Written by Rowonna McNeely – It finally happened. Kiera lost her first tooth. She was beginning to have doubts that she would ever lose one.
About a month ago, after hearing about several of her friends losing a tooth, we had to spend time reassuring her that her time would come. Her teeth were just not ready to come out yet.
Then a couple of weeks ago as she was eating her first caramel apple, we discovered that her tooth was loose. She was ecstatic. Ok. I admit; I was pretty excited too.
Every day, we would check the wiggle on her tooth to see how it was progressing. Finally, Wednesday morning it happened. She was hanging out at work with us for a bit. She pranced into my office and holding her tongue on her loose tooth exclaimed, “Wook!! Mah toof ith mo loof!” Which translated means, “Look!! My tooth is more loose!”
“Really?” I said, turning to face her. “Let me see!”
She proudly opened her mouth and proceeded to wiggle her tooth with her tongue. I honestly was not sure how it was still hanging on. I reached towards it so I could test it. “No!” She yelled, holding up her hands as if I was going to pry her mouth open.
“Ok! Ok.” I held my hands up to show her I meant no harm. I smiled at the excitement in her eyes. “Go show Daddy.” I encouraged.
She ran out of my office, straight to her Daddy to show him her “loof toof.” A few minutes later, she came back to my office, sat down in front of my desk and picked up her drink. For some reason, I glanced up, just in time to see her put her hand over her mouth. Before I could react, she took her hand from her mouth to show me her tooth had fallen out.
Her face radiated pure shock and excitement as she gazed at the tiny tooth in her hand. It didn’t take long before she was making the rounds through the office to share the news of losing her first tooth.
That night, we pulled out the special tiny, tooth pillow and after looking it over one more time, placed it in the little pocket on the pillow. “Maybe I should lay it by the bed instead of under my pillow.” Kiera said as she held the tooth pillow.
“No, baby. It’s much better if it is under your pillow.” Aaron assured her. “The tooth fairy knows exactly where to go and look.”
It was Aaron’s night to put her to bed so after ensuring that her tooth was tucked safely under her pillow I went into the living room. Apparently, Kiera began to have second thoughts about parting with her tooth after I left the room.
“She cried.” Aaron said as he walked in from her bedroom. My head shot up to meet his gaze. “She cried because she wasn’t sure she wanted the tooth fairy to take her tooth. She is afraid that she will never see it again.”
I bit my lip, trying to hold in laughter. “What did you tell her?” I asked.
“I explained that the tooth fairy keeps her teeth in a safe place until she gets older.” He stated.
Giggling, I replied, “Good comeback.”
I found out later how glad I was that he had come up with that explanation. Around 2 a.m., I heard Kiera calling me. Grabbing my phone for a flashlight, I stumbled in her room and sat down on the bed. “What’s wrong, sweetie?” I asked, pulling the covers back over her.
“I…I just don’t know that I want the tooth fairy to take my tooth!” She wailed.
Thankfully, even though I was half asleep, I managed to remember Aaron’s response to Kiera from earlier that night. “Baby. When the tooth fairy takes your teeth, she keeps them in a very special spot until you get older. Then if you want, we can write her a letter asking for them.” I explained as I patted her back. “Ok?”
“Ok.” She answered quietly before falling back asleep.
Thankfully, in the light of morning, she was excited to see what the tooth fairy had left under her pillow and there were no more questions about getting her tooth back.
Now, let’s hope the tooth fairy has an organized filing system.
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Rowonna McNeely
Graphic Designer - Mommy to Kiera
Rowonna McNeely works with her husband, Aaron, at Willie’s T’s in the Art Department, regularly volunteers in the community, and has her hands full with her daughter, Kiera, along with two dogs and one cat.
Rowonna is a graduate of May High School (Go Tigers!) and grew up on a dairy farm. She enjoys reading, creating, swimming, and planning events. She’s also a bit of a klutz.
