Perspectives

Ellie's first words this morning were "Mom, do you want to hear the bad thing that happened last night?"

Ummm... not sure sweetie. I'm thinking I'd rather pretend that you were perfect angels last night while Daddy and I enjoyed our date night. Okay, Mom. Focus. This is your kid. Find out the horrible news. Mental battle quickly resolved I ask what happened.

"We were playing on the trampoline and Emma's mom called her." Lost focus again. I start thinking what did you do to Emma? I'm a bad mom before my morning coffee!

"Uh-Huh." I keep my reply simple.

"When she got out of the trampoline, I bounced out and hit my tooth on the table." I'm thinking her teeth look fine to me.

"And my permanent tooth is loose."

Now, I'm waking up. "Which tooth?" I ask.

"This one." YAY!!! Yippee!!!! It's not actually a permanent tooth. It's one of her crazy bonus teeth -- she has an extra set of pearly whites in that little mouth of hers. We anticipate eight years of braces and lots of other expensive, painful dental work.

"Ellie, it's okay if that tooth gets loose. It's one of your bonus teeth and it needs to come out anyway."

She asks, "What happens if it falls out now?"

Sensibly, remember this is before coffee, I explain that the tooth needs to come out so her real adult tooth can come in. I explain that the orthodontist will be happy when it falls out because that means there's room for her real adult tooth.

"But what happens if it falls out now." It may be the need for coffee, but I really thought I explained this already. I explain again.

"Yeah," she replies, "but will the tooth fairy give me money for this tooth?"