When did your kids figure it out? (Or have they?)
The other night, my son came up to me out of the blue and said, “So, Mom, you’re the Tooth Fairy, right?”
My daughter–eleven now–had long since figured it out, but to hear my nine-year-old (my youngest) ask the question made me a little sad.
Mike and I always agreed that if and when our kids asked, we’d tell them.
So there I was with my son’s question hanging in the air…
and I didn’t want to answer.
“Are you sure you want to know?” I asked.
“Yes.” He nodded.
“Okay,” I said, “You’re right. I’m the Tooth Fairy.”
“I knew it!” He smiled.
We talked about how he figured it out and reminisced about the glitter, notes, and money I’d put under his pillow over the years.
And I knew it was a matter of time before the other questions would come…
About a half hour later, they did.
“Mom?” he called from his shower upstairs.
I headed up and answered through the closed door, “What?”
“So if you and Dad are the Tooth Fairy, then that means you’re the Easter Bunny, right?”
I sighed and leaned my head against the door. “Right,” I said.
There was a pause, then, “That means you’re Santa too.”
I smiled. “That means we’re Santa too.” I shook my head. “You sure figured out a lot in one night,” I told him.
After he got out, we talked more about his questions and how, now that he’s older, he can help fill stockings and hide Easter baskets for his younger cousins. He was excited about the idea, and proud that he’d figured it out.
We also talked about the true meaning of the holidays and how that never goes away.
It was a good conversation.
But it was bittersweet, too.
I know he’s nine and most of his friends have probably already figured all of this out, but, still…
He’s my youngest.
And he’s growing up.
As he moves into this next phase–as I move into this next phase–it’s kind of sad saying goodbye to the younger years and all the fun that goes with it.
My daughter is old enough now to help in the two-year-old room at church and just today, after they watched a Veggie-Tales movie in the classroom, she and I talked about how she used to watch those and how much she loved them. All those years ago…
I don’t know how it’s possible that one minute our kids are watching toddler shows and barely reaching the counter in the kitchen, and the next minute they’re helping with the two-year-olds or realizing who the Tooth Fairy is…
but I guess that’s just time passing.
Sometimes, I wish it wouldn’t pass so quickly.
Know what I mean? :)
What about you? How old were your kids when they figured out about the Tooth Fairy, or have they? And if they have, how did it happen?
We actually don't do Santa, the Easter bunny or the tooth fairy. Wasn't really a plan just happened that way and he asked us if Santa was real when he was 5 and we told him the truth. I liked the fact that he didn't lie and that you told him he can help prep the holidays for the other kids in the family. So very bittersweet!!
My 9 year old figured it out a while ago but thankfully my 6.5 year old is still a true believer – otherwise she'd NEVER have believed the crazy ditzy tooth-fairy-in-training story I had to quickly invent the other morning when the tooth fairy FORGOT TO COME! (Aack!) I quickly tossed a gift under her bed (this tooth fairy isn't only a ditz, she's got really lousy aim too) and said she must have plumb forgotten to take the tooth! The next night she did in fact return for the tooth and left a little note of apology and another small gift. Sheesh, silly tooth fairy should have just gotten in right the first time around!———————————–My photography is available for purchase – visit Around the Island Photography and bring home something beautiful today!
We haven't reached this milestone yet. I'm not looking forward to it happening!
This makes me sad! My oldest is five and the time has def. flown by. :-(I don't know how we're going to do the toothfairy thing. My kids know Santa isn't REAL but we pretend he is. I think that keeps the fun. Hope. LOL
Parker (11) has kept any of his questions/concerns quiet…and I think it's because of his little sister. Faith is 6 and I honestly believes that he knows, but just doesn't want to spoil the fun for her. She has just started to lose teeth and once, when the tooth fairy forgot, I quickly grabbed the money and went in her room to help her look. What a relief it was for her to find out that mommy found the money the tooth fairy left had "slipped" between the headboard and the mattress *wink*I'm sure this will all come up with Faith fairly soon. But until then, Parker's keeping quiet and relishing in the goodies that come from his little sister still believing. When the time does come they will know that all of these things will still live in their hearts in their memories and their belief in the beauty and excitement that these "characters" represent.Thanks for sharing your story. It was beautiful…as always.Peace and blessings to your day.Jeanine
We're raising our son, not telling him that Santa, etc exist. My husband can't bear to lie to him about it, and I guess he felt betrayed when he found out there was no Santa.On that note, my mother STILL insists to me that there IS a Santa. I'm 25. Now, I know the truth, but it was hard to figure out as a kid, because when I asked my mom, she insisted there was Santa.
Growing up is so hard, on us parents:O)How sweet is your son?We aren't doing the Santa thing, so I just have to keep my kids from spoiling it from others who choose differently:O)
We've never really done any of those. We pretend at it, but we've always told the kids it was us. It is true that time flies though. I have a child going into middle school this year, and like your daughter, she's helping in some of the preschool classes at church. It reminds me that just yesterday, she was in those classes!
The dreaded tooth-fairy talk…I still won't answer that question truthfully and my son is 13 and plays tackle football! I'm sure he knows but I tell him if he announces he doesn't believe she won't come. It's so twisted! I want to encourage their imaginations and preserve the younger one's belief in fairies, santa, etc, but it will all unravel if one blurts it out…..Maybe the tooth fairy, santa and e.b. is really for US to make Mom's and Dad's feel like we are preserving our little ones just a little longer…
oh i know what u mean about time going by too quickly. My two year old now insists she wants to do everything alone. cute yet scary.
Thanks, everyone, for sharing your experiences and practices. Love hearing about what you do and what your experiences gave been. :)
They have always known…but it never seemed to take away from the fun!As a mom to kids 24 down to 3 I am painfully aware of how fast it goes. I just made my youngest promise yesterday to never ever leave his mama…he gladly agreed. My 7 year old on the other hand made no reply…sigh. Kim
You won't believe it, but just today we had friends over, and their son told my daughter no tooth fairy, no bunny, no Santa…I could cry right now. I know, I know it's all a part of growing up, but I'm not ready.
Even though my kids turn 5 and 7 this month, I can only imagine how bittersweet it is when they can figure out some of us grown-up's side of things. Ah…thanks for a great reminder to cherish every moment with our kids.
My oldest is only 5…his first tooth is hanging in the balance. So we've got a couple years. But today I was telling him how I used to carry him around with me everywhere I went in his baby bjorn…he let me hold him for awhile. Time flies.
Oh that is bittersweet. My kids have never come out and asked. The older one just started rolling her eyes but still plays along for her younger sibling. I still want to believe…Following you back from Follow Me Back Tuesday. Thanks for stopping overheather
Oh wow. That must have been a tough night! I sold the strollers this weekend on a garage sale and felt like my kids were growing up too quickly…I'm definitely not ready for this talk ;-)