About two weeks ago, Big Brother discovered he had a wiggly tooth. The last of all his best buddies to lose a tooth, BB was thrilled to say the least and spent the better part of the next fourteen days with his finger in his mouth.
Wiggling, wiggling, wiggling…
I should preface the rest of this story by saying that the whole tooth-falling-out thing totally grosses me out. I used to have chronic nightmares about my own teeth falling out (yes, i know what the psychiatrists say about that) and as they spilled out into my palms I’d wake up soaked through my night-shirt. Despite the fact that I have no cavities, I get goosebumps and stomach knots during the simplest of dental cleanings. One of Big Brother’s friends was over last week and he had a tooth so loose that he could almost spin it around on the one surviving strand. I nearly lost my lunch and gagged audibly — which a couple of six-year olds found absolutely hilarious. ‘Course.
So, when Big Brother decided to grab an apple from the fridge yesterday before school and took a big ole’ tooth-pulling bite? Out popped the tooth. Anticipating this moment days before, I expected to smile proudly, pat BB sweetly on the head, then try as hard as possible not to touch the little chicklet of a tooth. And then I’d, likely, bestow all fairy duties to the man of the house.
But, apparently, mommy moments are entirely unpredictable.
Because, out came that tooth and oh my goodness. The pride that Big Brother felt. Holding that little silly tooth. Smiling a brand new, big kid smile. Jumping around the kitchen in joy. Hugging me. Asking to call Dad.
So freakin’ proud. And excited and cute! And…
(oh my goodness, what in the world is that wet substance coming from my eyes?)
I cried.
Cried.
Huh?
I recovered quickly and we got out the “Tooth Chest” (brilliant marketing ploy designed to save tooth fairies everywhere the agony of searching for a teeny white tooth under a humongous white pillow) and placed the tiny treasure inside.
Just before it was time to head out the door for school, I made the mistake of pulling out Big Brother’s baby book. I knew there was something about the first tooth to fill out and wanted to fill in the date before I forgot about it.
That’s when I realized.
Oh no.
The last of the firsts.
And so I cried. Again.
Who is this sentimental sap?
And, then, last night it was tooth fairy time (thank you Tooth Chest, for making it so easy). Big Brother went to bed with an enthusiasm only surpassed by Christmas Eve. After removing the tooth and replacing it with $6 (apparently, kids get their age for the first tooth nowadays), there I was. Chicklet tooth in hand.
To Husband: So, what do we do with it?
Husband: I don’t know. You probably don’t want to save it, do you? Did you save some hair from his first haircut?
Me: I did, yes. But…I have no idea where it is.
Husband: Well, that’s even grosser than the fact that you saved it in the first place.
Me (laughing): I know.
I pause by the trash can.
Me: I can’t throw it away. I just can’t.
Husband: Really?
Me: I’ve been weird and sentimental about this silly tooth all day. I just can’t explain it. But, somehow, I can’t throw it away.
So, I saved it.
Totally gross, isn’t it? I know.
Ah, motherhood.
Confessions of a Serial Swooper 
You want to know weird and gross? I have all (yes, ALL) my kids teeth. I have two boys 14 and 12, and have every single tooth. I’m not sure which ones belong to who, or which was the first, but I just can’t throw them away.
You aren’t so weird after all 🙂
Not gross at all. We do these things. Ah, the stuff I saved….
I had become a single mom by the time my Noah lost his first tooth (which I still have in my jewelry box) and the tooth fairy didn’t have change for a $20 so that’s what he got. I figured, this kid’s been through a lot. Give him the $20. I cried too. Wait til he breaks his first bone and likes his first mean girl. It doesn’t get any easier but still it’s SO WONDERFUL.
Oh that is moving and honest and so utterly loving.
Mommies, so delicious.
I have my youngest daughter’s first tooth in a baggie along with a little braid from her first haircut.
She is 20 now.
Every now and then I see her fingering the braid and the tooth.
I’m glad I saved them.
She was the last of six children. I think the saving is nostalgia yes but also, this is how precious you are to me.
Even your little tooth I save. Your lock of hair.
Beautiful story. My eldest is only 4, so not at that stage yet, but it brought tears to my eyes to read it.
Motherhood trumps phobias every time. 🙂
I did not keep any teeth…And luckily my kids do not know about the going rate of teeth. They get a Sacajawea dollar, and that is all…
And sadly, that is sometimes DAYS late. I am such a slacker.
Here is the story of the Tooth Fairy at our house: http://andi-rambling.blogspot.com/2009/10/update-and-more-conversations.html
Yep. We have a few chicklets in BSD’s jewelry box. Couldn’t throw them away. At first. But now they get pitched in the can.
BSD’s mom recently gave him all his baby stuff. Complete with a baggie of all his lost teeth. Not sure what he did with them.
I don’t save teeth, but I held onto to Isabella’s shriveled up belly button stump for awhile.
I know.
I KNOW!
It made sense at the time, in the midst of first-time-mom-hormones. But now? Big fat EW.
I think one of the reasons the tooth thing is so traumatic is because when the big tooth comes in, all of a sudden our sweet little baby looks so much older! Hate that! I have no idea where any of our children’s teeth went. Probably trashed them. But I do still have the beautiful long braid from my daughter when she decided she wanted her hair cut short. Um…she is 38 now. I’m not sentimental at all.
Oh, that is a sweet, funny, sad story. There’s something painful about filling out the last blank in the baby book. I think I’ll have the same reaction, and I was the exact same way about my teeth as a kid. I’ve been preparing myself for my oldest to lose her first tooth within the next year. I’ve found some really helpful info on caring for kids’ teeth on this Mom’s Guide, if you want to check it out. But I really appreciated hearing from a like-hearted mom! I think I’m going to be ready for this!
I save my kids teeth in a Tooth Trap. I find it a nice way to keep them organized with four kids and 80 teeth to deal with. I got them on their website at http://www.toothtrap.com. I think it’s going to make it easier to tell them that I was the Tooth Fairy if I’ve got the evidence.