You know what’s not in the parenting handbook?
The fact that no parent is ever actually ready for the Tooth Fairy.
Or at least I never was. Not once. Not ever.
No matter how many teeth your child has in their mouth, no matter how wobbly they’ve been for weeks, that first “MOM! MY TOOTH FELL OUT!!!” at 8:47 p.m. hits like an avalanche. Suddenly, I’m tearing through the house on a mission looking for loose change. Pockets? Empty. Junk drawer? Only paper clips and broken crayons. My wallet? Hahaha. Why would I have cash? Even though my mom always told me to carry at least twenty…
So what do I do? Not my proudest moments (yes, this may have happened more than once) but I tiptoe into my daughter’s room. Not to play Tooth Fairy just yet, but to borrow a very specific, very crinkled $5 from their own piggy bank—the parenting equivalent of robbing Peter to pay Peter. Of course, I will absolutely pay it back. With interest. Maybe even a glittery note from the “fairy” saying, “Thanks for being so understanding. Inflation’s no joke.” Maybe not the note… I’m not that good with glitter. I tell myself I will hit the ATM tomorrow and repay the tiny tooth-loaning institution. And I do. Usually. Eventually.
Because at the end of the day, we’re not just parents. We’re magical, wingless, cash-strapped heroes with a guilty conscience and a solid track record of IOUs.
Moral of the story?
Expect the unexpected. Keep a secret stash of small bills. Or at least make peace with being a temporarily shady Tooth Fairy.
Now go top off that coffee—you’ve earned it.