Jill Smokler, AKA Scary Mommy
@scarymommy
Latest posts by Jill Smokler, AKA Scary Mommy (see all)
- The Disney Reveal - May 14, 2013
- Met My Match At Disney… - May 13, 2013
- Sunday’s Baltimore Sun - May 11, 2013
Lily has her first loose tooth, and she is not happy about it. She was in hysterics last night after biting into the apple which loosened one of her bottom teeth. She carried on for hours.
Of course, to try and make her feel better, I regaled her with stories of the magical tooth fairy. Lily, I whispered softly, when you sleep the night after your tooth falls out, you put it under your pillow and a fairy comes and trades it for money. How cool is that? Her eyes grew large. Her sobbing halted. You mean somebody sneaks into my room at night? When I’m sleeping? And she takes my teeth? The cries intensified. What does she do with them? Is there blood? Does it hurt? I want my teeeeeeeeethhhhh!!! Why is this happening to me?!!!
And so, I told her. I told her everything. I explained that there are no fairies, no sneaking in rooms and no collections of teeth in the sky. Her dad and I would be the ones responsible for placing the gold coin under him pillow and there was nothing to be afraid of.
And, in an instant, the magic was over. And so was her crying.
It’s a good thing we don’t need to carry on the Santa charade in this house– I’m not sure how well the heavy set man with rosacea plummeting down the chimney would sit with her. I’ll just have to hope she doesn’t spill the beans for all of the the less cynical children out there. It’s no fun to be the one to let them in on the truth. Even if they’re asking for it.
{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
Well, when you think about it… a fairy that sneaks into your room to collect your old teeth IS a bit strange…
And too funny, I’ve drafted a post about spilling the beans on Santa…
.-= Shannon´s last blog ..Best. Mom Date. EVER. =-.
I love how some kids adore magic and others flip out. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it, either…
My own kids? They love the tooth fairy but often wonder why she is so forgetful…
.-= tracey´s last blog ..A Day In the City =-.
kids are waaay to smart for the tooth fairy. my 5 year old figured it out and she hasn’t even lost a tooth yet.
Gotta love that picture!
.-= C @ Kid Things´s last blog ..Weekend Winners Vol. 8: Pumpkins! Edition =-.
Ha! Too funny. Nothing magical about someone stealing your teeth in the middle of the night. Leaving presents, yes, but not someone you might see on America’s most wanted.
.-= Seattledad´s last blog ..Big Harry Spider =-.
Oh that poor little girl! I wrote a post about honesty with your kids and the article said you should tell kids about the tooth fairy so that they aren’t afraid to lose their teeth, and when they figure it out you should tell them that they are obviously old enough to handle to truth now….looks like she is already old enough! haha
.-= Erin´s last blog ..Out of the Mouths of Babes =-.
“LLLAAAAAAHHHH”
That’s the sound of the heavens parting and angels singing.
You are SO smart and have figured it out. We have never done Santa or Easter bunny or Tooth Fairy with our kids. We just tell them the truth. And know what? They aren’t scarred, they aren’t maladjusted, and they don’t feel like they’re missing out. As a matter of fact, I think they rather ENJOY knowing a little secret that all their friends don’t know.
See, you’re SMART mommy not scary.
.-= Texan Mama´s last blog ..Is the N-Word PC? =-.
You are smart get the truth out and save thousands in therapy down the road.
*sigh*, but I love all the sneaking about… And when you FORGET to make the exchange, you can blame it on the darn tooth fairy. Who you gonna blame now, huh?
.-= Nan´s last blog ..The Weekend In Brief… =-.
My kids were raised knowing the deal about the tooth fairy, easter bunny and Santa. My ex and I have caught a lot of flack for this decision, but hoenstly, the fact that there has never been any lying or sneaking around just felt better for me.
And trust me, my kids enjoy Christmas no less than any other. It’s adults who get more excited about these things than the kids. As far as the tooth fairy goes, the kids just want the money. ;-)
.-= MommaSunshine´s last blog ..A Million Miles Away =-.
My kids were raised knowing the deal about the tooth fairy, easter bunny and Santa. My ex and I have caught a lot of flack for this decision, but hoenstly, the fact that there has never been any lying or sneaking around just felt better for me.
