The Tooth Fairy Cometh

As a mom, you endure many challenges, each one unique. The other day, I was hit with one while hurtling down the freeway during the evening commute. This story is true....

You should know by now, if you've bothered to actually READ my post, or you actually know who I am, that I have a son. He's at this moment, 7.5 years old. He is my little man, the joy of my life, and he has one quirk that will make even the most steady come out of their skin if faced with it. He panics. The screams come out of the silence of the back seat, make your heart leap into your throat, or even better, into your lap. There is no ramping up, it's as if a balloon burst right next to your ear, and you had no idea it was even there.

A couple of nights ago we were in the home stretch of our nightly commute, and he was unusually quiet. I simply continued to drive quite sure that he was just tired from a long day at school and just didn't feel like talking. I was dead wrong. He had been wiggling his latest loose tooth. He moved it enough that the back part broke free from the gum. That's when it hit. At first, he calmly said, Oh, Mom, my tooth just came out. Wow! Great! I reached back and placed my hand palm up to take possession of one tooth.

That's not what I got. I felt something warm flow onto my hand at the same moment the screams started. No, the screams were NOT from me, but knowing what I was holding, the should have been. My boy was screaming like a banshee. The initial pound of my now startled heart was like a thud against a base drum and just as loud. Blood in my hand, a screaming child, a busy freeway. Find a happy place, find a happy place! Right after I fish around the floor between the front seats for some tissues.

When a child, especially your child begins screaming "I'm bleeding to death" you take notice and you are faced with a phenomenon known as fight or flight. Since I'm strapped into a moving vehicle, of which I'm in control, I had to fight. Trying to calm him down, maneuver over to an off ramp from the fast lane, and keep myself from screaming was all encompassing. I succeeded in accomplishing all three goals.

His tooth had not actually fallen out as originally thought, but rather it was hanging on for dear life by a thread of gum. Nothing could be done to remove the tooth, and having it still there was not what he wanted. Not by a long shot. Here we go again, the shhhh, and calm downs started for the balance of our drive. Pulling into the garage could not come soon enough.

Once home, we regrouped inside, and he promptly asked, in an eerily normal tone, if I wanted to pull it out. Um, excuse me? Not 15 minutes ago, he was sure death by bleeding was eminent, and NOW he wants me to pull that sucker out? Who is this child?

Needless to say, after a few fumbles, that tooth was extracted only to bring on more cries and bleeding. Oh jeez, really? If I could have crawled into that bottle of whiskey I have in the cupboard....but I digress. Mission complete. Tooth was now ready for placement under the pillow. He was rewarded with a dollar and I climbed into bed utterly exhausted. The things we do for our children.

Deck the halls with a right hook

It's December. Really? Where in the world did the time go? It seems like only yesterday we were in the midst of summer heat, summer camp, and planning for school to start again. Come and gone, steamrolled right over me, leaving me without words - only a grunt or gah at the thought of shopping and planning for the holidays when I really wasn't ready!

3 weeks until Christmas and not a decoration up, not a tree in the living room, not a present purchased or even thought about. Surprisingly, I'm ok with it. It may be that I'm just in pre holiday denial, or the drugs I've taken are that good! In any event, it's that time of year again and I will not get sucked into the vortex of stressing over it, and working myself into a frenzy.

Of course, when you have a child who is all about the gifts, you can't help but try to accommodate the young one and make his every wish come true. He believes. It's so helpful when trying to coerce him in to good behavior, and I use it to my advantage. He came to me one day and said that he was sorry but he was on the naughty list. Keeping the snicker to myself, I assured him he was not on that list but risked placement if he didn't behave. Feeling better about his status, he promptly said that a classmate (who has been a bit of a bully to him) was definitely on the the bad list. Yup, he was adamant, and I probably shouldn't have, but I wholeheartedly agreed with him. I'm going to hell.

Being sick during the holidays stinks. I wish I felt more inclined to plan a Holiday Party, go shopping, or enjoy a drive down those neighborhood streets where the residents go to the nines with decorations. I'm barely functioning these days, but I am the one with the daunting task of preparing for the events at the end of this month.

As the coughing subsides, my chapped lips and red nose heal, I will get my butt in gear and at the last minute, as usual, pull a rabbit out of my hat. The procrastination only drives me to do my best work. I don't have the luxury of mulling over ideas, I simply must conquer. Amazon is my best friend and the office will be hopping with deliveries as I and co workers take advantage of the internet for their holiday shopping.

So, for those of you who finished their shopping before Thanksgiving...pffffftttthh. Those who faced Black Friday...hope you didn't get pepper sprayed! It's the most expensive time of the year, and time is not cheap. Spend with reckless abandon...time that is, with those you love the most. It should never be just about the wrapping, boxes, bows...it's should be about knowing what's most important in your life and celebrating that.

Happy Holidays!