Re: Santa and wobbly teeth.

July 15, 2001

We have always wanted the children to understand that Santa and the stories

about him were make-believe, but that the baby Jesus and his stories were

real. So our explaination has always been that Santa is a great big make

believe game that everyone plays, grown-ups too. This means that there is

no secret to give away, but does encourage taking part and going along with

those who expect you to still believe in it or still belive in it

themselves. We haven't had any problems with other children having the

'secret' spoiled for them or elderly neighbours offended so it has worked

for us. DS2 sort of believed in Santa for the christmas he was 5, but seems

to have moved on without comment.

Tooth fairy has always been in the same category as Santa, and they all know

that if she doesn't have a 50p then sometimes you have to wait an extra

night! and that she also knows about the ones that get lost in the

playground at school. Oh and that if she is away in London overnight for

NCT then Daddy makes quite a good tooth fairy, but that you have to remind

him when he says good night or he forgets!

DS1 (13) so far has only lost 7 of his first teeth, number 8 is currently

wobbly (but he doesn't have lateral inscisors to come in at the top, so this

one is taking a long time to come out without a replacement pushing it). DD

(just 12) has lost 13 or 14 (I think) DS2(8) has lost 8. IIRC it was in

Primary 2 (around 6yr olds) that most of their classmates were gappy!

The dentist has just decided that he doesn't like DS2's bite (or should I

say the look of it!) so now all three will be seeing the orthodontist who is

the most patronising HP I have come across - shudder. Neither of the big

ones like him and both have been pretty cheeky to him, I suspect my comments

to DH have been overheard. Too costly to go private so we just have to put

up with him. So far it is just watch and wait with the older two, so

hopefully DS2 will be the same.

Liz Goudie

July 16, 2001

I've always played down 'Father Christmas' as he was in our family -

'Santa' too American for my parents' tastes - but like Liz G have said

it's something we all take part in - all part of the fun at

Christmas - but when questions were asked didn't shirk from

answering - although a friend *had* got there first with the Father C

bit for DD, but I've asked her to keep it up for her little brother

for a while longerk, he's only 3...; there was always a tremendous

amount of rustling that went on in our house on Christmas Eve which

did rather let the side down after I was about eight....however even

once I knew about it it was still tremendously exciting to feel the

heaviness of the stocking in the early hours....

Tooth fairy also - and our Tooth Fairy doesn't deliver for children

who go to bed late (after all, she is a fairy, she eats lettuce and

other veggies and drinks herb tea and doesn't stay up late! rather

like the Tony Ross fairy in a wonderful story for slightly older

children - perhaps fairies are sensible enough to incorporate ME

habits into their lifestyle (thinking of 's not hen night) -

but our tooth fairy is also a bit forgetful (*oh dear Mummy!*).

Tooth fairy started off at 20p back in 1993, she did get a bit more

expansive for molars, but again, she's a fairy, they don't really work

at very much paying jobs, compensation for living on all that moss and

amongst flowers all the time!!!

how many of you keep the teeth, and if so, how many of them? I did

use one in a demo of the wonders of Coke!

Caro

July 16, 2001