Parenting fail: Creative excuses for when the tooth fairy is a no-show
Yesterday, my daughter lost her first front tooth. She asked me if the tooth fairy would use a GPS or map to find our home. I told her that the tooth fairy was facing recessionary pressure and has lowered the exchange rate for teeth. She looked me square in the eye and said: “You are the tooth fairy.”
I lied.
Here’s where the story gets worse. Despite this discussion, both dear husband and I forgot to do the tooth-dollar bill swap last night. And, this for a child who had left a letter and picture for the Tooth Fairy along with her tooth in a special tooth saver box.
She came into my bedroom crestfallen this morning.
So, my lies got bigger.
“Oh, I had to work out a deal with the Tooth Fairy last night,” I said. “I asked if we could keep your tooth because it is a special one, and if she would leave the dollar with me in exchange.”
The daughter is no fool. But, I was persuasive. I ran downstairs and drew a red star on a dollar bill and brought it to her. “See, she made a star on the dollar for you because of the note and picture you left for her.”
I’m sure I’m not the only parent who has forgotten about the Tooth Fairy’s visit. Have you had to resort to creative storytelling to explain away this parenting FAIL.
Aisha covered education and breaking news for nearly ten years before joining the Lifestyle staff where she writes a "Dirty Laundry" parenting column. She is the home and family editor and wastes too much time on Facebook. Join the conversation on Twitter @AishaS. 
My daughter was about 6 and brushing her teeth one night when, of course, the really loose one fell out and was gone forever. She left the best note for the Tooth Fairy ever:
“Dear Tooth Fairy:
I would like some money even though my tooth went down the drain. Love, Molly.”
The Tooth Fairy graciously left $3 and the note for Molly’s mom. So it wasn’t a parenting fail, it was a tooth fairy save.
The tooth fairy assigned to my son last year (there are several, hence the difference in payments with friends) was new to the neighborhood and mistakenly put the dollar under daddy’s pillow (they have the same name).
I forgot to make the tooth fairy exchange one night but was able to convince my son that, because the tooth had come out late in the evening, it was after the tooth fairy had set her schedule for that night and that he would be on the list for the next night!
DS, thank you for the idea! My daughter hasn’t lost her first tooth yet but many of her friends have. Their tooth fairies are far more generous than hers will be.
It is obvious that if the TF doesn’t come, the child must have gone to bed too late. So, the next night better be an early one. This approach is really a win-win for everybody.
Eric
dang mom you dropped the ball on that one. shame on you. thats a memory that you cant get back, and she wont forget.
My daughter actually forgot to put her tooth under her pillow one evening before she went to bed. She had put it in the kitchen table so she wouldn’t forget.
Before going to bed, the tooth fairy saw the errant tooth and realized this was an awesome opportunity. The next morning, my daughter found an extra dollar along with a note thanking her for making the tooth so accessible.
From then out, my daughter never even thought about putting her teeth in her room.
Why do we give our kids money when their teeth fall out? I never did and my children never got money for this. I don’t understand that, so please explain why this is such a big thing OK???