I knew it was going to happen at camp because that’s what camps are—places where things happen. In every single young adult book I read as a teen, you had your first crush or your first kiss at camp. And I’m pretty sure half of the US population loses its virginity during Spring Break, which is basically a camp for semi-adults.
So yeah, if Mark’s wobbly baby tooth was going to fall out, I was fairly sure it was going to happen at camp.
This is why, on Sunday night, I gave Mark yet another parent lecture that could have been called “seriously, don’t freak out when your first baby tooth falls out.” Key messages? It’s normal. It won’t hurt. It won’t bleed. You probably won’t swallow it. No, I don’t know when it will fall out.
It kind of reminded me of when, as a tween, my friends and I were wondering when we were going to have our first period—was it going to happen in the middle of math class? In the middle of the night? Better not wear white pants, like ever. Twenty years later, I experienced that weird mix of excitement and fear when facing the ineluctable biological fact towards the end of the pregnancy—I was both scared of the grand finale and looking forward to it.
These are expected life milestones you can’t prepare for.
Yeah, it’s kind of freaky when you think about it.
The baby tooth finally fell out at camp, on Thursday. It didn’t hurt. It didn’t bleed although, according to Mark, you could “see a little bit of blood.”
“I’m so excited the Tooth Fairy is going to come!”
“I know!”
In France, it’s the petite souris (a small mouse) that brings kids a treat. The standard rate when I was a kid was a five-franc coin ($0.75), mostly because it was a cool-looking coin, the biggest of all. I think I had candies a few times too. And my mom always wrote me a note.
We’re a bit obsessed with writing in the family.
“I have to leave the window open. Otherwise, the Tooth Fairy won’t be able to come in!”
“Nah, don’t worry, the Tooth Fairy always finds a way in.”
“Is it a he or a she?”
“A girl, I think.”
“Is it hard for her to bring me stuff? I mean, she can’t carry anything big… she’s kind of small.”
“Don’t expect a big gift!”
“I know. And no candies, right?”
“Yeah, probably not. Now, remember, this is like Santa—you have to be deep asleep otherwise she won’t come.”
“But does the Tooth Fairy—”
“Mark! How would I know? Do I look like the Tooth Fairy to you?”
“Nope. You don’t have wings.”
“There you go.”
And then I put on my wings to rush to the supermarket to buy a small treat before writing my own letter.
Mommy by day, Tooth Fairy by night.
Don’t tell anyone.
And also, do I have to do that for every tooth? Because the second one fell out the following day…
Ha ha – two of my sons’ teeth fell out when we were in Canada visiting last time and he was so worried that the tooth fairy wouldn’t find him, being so far away. He was also adamant he needed to be ‘paid’ in £ not in $. Of course the fairy managed to oblige but the drama was hilarious.
This is such a cute and funny story! We forget how important these milestones are for kids. My friend just told me a very similar story involving Easter Eggs yesterday 😉
B. a eu une girafe en peluche la première fois. La fée des dents a de gros biscottos par chez nous 😉
Ouah, elle est forte! B. a déjà perdu des dents? Je trouvais ça tôt pour Mark!
Quel maladroit ! Il a perdu 2 dents côte-à-côte. Ça va être pratique, pour manger, tiens.
hey Mark! kids in my country will throw the falling (bottom) teeth to the roof! so it will grow back!
First time I hear about this custom! That’s so cool!
I checked the food brand by the way, it is indeed Indofood. Good nasi goreng spices 😉
hahah Nasi Goreng (fried Rice) the easiest meal for anytime.
For sure! It’s just nice to have the right spice mix handy 😉
I tasted another one as well, a nice hot coconut-based gravy.
What about the next time it’s La petite souris taking over? She seems stronger! 😀
I like her better than the tooth fairy. I’m tired of fairies. They set impossibly high standards with their damn ability to fly and look perfect all the time!
Exactly!!! Plus, mice are cuter
I never thought about it, but you’re right, the idea of one’s teeth falling out is weird.
The tooth fairy never visited our apartment when I was a kid. Maybe she couldn’t fly as high as the tenth floor.
Never? Did you mind, as a kid?
We don’t have tooth fairy nor petite souris in our culture.
Frankly it is just another way to push parents buying something for the kids.
My eldest was bugging me every times even though she knew the mouse doesn’t exist. I told her no more gift for losing a tooth. She is just too obsessed with gifts it annoyed me.
Mark is also obsessed with gifts. I think he sees them as a proof of love. I try to explain him that my love is a bit deeper than that but it’s not easy.
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