Anyone know what the going rate is for the Tooth Fairy?

 

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 6^th 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!

 

Santa said I was very, very, very good this year!

 

 

Santa...I promise I was good this year! Would this face lie to you?

As wrapped gifts began to show up in the house, Zoe has been very mindful about being on her best behavior. She has been very helpful to everyone.  The good news is it also showed up in school.  We have been getting very encouraging comments about how Zoe is interacting with her classmates. She loves her time away from school during the holiday break. She likes that she gets to stay up a little later. Now that it is Christmas time, one of the things she most looks forward to is traveling to her Aunt Brenda’s and Uncle Jack’s to play with her cousins. Running around the house, playing hide and seek, yelling and screaming and every 15-20 minutes coming up from the basement to get a drink and sneak some goodies. I cannot imagine how the house looks like after everyone leaves, by now they must be used to it as they have been hosting the major holidays at their home for years now.

Last week Sonja took Zoe for her annual picture with Santa.  They waited in line for hours. They finally arrived home with a thumb drive of her pictures. Unfortunately, they gave her a bad thumb drive so they had to go back and get a new one. I must say, not only were these the best Santa pictures yet but the Santa in my opinion was very authentic looking. It surprises me that Zoe hasn’t noticed that each year the Santa she goes to is different.  Even Sonja got into the act and took pictures with Santa along with Zoe. Santa made sure to tell Zoe that she has been a very, very, very good girl. She made sure to tell both Sonja and I what Santa had said. So we will have to see if she is happy with what Santa brings!

 

Zoe has been a very busy girl. She is still doing hip-hop dancing, gymnastics and tumbling. Sonja has been taking her to Elite Cheer for private lessons. She is really improving. About a week ago she was moved up from Level 1 to Level 2 and is working on back flips and back handsprings. She will need to be able to perform these on a routine basis before she would be able to move up to level 3. Her instructor feels Zoe has some natural ability and could do well as long as she is able to focus. Focus?  That is the one word that seems to be her challenge at school, gymnastics and home.  Zoe is very social and her mind is moving in 100 directions.  Yes, focus! Focus will be one of her..maybe our New Year Resolutions. Focus..the lack of focus is what gets her in trouble at school…so hopefully this year we can focus on helping her get focus. Any suggestions from you battle proven parents would be greatly appreciated. 

 

Nathaniel just finished finals last week and did great. He ended up with a 4.0 this semester.  It amazes me he does so well with all the extracurricular activities he is involved with.  I guess I can excuse his tornado like devastation you see when you look at his bedroom.  Between Zoe and Nathaniel…I have stopped going up there.  Nathaniel tried out for and was selected to the University of Nebraska High School honor band where selected students throughout high schools in Nebraska will learn music and play together in a concert to be held in Omaha. How exciting. He will miss a wrestling meet which he is not happy about but sometime you have to make choices. Speaking of wrestling Nathaniel just competed at the Ralston High School Varsity wresting tournament.  He went 3-1 with two pins and came in third place.  This is the first time he has placed I a Varsity tournament so we were ecstatic.  We are only a few months away from baseball season and he is already working with an instructor for pitching.  We have our fingers crossed he will make the varsity team or it could be the end to his baseball career. If he does make the team, we think he will be mostly use for pitching in 2014.

So, all is well at the Teitler household.  We are ready as we can be for the rest of the holiday season. We want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a very happy, safe and prosperous New Year!!!