And trust me, my kids enjoy Christmas no less than any other. It’s adults who get more excited about these things than the kids. As far as the tooth fairy goes, the kids just want the money. ;-)
.-= MommaSunshine´s last blog ..A Million Miles Away =-.
Sorry… forgot to say great post – can’t wait to read your next one!
Yeah, we don’t do the Tooth Fairy, Santa, or Easter Bunny. I feel like I’m lying to my kids if I perpetuate those myths.
.-= Lynn from For Love or Funny´s last blog ..Middle Age is the bane of my existence. =-.
omg she is cute. There is a new movie coming out soon with The Rock aka Dwayne Johnson where he plays a tooth fairy…maybe Lily would like it. I can’t remember the name but you should google the trailer. I think its Disney or PG.
Awww, are you just torn? I mean, were you looking forward to the tooth fairy just a little? I can imagine it’s not much fun being the one to tell – even if it did make her feel better. Although it’s pretty funny to read about her serious concern. ;)
.-= Ryan Ashley Scott´s last blog ..Bad Mommy Weekly: Bad Aunt-A edition =-.
It IS a scary thing. At least over here, gnomes come into the living room instead. I wonder what Anglo-Saxon parents do with light sleepers. Surely they’re going to get caught.
.-= Mwa´s last blog ..The glamour of my real life never fails to astound me =-.
Too funny. A child with her feet firmly planted on the ground… and who sees reality as okay. It IS truly creepy, thinking about a stranger sneaking into your bedroom at night to take something of yours…. almost as creepy as sitting on the lap of a fat old strange man and him offering you candy. Yech! Isn’t that what our parents always warned us about???
.-= WackyMummy´s last blog ..Not About Me… For Once =-.
“…heavyset man with rosacea plummeting down the chimney.” BWAHAHAHA! Perfect description.
I also envision Gingerbread crumbs in the beard and a lingering funk of slightly curdled Egg Nog, Bourbon and moldy hay. (y’know, because of the Reindeer…) The whole concept of Elves has always worried me, too – pointy ears, squeaky voices, small stature…? Elves = gremlins. (It’s a fine line, I think…a very fine line! They’re definitely related. ;) )
Great post, as usual. :)
.-= Ri, The Music Savvy Mom´s last blog ..Guest DJ: The Lady of the House @ Checking the Electrical Box =-.
Oh Jill this made me laugh – I’m sorry to laugh at your daughter – but really, I’m laughing WITH her. I would be the same way if someone told me they were sneaking someone into my room at night.
PS – can’t wait till next week for the scary mommy contest!
.-= christy´s last blog ..Foo’s Photo Shoot =-.
Wait, the tooth fairy isn’t real?
My world has just fallen apart. (Sob, sob…)
.-= Robin´s last blog ..Monday’s Muse: A-maize-ing! =-.
This picture is HYSTERICAL!
Coin? The tooth fairy pays $20 for the first lost tooth in this house. You ought to tell her that. She might reconsider. :)
.-= angie´s last blog ..If you want to know the truth…. =-.
Hi Jill,
I this second comment doesn’t freak you out. I’ve just started a new blog and would love for you to come and visit me. Eliza’s blog
I LOVE your writing style. You are like the ultimate blogging maven and I just really adore your blog.
I would love some honest feedback on my blog.
Pretty please?
Sorry, I meant to say that I hope this second comment is recieved well. I’m not a blog stalker, I swear.
–>Is that like using aerosal spray on any “monsters” that may be under the bed or in the closet?
~deb
.-= WebSavyMom´s last blog ..Flashback Friday (Part 34) – What Happens in Vegas… =-.
Poor Lily. That is a pretty scary concept when you think about it. I just think it is funny because most kids are excited to lose their teeth. Baby Girl is already asking when she is going to lose hers and she isn’t even five yet.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..One Year Ago Today =-.
Is it just me, or does that tooth fairy look an awful lot like Adam Avitable?? (Now THAT would make me cry!
Oh no! Your poor little darling girl.. yeah… that does sound like a super scary story, you know? I knew always that the ‘tooth fairy’ was my mom/dad… but I was always alseep so I never saw them leave me money/presents!
LOL! My kids were raised the same way as we were about the Santa issue. Other kids believed in Santa… we didn’t. My son got in a few fights at school and finally came to realize that it’s ok to pretend…
.-= Val´s last blog ..Moving on =-.
