Tuesday - Day 212 - tooth fairy

Regardless if you are full timing and moving with young children or simply full timing in your favorite campground long term, there will be a time when the tooth fairy pays a visit to your RV.  

A child's very first visit from the tooth fairy is always a big deal.  I imagine she ponders over and over how much money she should leave in exchange for that very tiny, very important gem of a tooth.  

James image of the tooth fairy,
from Rise of the Guardians

The first tooth symbolizes growth and maturity.  Many important years have passed since that tooth cut its way through sensitive newborn gums.  Loosing teeth is a right of passage through time, aging the young and old alike. 

My son was fascinated when he discovered his tooth was loose, constantly moving and pushing it forward until a week later it finally broke free, at lunchtime, during school. 

He beamed with delight, knowing his fairy friend would be paying him a visit.  James asked me how much I thought she would leave him.  I cautiously contemplated how I should answer his question and decided to play coy, and told him, "I don't know, one maybe two quarters? How much do YOU think she'll leave you?"  He squealed with shock.  "Two quarters!!  That's it!!?  I think maybe more." He quickly informed me with a big knowing grin.  When did our kids learn about inflation?  

Lucky for the tooth fairy she had some unexpected, left over laundry money and deposited a whole dollar bill under James' pillow that evening.  Maybe she set the bar a little high, but unfortunately the change bag with quarters was no where to be found.  

James was going to be sure the tooth fairy found his tooth:
in his hand! 

I calculated by the time James' molars begin to pop out the tooth fairy would be breaking out the big bills.  How does she do it?  This whole money for teeth thing is an unusual tradition, who convinced society this was a good idea?  

What I really want to know is, why are old people not cashing in for their lost teeth?  They have lived a full life, haven't they earned it?  We should be leaving old folk keys to new cars under their pillows.