When my children were born, I had no desire to do such things as 'the tooth fairy.'  I mean, come on!  But it was a big tradition in my husband's family, and when my mother-in-law presented my daughter with a 'tooth fairy pillow,' I just went along with it.

Fast forward to six months ago.  One of the big girls lost a tooth, and all three of the girls had questions about the tooth fairy.  So, I decided to follow the lead of one of the FIAR moms and address it with a little fun.  I made my plans and I waited.

Friday, my oldest daughter lost a couple of teeth.  I decided this was the time to gently lay the tooth fairy to rest.  It would be perfect.  She is my daughter that simply cannot fall asleep easily.  She comes in to our room usually at least twice each night in the first half an hour after lights out, wanting to talk about something before she can relax and go to sleep.  Perfect!

So, after my husband finished reading the bedtime stories, I set the plan in motion.  I stepped into our bathroom and emerged dressed in black pants and shirt,  wings pinned onto the shirt, a tiara, a feather boa, and a sequined purple tutu.  I had a wand.  I was ready.

After turning on the hall light so I would be nicely backlit, I walked into the girls' room, and heard.... snoring!  What!  Big Girl was asleep?  No way!  I was expecting Two to be drowsy, but not Big Girl.

I stomped across the floor to waken her.  Didn't work. I kicked her underbed boxes back under the bed where they belong. Didn't work.  I jingled the wand over her, then poked her with the wand, then poked her with my finger. Finally I grabbed her arm and shook it.  Her eyes flew open. 

I jingled the wand in front of her, then shook the money before her very eyes. I wanted to make sure she wasn't missing this.  Then I roughly shoved the money under her pillow, and just as roughly emerged with the tooth pillow.  I waved that in front of her as well.  Then, flapping my arms like a deranged goose, I tiptoed loudly from the room, shutting the door behind me. 

Expectantly, I waited in the hall for her to come out and ask what in the world I was doing.  Never happened.  Finally, I went back into our bathroom and emerged in my pj's, only to be met by two-year-old Boyo asking, "Mama, what you were doin' in that dwess?"  

My husband and I figured that Big Girl would at least have a dream to tell us about the next morning.  But, nuthin'.  

Finally, I said to her, "Hey, since you're going upstairs, why don't you see if the tooth fairy left you anything.'

"She did. But I was waiting to show it to Princess and Boyo."

"Oh."

My husband looks at me with some serious surprise on his face, and then says to Big Girl, "Honey, uh, did you happen to see the tooth fairy?"

Big Girl replies very matter-of-factly, "Yes."

"Well, what did she look like?"

Continuing up the stairs, she says in an even tone, "She was bigger than I imagined."

! ! !

Shortly thereafter, I heard her telling her younger siblings all about her tooth fairy sighting.

Guess I'll try again.