I never thought about the tooth fairy being scary. But now I may have to re-think what I am telling my kids. Who thinks of these fables anyways???
.-= Malia´s last blog ..Motivational Monday =-.
umm your girl needs to be a writer when she gets older–with an imagination at that age, oh yeah. she could easily be the next stephen king.
.-= dawn´s last blog ..crème brûlée ice cream (w/ black cherries) =-.
Our tooth fairy lives in Boynton Beach Florida and pretty muched wrecked our chances at getting away with this easily. She sent $20 for the first tooth…that’s a lot of Ka-Ching!
.-= Swirl Girl´s last blog ..The One In Which She Longs For Fifth Grade =-.
I wasn’t able to leave a comment for the longest time. It was all my stupid computer’s fault–not yours. My kids have had similar fears about all of the make-believe characters who enter our houses while we’re sleeping. K once wanted to leave a note on our front door for Santa saying, “Since we don’t have a fire place, can you just leave the presents outside?” She was terrified of some strange man crawling through the windows.
The easter bunny seems to be a little less intimidating. LOL
.-= Lolli´s last blog ..Tribute Tuesday–Fall Indulgences =-.
This is EXACTLY how my kids felt about Santa! This is why Santa never actually enters our house, the gifts from him are dropped down the chimney still the the sack (a laundry bag, shhhh). I was amazed that they went that direction but it made perfect sense when I thought about it!
.-= Jennifer Juniper´s last blog ..Halloween Mummy Cupcakes! =-.
That is the single best picture of a tooth fairy that I have ever seen in my life.
I am wordless : )
.-= Life with Kaishon´s last blog ..Mila on learning she was getting a puppy! =-.
Haha… well go figure. ;)
I always played at tooth fairy and Santa Claus when I was a kid, but I never actually thought they were real – just a fun game of pretend that my parents actually participated in.
Did Mike Tyson lose another tooth? Because it looks to me like maybe the Tooth Fairy got caught. Check his ears.
.-= lceel´s last blog ..Nightmare’s dance – take two. =-.
I love that you tried to be magical. And I love that you realize your daughter is a realist and decided to give her the real deal. I probably would have carried on, “yes…into your room yes….butdontworry!! It’s MAAAGIC! She has shiny sparkly WINGS!”
I think I like your way.
.-= Mama Kat´s last blog ..Tuesday Tribute: An Open Letter To My Toosh =-.
What do you mean there is no such thing as Santa?!?
It is kind of scary when you think about someone coming in the middle of the night to take your tooth. :)
The tooth fairy in our neck of the woods has a grace period. And is TOTALLY understood when she leaves money but fails to pick up the tooth. More than once.
WHAT??????????????????????? There’s no tooth fairy?
Thanks a lot.
:)
.-= Live.Love.Eat´s last blog ..Movin’ on up! =-.
That is classic.
Santa freaked Bram out a little last year. Of course we didn’t tell him the truth but we had to assure him that Santa doesn’t come into your room.
Hmmmm, maybe the tooth fairy is going to be a problem for us as well.
.-= courtney´s last blog ..Kid down. =-.
Loose teeth gross me out for some reason. I am dreading when that day comes with the Wee One.
And yeah, the idea of someone coming in the night and stealing old teeth? Grody.
.-= Ashley. Unscripted…´s last blog ..Trapped, with no possible chance for escape. =-.
When my daughter was little, her aunt tortured her with stories of a scary tooth fairy. When Madison finally lost her tooth she was inconsolable, so I thought. I called my sister to explain it to her and told her she better calm the child down. My daughter calmly told her Auntie that finding a $10 bill under her pillow in the morning would make everything all better…… Auntie paid up and I still smile 10 years later every time I hear a tooth fairy story.
SO funny. Just this morning I posted something similar about my little guy. Telling him the truth never even crossed my mind. Maybe I will tonight.
Thank you!
.-= Becca – Our Crazy Boys´s last blog ..The Scary Fairy =-.
i remember when i was little one of my front teeth was loose and my mom had made sausage biscuits for breakfast. Me, my sister and some third cousin that i didn’t know were all sitting there about to eat, and i take my first bite and out comes that tooth! stuck right there in the biscuit! no pain and no blood, but traumatic nonetheless- i screamed and cried my little head off. and to this day, i still cannot eat a sausage biscuit haha! i think i can relate with lily just a little bit! :)