Don’t Cry Over Lost Teeth

Hidden underneath the long branches and wide leaves of the Mimosa tree was a secret place. One that provided refuge and comfort to my sister and I when we were children.

It was a magical tree that could take on the form of anything that we imagined. A house, a town, a play-land, an escape tunnel and a private conversation room. Very seldom was it a tree.

I loved that Mimosa tree, but one day something terrible happened underneath it. My sister and I were playing, and while bouncing around I lost my tooth. Normally that wouldn’t be a big deal, but for me it was.

In a panic, I told my sister what had just happened. She didn’t understand how serious and tragic it was, so out came the tears. “How will the Tooth Fairy know that I lost a tooth if it isn’t under my pillow tonight?”

She knew that the Tooth Fairy wasn’t real, but she also didn’t like to see me sad. So after I had successfully gained her sympathy, we began searching the ground together.

Leaves and sticks went flying. Dirt was thrown. Grass was torn apart. Our secret place was a mess. Unfortunately, the tooth was nowhere to be found. Staring hopelessly at my sister, I waited for her advice. She suggested that I go explain to our mother what had happened. That was good enough for me.

Off I went, running into the house crying. “Mom, I lost my tooth under the tree. We looked for it everywhere, but couldn’t find it. It vanished!”

At first, I don’t think that my mother understood what the big deal was either. Trying to be supportive she said, “It’s okay honey.”  It wasn’t okay. This was serious!

“But Mommmm! How will the Tooth Fairy know that I lost my tooth if it’s under the tree?”

Then she understood why I was so upset. Mothers are amazing. They come up with brilliant ideas within seconds.

“Oh, don’t worry about that. That’s an easy fix. Write a note to the Tooth Fairy explaining to her that you lost your tooth under the tree. Then put the note underneath your pillow, and when she comes she’ll understand why your tooth isn’t there.”

What a great idea! Without hesitation, I ran to my room and wrote a note to the Tooth Fairy. I told her all about how I had lost my tooth, how my sister and I had desperately looked for it, and apologized for losing it under the tree. Then I folded the note and carefully placed it underneath my pillow.

In the morning, I was happy to find that the note was gone and there was money in its place. The note worked, just like my mom said it would!

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Today’s prompt for The Daily Post asked: As kids, we’re told, time and again, that lying is wrong. Do you believe that’s always true? In your book, are there any exceptions?

Together, my mother and sister kept my belief of the Tooth Fairy alive. They may not have lied, but they certainly didn’t tell the whole truth.

“In every half truth, there is a whole lie.” ~ Yiddish Proverb

Sometimes parents don’t tell the whole truth in order to keep the smile on their child’s face.

What have you not been entirely honest about with your kids to keep or make them happy?