What Does the Tooth Fairy Do With Your Teeth?
Isn't it funny?
You never know when it's going to happen.
One day you're just an ordinary parent, then 'poof', in the blink of an eye, you are now the Tooth Fairy. Overnight, you graduate into a position you have no real training for. Unfortunately, there is no "Tooth Fairy University".
So, what do you use for a 'how-to manual' when you find yourself suddenly thrust into this role?
Most of us rely on what we recall growing up and our own experience with the Tooth Fairy. Very few people seem to deviate from what they experienced themselves.
So, where did the Tooth Fairy take your teeth as a child?
How are you going to pass this tradition on to your kids?
My Tooth Fairy
When I was growing up in the 60s, my Tooth Fairy utilized little brown envelopes for each of my teeth as they came out. My parents had me write on the front of them myself. So, each one has my name, the date, the circumstances, and all in my own handwriting. This sealed envelope was then placed under my pillow at night. It reminds me of filling out a deposit slip, with the tooth as the deposit, and sliding it into the pneumatic tube hidden beneath my pillow. (Bet that's how the Jetson's would do it!) However, the next morning I would awaken to find the envelope gone and some money in it's place. The usual bounty back in my day was a $1.00.
When I got older and no longer believed in the Tooth Fairy, I was presented with the stack of little brown envelopes. It was fun to see my handwriting on each of them. However, it was a bit frustrating to have to break the seal to open them to see what the tooth looked like inside. I still have these half torn open envelopes each containing one tiny tooth.
My Own Stint as the Tooth Fairy
Over the years, I had heard stories of parents who hid their children's teeth only to have them found by the curious kids. Then it 'ruined' the surprise and they were forced to give some excuses making it uncomfortable for everyone. I wanted things to be different for my kids.
Once I became the Tooth Fairy, I devised a little different plan. First of all, I put their teeth in small clear plastic bags instead of the brown ones like I had. The kids then put the date on the outside of the bag and placed them under their pillow. The Tooth Fairy would come and leave $1.00 and put their tooth in their baby book in their closet. (You can just as easily make the location a jewelry box, box, etc.)
As soon as they woke up the next morning, they would first check for the money under their pillow and then run to their baby book. I told them that the Tooth Fairy left them in their baby book for good luck. This served several purposes. One, I didn't have to worry about them finding them, and more importantly, it gave me an opportunity to bestow some magic.
The Power of Magic
I don't know if you know it or not, but someone behaves differently when they believe they have been bestowed good luck. Nothing is more motivating to a child than to think they will be lucky in all they do for that day. That was far more precious than the $1.00 any day.
Of course, one doesn't have to limit this good luck just to days when a kid's tooth plops out. It was something I tried to sprinkle here and there, and still do. But my official stint as the Tooth Fairy is over, but I know the magic carries on and will be handed down to my grandchildren someday.