Today, I have the pleasure of introducing a special guest blogger, my wife, Wendi, who was inspired to write an essay. I had a hand in the editing, but it's her story. I just hope this isn't the beginning of having to share my blog site all the time, she already hogs the covers.
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NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH
I’d been lying to her for over five years. Not only did I lie, over time I embellished the story to make it even more fantastic. And she believed me, which added a certain satisfaction. This went on, year after year after year.

I’d gone back and forth in my head many times about whether to tell her the truth and had started to once or twice, but held back. Maybe she already knows, I reasoned, or this isn’t the right time. Deep down, I knew that once the words came out of my mouth, there would be no taking them back. Her future would be forever altered, as would mine.

Finally, I broke down and confessed. I looked at my daughter and said, “There is no tooth fairy.”

She took it well. I, on the other hand, was devastated.

I was stunned by her nonchalance, not to mention my own reaction. I mean, she is, in her words, “almost 12” (she turned 11 a week ago) and the thought of her teenage years all too quickly approaching (plus, her constant prodding), convinced me to break the code of silence.

Parents talk about their children’s inevitable loss of innocence. Yet what struck me during our little talk wasn’t the loss of my daughter’s naiveté or gullibility, but that she had ever had them in the first place. How could she have really believed in a tooth fairy? Did she really think there was some magical pixie who knew immediately when someone lost a tooth and that very night, no matter where they lived, would fly over to their house and slip some cash under the pillow in exchange for a measly, little baby tooth?

My first-born has a tough exterior. She thinks she knows it all and at any given time, will roll her eyes and walk away from me, leaving the impression that I am definitely the one without a clue. She seems so grown up at times, as if childhood is but a distant memory. But the truth is, there was a small part of her still hanging onto the idea of flying fairies.

Three days ago, a loose tooth fell out, but instead of putting it under her pillow, this time, she hid it somewhere else. So when I tiptoed into her room to slip a brand, new two-dollar bill under her pillow, I left empty handed. The next morning, she triumphantly produced the tooth and demanded the real story. It was only after I had come clean, that she pulled out the note she had also concealed.

Dear Tooth Fairy,

Long time no see! I lost my first molar. I was just wondering if I could get $3 this time, because it’s a molar. If not, that’s fine.

I’m still not sure if UR real but…..?????? I have a question: say I hide my tooth somewhere BESIDES under my pillow, would you still find it?

Gotta go! Thx.

Reading her message, it hit me. My little girl is not all grown up yet. We still have some time.

Now, onto the birds and the bees.