The Tooth Fairy

At our house, the 'tooth fairy' brings a dollar for each lost tooth.

However, due to our kids being somewhat light sleepers and the fact we've used bunk beds for most of their young lives, they leave their little lost teeth in the bathroom in a sandwich baggy or a special  'tooth box' that some have picked up from the dentist's office..  (One wouldn't want their tooth to get lost or their dollar to get wet -- both of which happened prior to the 'bag protocol' being instituted.)

Despite this arrangement, the adult 'tooth fairies' in our house tend to be forgetful.

Days can go by and still -- the tiny tooth sits on the sink, lonely in it's see through pouch, awaiting pick-up.

Morning after morning, with anticipation, the lost tooth owner will run to the bathroom only to discover..... Their.  Tooth.  Is.  Still.  There.

Sigh.

The excuses as to why the 'tooth fairy' has not arrived are varied:  More than the average amount of children lost teeth that day so she couldn't make it to our house; we live out in the middle of no where and she got lost or too tired to complete the trip in one day; the weather is bad; the wind was so strong; and on and on.

The knowing smirks on their precious faces are sweet.

I'm glad for their patient hearts and fun spirits.

Lately, the 'adult fairies' have been saved by the 'teen fairies' in our home -  more often than not.

On more than one occasion the 'teen fairies' happen to be up later than the adult variety and notice the tooth is still sitting on the sink.  They will go ahead and dip into their own stash of 'tooth dollars' and leave a single bill for the slumbering sister who lost the tooth and is waiting on the exchange.

Such wonderful 'fairies in training' we have in our home.

Other times, as these same 'teen fairies' are getting ready for bed, they bolt out and remind the 'adult fairies' that the 'tooth fairy' has yet to come.

This allows an 'adult fairy' to dig into the tooth fund and pull out a dollar to replace the lost tooth - usually sending it via 'teen fairy courier'.

Phew, saved yet again.

The next morning, the tooth is gone...  a dollar in it's place.... the smiles are big.

I just love we have such a 'community of tooth fairies' to be sure this job is not forgotten.

Well, at least not forgotten for too long or completely.