Actual parenting question: WWYD?

CleoKitty

Ds has had a loose tooth for a long time and has been super-psyched about the tooth fairy.

He finally lost the tooth yesterday and put it under his pillow. Our 2 y/o dd flipped out hysterically around bedtime because she was so terrified of the tooth fairy sneaking into our house at night when everyone was asleep. 

Ds wakes up in the middle of the night SCREAMING. His tooth is gone, there's money and fairy dust (aka: glitter) in his room and he's changed his mind: he wants his tooth back! 

Fast forward to 8am and he's been a sobbing mess on the couch all morning. He's holding a little mirror and looking at the hole in his mouth.  He wants his tooth back and doesn't understand what the tooth fairy wants with his old tooth anyhow.

WWYD? Just give it back to him now and fess up about the tooth fairy? We've suggested that maybe if he puts a note under his pillow tonight she'll bring it back to him, but it could be a looooong day of crying...

(And yes, I realize this is actually pretty funny, but at the same time I can't believe how much this whole tooth fairy business has freaked the kids out, LOL.)  

shouldbworkin

I would for sure fess up, but explain that he can't tell other kids b/c they don't know the secret yet.  That is so cute and sad at the same time. 

ready2go

hmm, tough one b/c it sounds like he is so heart broken.  do you know WHY he wants the tooth back?  like does he want it in his mouth?  or just in his possession?  You mentioned that he's staring at the hole which makes me think he wants it back in his mouth.  and since that clearly isn't going to happen, I'd prob. just leave it alone and not give the tooth back.

also, i'm a big believer in not "ruining" things for other kids so I would be very hesitant to tell him it's not real.  I know others feel differently, but that's just me.  I also think it opens up the door for him to ask about Santa, Easter Bunny, etc. 

goodheartedmommy

I agree with ready that it sounds like he doesn't want a missing tooth. Do you have any of the tooth fairy/lose a tooth books? It might help him come to grips with what happened, and he'll be getting his big boy tooth now.

My mom was terrified of the tooth fairy as a child. Her mom put her tooth in a cup on the back porch, and the tooth fairy left the money in there. 

littlemermaid

The tooth fairy never goes in their room because I noticed they were a little frightened the first time thinking that a stranger was going to be in their room.  So they just put it in a dixie cup on the counter and the tooth fairy puts the money in the cup and leaves the tooth.

With your son if you still have the tooth write a note stuff it in a cup and pretend to find it somewhere in the house. 

AnnapolisLari

No helpful suggestions, but poor little nuggets. This is making me rethink the Tooth Fairy thing. You know what a nervous Nellie Matthew is...

AngelaSue

DD lost her first tooth 2 weeks ago today when we were on vacation, so we saved her tooth until we got home, she didn't want the tooth fairy to come right away, she said "I'm too shy for the tooth fairy.", so we just let it go. We asked her before bed every night, read the book "The Night Before the Tooth Fairy", still couldn't "call the tooth fairy". She has a tooth fairy pillow that has a pocket in it that my MIL made her, it hangs on her doorknob outside her bedroom door. She still didn't want the tooth fairy to come. So last Thursday night the tooth fairy just came, took the tooth and left her a dollar. Friday morning I asked her if she wanted to see if the tooth fairy came, she was a little hesitant at first, but she found her money and flew down the steps to tell DH that the tooth fairy came and left her money, she was pretty excited about it. She has another pretty loose tooth, so it'll be interesting what she says next time!

 Maybe he could leave a note until his pillow asking the tooth fairy for the tooth back?

kellnbri

my kids loved to watch Tooth Fairy...the movie with the Rock.  DS is very excited that a hockey player fairy will shrink down and take his tooth. 

gibs

wow.  fess up and save the money you'd have spent on tooth fairy gifts for counseling. that kid is going to need a LOT of it.  Holy crap.

DandelionMom

I've told the kids I have the tooth fairy's email address.  Maybe you could email the tooth fairy and ask that she bring back the tooth.  That might be all he needs.  And then do yourself a favor and convince the kids to leave their teeth in the bathroom instead of under their pillows if they ever want the toothfairy to come again.

Jodi&Joe

For the love of all things holy (I mean, holey....like the hole where his tooth was. Get it?!  Ok, ok, I'm reaching.... LOL)

Anyway...do NOT give him back the tooth.  What is he going to do with it?  Ew!  Throw the thing away, stat!

The tooth is not the issue.  I think he's upset about the tooth being gone.  The hole in his mouth.  Comfort him about that.  Explain that we all lose our baby teeth and then, in their place, we get nice big strong adult teeth.  He will lose more.  You can't let him keep his tooth every time he loses one.  I mean, you can but......EW!

The tooth fairy business...I would do as the PP suggested and put the tooth in a cup on the counter or somewhere other than under his pillow (for future teeth).