the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, and Santa Claus. Even after us three older siblings realized it, we had to keep up the facade because my youngest sibling was eight years younger and we didn't want to spoil it for her. Then when she started figuring it out, we kept trying to make her believe they were real because we were afraid it would all come to an end after all of us had it figured out!! But it didn't.

So anyways, I have no idea if my kids still believe in these "people." They have raised questions of doubt over the past couple of years but we've never come out and said yes or no, they are or are not real. We have said things, such as well then where do all the presents come from and just asked them to explain it to us.

Should we say something or just let them be? Everyone I've talked to said they knew by the 2nd grade. I think I was much older, say 4th or 5th, which are the grades my kids are in. I hate to take away their innocence. They're only kids once. I'm afraid my kids might get beat up on the playground at school for believing in these "people." Especially my son, who's the oldest!

Yesterday Tanner lost his tooth in school. So, of course, he had to put it under his pillow so the Tooth Fairy could bring him money. I, over the years, have actually discouraged them from putting it under the pillow because 1) if the Tooth Fairy decides to take it, he/she has to find it without waking the sleeping child while in the dark, and 2) it might get lost. So the conversation last night went like this:

Tanner: Mom, I put my tooth on my toy box, in the corner, away from the wall, closest to my door.

Me: Why are you telling me this?

Tanner: (With a small grin and some thinking.) Because you like to know where things are.

Me: Oh, really.

Tanner: Yes. (Walked away and went to bed.)

So that was at 9:00 pm. At 10:00 I started getting ready for bed. I was in bed for about 30 minutes when I suddenly opened my eyes and hit my sleeping husband to tell him the Tooth Fairy forgot to come. His response, yeah, so. My response, please go do it, I don't want to get up. So he raids my purse for money and then brings up the tooth and puts it on my armoire. Then the conversation goes like this:

Me: You can't take the tooth.

Husband: Why not? (Already back in bed.)

Me: Because it's a silver crown and the tooth fairy only takes good teeth to give to kids that don't have teeth. They don't take bad teeth.

Husband: Whatever. (Almost back to sleep.)

Me: You aren't going to make ME bring it back downstairs, are you?

Husband: Argh! (Whips the blankets back, gets out of bed huffily, and replaces the tooth.)

This isn't the first time the Tooth Fairy has forgotten to come. (At least this time, the Tooth Fairy remembered before the child awakened in the morning to find nothing.) The prior tooth Tanner lost, his other silver crown, it took the Tooth Fairy 3 nights to come!!! I think we could have won the Worst Parents Ever Award for that one! Our excuses each day after a night would pass with no Tooth Fairy were: maybe the Tooth Fairy doesn't bring money for silver teeth, or maybe she's been too busy, you know kids loose their teeth everyday. We felt awful but we just couldn't remember. It wasn't intentional. Really!!!

Tanner didn't say a word this morning about how much he received from the Tooth Fairy so maybe the Tooth Fairy didn't come last night??? I'll have to check on that.

6 Visitors:

Kerrie said...

That was a funny story. The thought of my kids loosing teeth CREEPS me out. I don't know how we're going to handle that one, but I know that the simple thought of it turns my stomach.

Andrea said...

That is so funny Kerrie because it really creeps me out, too! Every time they talk about their loose teeth I have to change the subject or if I see them playing with their loose teeth, I look away and tell them to stop.

Great to know I'm in the boat with at least one other person! :)

Julie said...

Gosh, that's a tough one Andrea! I was trying to think when I found out and I believe it was around the 4th grade. Maybe Tanner knows and doesn't want to ruin the fun for you and Dean! :0)

Tracy said...

Great post!! I have NO IDEA when I found out about the tooth fairy, the Easter bunny and Santa Clause. Dawson always tells me he has a loose tooth...just because he hears other kids talking about it. When do they start loosing teeth anyway?!? Dawson better stay away from Grandpa (my dad) though because he always wants you to "SHOW" him your loose tooth and before you know it, you don't have it anymore. OUCH!

Andrea said...

Oh, Tracy! That made me wince so bad; I think I can feel the pain!! I'm not sure when they start losing them. Maybe 1st grade???

Just Mom said...

What?! There's no Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny or Santa?!