I recently had one of those really bad parenting moments. The kind that you wont forget or stop feeling guilty about for years to come. This is the story of my latest and greatest parent FAIL. You see, when it comes to traditions that are important to my children I have this pattern of failing miserably. Yes, there is no doubt that I know how to bring on the suckage.
I guess it was a few months ago that Sofia lost her first tooth. Naturally, when we realized she had a tooth loose we were all quite excited. She talked in great detail about how she would be getting a visit from the Tooth Fairy very soon. Then a month went by. And we talked about it every day. For a month. The damn thing just wouldn’t fall out.
Of course, the moment when it finally did choose to make its exodus came on the same Friday morning I woke with a 102 degree fever. That fever lasted for several days, and was preceded by a stomach bug which I had battled two days previously. Good times.
My parenting that weekend was basically non existent, and what made it even more problematic, was Tony was sick too. In my unwavering kindness, I had passed on the stomach bug to him. Man, it was the most difficult weekend I can remember us having in a long time. I am not so proud to say that we zoned them out in front of the television that weekend for most of their waking hours. Hey, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.
That Friday night we put the kids to bed and I hit the sack early. In my feverish state I had forgotten all about the tooth hidden under my daughter’s pillow. My husband, also rather indisposed, had forgotten as well. The next morning I woke with a start, but it was too late. Sofia was already awake and had found her tooth, and there was nothing I could do to make it right.
I was not there to see her look under her pillow and find the tooth still waiting, but I know that she was deeply disappointed. I can’t remember who had the idea, it was probably my husband’s quick thinking, but in an effort to save face we came up with a rather clever, outright lie.
Did you know that the Tooth Fairy cannot fly if it is really, really cold outside? Her wings freeze. We were fortunate that it was one of those nights where the overnight temperatures dropped into the low 20’s. We explained that she wanted to come, but that it wasn’t safe for her to fly. The next night was much warmer, and Sofia was smiling as she ran into our room the following morning clutching her well earned cash.
I had a little bit of internal drama over the whole Tooth Fairy lie. I had already screwed up and as a result had woven an even more intricate web to keep the magic alive. I guess what it comes down to is I want her to have that magic, despite my failures. And not be the only kid in her preschool class who does not believe.
Next time, I vowed to do better; to be better.
Sofia lost her second tooth yesterday. Except she lost it…I mean REALLY lost it. Of course she chose to loose her tooth on the day that her preschool class had a field trip. That little bugger is somewhere out there, in a little baggie, never to be found by its owner.
My immediate response when she told me she lost the tooth was total panic. How do we deal with this? It was Sofia’s teacher who saved the day. She told Sofia that she could write a note to the Tooth Fairy and that she would accept a note in its place. Well, sure. We could do that. It is very convenient to know that the Tooth Fairy trusts in the honor code.
Sofia wrote the note by tracing the words I had spelled out for her. We put it under her pillow last night, and sure enough the Tooth Fairy accepted it as payment. Whew. She better have, because if not she was totally going on written warning.
Two down, 22 to go. *shudder*
Have you ever had a Tooth Fairy Snafu? Common now, make me feel better! Craptastic parenting loves company.
