Dear Tooth Fairy

Just after going to bed on Sunday night, Aidan had another tooth come out. In our rush to get his mouth rinsed out, the tooth cleaned and the boy back to bed, we did not take the time to find the official tooth container and Aidan put the tooth in a zip bag instead.

When we went in later to swap the tooth for the dollar that the Tooth Fairy leaves at our house, we couldn't find the bag under his pillow, in the covers, anywhere. Rather than risk waking him by continuing to search, we simply left the dollar under his pillow.

The next morning, Aidan was very puzzled to find both the dollar and the tooth in his bed. He was also a bit disappointed. During the night, he woke up and wrote a note to the Tooth Fairy, which he then placed in the bag with the tooth*:

 

Had we found the bag and read the note, we would have complied with his desire for additional money. Aidan decided right after Christmas that he wanted a tablet for his birthday and we told him that he would have to put up about half of the money, so he would feel more ownership and responsibility. He has been diligently saving ever since, setting aside Christmas money from Grandma Williams, Valentine's Day money from Grandma, Aunt Tammie and Uncle Mike, and weekly allowance money. We have been impressed with his efforts and he will, indeed, be getting a tablet later this month.

I mumbled some silly comment about the time change messing everyone up or maybe the Tooth Fairy just couldn't find the tooth in the tangle of bed covers, but Aidan was still a little letdown...and at a loss as to what to do with the tooth. I told him I would take care of it, and after Aidan threw away the note, I retrieved it from the trash to show James. 

Sometimes when I despair that my little boy isn't so little anymore, he says or does something that reminds me that he still has a foot firmly planted in innocent childhood, like belief in the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. Whew.

*I removed the tooth before scanning the bag/note. You're welcome.

The longest month

February may have the fewest number of days, but this year it certainly felt like the longest month of the year. February is a curious month; the days are noticeably longer but the scant increase in daylight does little to brighten our moods, and in just about any place you live, February is a miserable little month for weather. Then there is "winter break" - what genius came up with the idea of giving schoolchildren a one week vacation during the lousiest time of year?

The misery of February was increased for us by James' existence in unemployment purgatory. Severance ended in February and although he had a verbal offer from a company, wrapping up that job offer took nearly the entire month. The head honcho wanted to meet with James, then the company decided that they should do some due diligence and check his references, and finally, the HR person asked to meet with him. Every time we thought the offer was forthcoming, another hurdle popped up.

I am not going to lie; it was a rough month. Our nerves were taut, our moods were bleak, our fatigue was palpable. To maintain a basic level of mental equilibrium, I require a certain amount of solitude and with all three of us confined to the house by dreary weather and inane school holidays, solitude was in short supply.

We kept going and finally, FINALLY, the Real Official Written job offer came through at 4:55 pm last Friday and James started his new job two days ago. The winter of our discontent seems to be over, and spring can't be far away.