For the past week, I don’t think I saw Zoe without her right
index finger and sometimes accompanied by her right thumb furiously wiggling her
bottom right primary lateral incisor. She would wiggle, wiggle and wiggle it
some more until she was to the point that her baby tooth was literally hanging
there and I was not sure what was holding it from coming free. Quite honestly,
it became such a distraction, I finally told her to come to me and pen her
mouth. She had some reservations as I know she was still worried that if I
pulled it would be painful. Quite honestly, I gained even more respect for our
dentist as I am not sure how anyone would enjoy putting their hands in someone
else’s mouth. The first time I tried to grab her tooth using my index finger
and thumb I was having a difficult time getting a hold of the tooth. My finger
was just too large. However, on a second attempt I was able to get a hold of
her tooth and acted if I was just going to wiggle I some more when all he sudden
I swiftly pulled it out. The good news was after I pulled it out she though the
tooth was still in her mouth. Even though I had that little, I mean little tooth
still wedged between my finger and thumb. I finally had to show it to Zoe to
prove that it had been pulled. The good news, was she was so ecstatic. So, on
New Year’s Day (January 1, 2014) Zoe Ann lost her first tooth a milestone to say
the least. I would have won “Bapa of the day award”, Zoe calls me Bapa which
is the Chinese word for dad! I had no idea how excited she would be, she cannot
wait to get back to school to show her classmates that she no longer owns a body
part, albeit a tooth. However, it is important to the circle of friends she
“hangs” with at school.
So the next challenge Sonja and I ran into was the Tooth
Fairy, or in this case Tooth Fairies. Do you know they now make pillows
specifically for the Tooth Fairy? Yes and furthermore, I found out on New Year’s
day that we owned one. I remember when I was growing up, that that night I would
take the tooth, cleaned by my mother and placed it under the pillow in hopes the
Tooth Fairies would leave one or two shiny quarters behind for me to find.
Looking back, I am amazed that “the Tooth Fairies” was able to find my tooth as
much as little kids toss and turn in the bed, it would be easy for a little
tooth to get lost. If it did get lost, the “Tooth Fairies” could still leave the
money but how do you explain weeks or months later when the child stumbles
across the tooth under the bed? Hmmm…those are one of the dogs teeth…I guess.
Lucky we have dogs. So Sonja and I had to strategize the “Tooth fairies”
removes the tooth while Zoe sleeps and exchanges the tooth for money. At age 6,
it’s all about the money. So, what is the going rate for a tooth. I mentioned
that we thought we were doing pretty good getting up to two shiny quarters.
Back in the day….oh my did I just say that. Now I feel old. Well, back in the
day two shiny quarters could buy two super hero comic books unless it was the
Big Value Comic book and still may have money left over. So my dilemma was what
is the going rate for a tooth? Zoe was hoping for a dollar. Did you know that
iTunes and Visa both have Tooth Fairies downloadable apps and there are also
online calculators to help you determine what the “Tooth Fairies” should give.
Needless to say, no matter how scientific or technologically advanced we become
Sonja and I decided just to use our gut instincts. Yes, you do not need to
remind me that I have spent over 23 years in a technological firm supporting the
financial industry. With all the technology out there we decided the “Tooth
Fairies” would leave 10 times the amount the “Tooth Fairy”” left me. That is
five times more than what she was hoping for so hopefully when she woke up she
was pleasantly surprised. Tooth be told, if the “Tooth Fairies” did not
get it right, hey have nine-time more times to make the appropriate
adjustments.
So, Zoe has the money….the Tooth Fairies have the tooth and I
cannot think of a better way for Zoe to start out a new year! Happy New year!
Can’t wait until end of day January 6th to hear how her first bay
back to school was and the feedback she received on her first missing tooth.
Clearly, losing teeth at her age is a status symbol. You garner great honor
losing a tooth and it magnifies if you have lost more than one. Zoe’s friend is
a legend as she has lost more than three teeth, more than any other classmate
and she now offers guidance to her friends as Zoe has quoted her several times.
My favorite quote, “our teeth always belled when they come out….but it never
hurts! Well maybe not much!
So, a question to think about? Now what in the world does the
Tooth Fairies do with the teeth once they have exchanged to tooth for money?
Hmmm..a topic to ponder! Happy New Year!
