Today my eight year old lost a tooth. This is his eighth tooth to come out, so we're kind of "over it." But the last week has still had a lot of anticipation around the tooth, the tooth fairy, and the like. For days it has been difficult for him to eat and he has had his hands in his mouth constantly. Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, twist. Nothing. Sigh. He even had a regularly scheduled visit to the dentist two days ago. They oohed and aahed with us and assured us that a good, swift breeze will take care of it, but it remained steadfast. Last night I asked Ethan's taekwondo instructor if he could "accidentally" punch Ethan in the mouth to "take care of it." He enjoyed the humor, but obviously thought more of his future as an instructor than ridding us of our nuisance. It was clear we were on our own. Patience, young Jedi.
Wouldn't you know it? This morning we got a gift of epic proportions. I'm talking one of the big ones. Kids find joy in many things, but pure kid ecstasy is reserved for a very few: the man in the sleigh, the bunny, the fairy, finding a penny in a parking lot, fireworks, puddles, and so much snow that school is either delayed or cancelled altogether. Now, it's January in upstate New York and we have had NO SNOW. None! My boys honestly believed that there would be none this year. They had stashed away their dreams of building a snowman. There would be no snow angels, no sledding, no snowboarding, no snowball fights, no icicles, and no days off from school. Winter was just going to be cold and brown. Where is the fun in that? Even I, a Southern, Winter-Hater at heart, was missing the white stuff. That all changed this morning.
We woke up to a beautiful, white snow scape. My five year old walked into the bedroom, paused, and whisper-screamed, "YES!" He asked if I knew why he was smiling. I said, "Because it snowed?" And then Reese, never to be outdone said, "Close. I'm smiling because it is the winter wonderland I have been waiting for." Winter can't be all bad when you get to hear stuff like that, right? Ethan is more Golden Retriever than boy sometimes, and when he discovered the snow I was reminded of that. He did not whisper scream. He belted out in unabashed glee, "SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" He ran around, not quite sure what to do with himself. He tripped over things, ran into things, and continued on his dance of joy until he tired himself out." Good dog. He had forgotten all about that mean ole' tooth. It was a good thing. We had breakfast, suited up, and headed outside to enjoy our gift before they needed to leave for school two hours later than usual.
I was so stinking proud of myself. "Look at what I'm willing to do for my children! I hate the cold. I hate snow, in general, but I'm taking them out to live their tiny little dreams. Good mommy!!!" We built that snowman! They had a snowball fight while I shoveled. This was do-able. I could enjoy this. It was great snow. A lovely white blanket was draped over our entire lawn and driveway. It made everything look clean and magical. Eventually, though, the boys got cold and we trudged inside for hot chocolate with marshmallows. Again, I'm a good mommy. This is the stuff I have always dreamed of doing well.
Soon enough it was time to suit up again to get to school. We gathered snow pants, lunch boxes, back packs, hats, gloves, and "inside shoes" together and began the journey to the car. This is the part of winter I don't love so much. Easy tasks become difficult. I sent the boys ahead of me as I gathered my warm chai to go. Before I could get out the door I heard Ethan screaming. He tends to communicate in that way a lot, so I wasn't overly concerned...until I saw the red pile of snow below him as he balanced halfway in, halfway out of the car. Dear God! What has happened!?! I bounded over the snow, forgetting the sensible channels I had created with my shovel. This was "get there now" time. As I got to him I could discern that he was screaming, "My tooth is out!!!!!" Ah, HA!!!!!!! That was not a scary scream. That blood was the only blood a mom can be happy about seeing. We're good! Except that now, Ethan's tiny white tooth is somewhere obscured in four inches of snow that completely covers our world and we have to get to school RIGHT NOW. Never mind that Ethan looks like he just bit the head off of a chicken. Gross! He's a bloody mess but we are NOT going back in that house! We worked too hard to get to the car the first time. There is no turning back now.
Luckily I carry the contents of a half bath in my car at all times. I put Ethan to work cleaning his face and hands, put a gauze square in the gap where his tooth was just moments earlier, shifted into drive and off we went. Just another commute.
I came back home and surveyed the scene. Of course I didn't find the tooth. For all I know it could be in the car. All the blood was outside the car on the ground, which leads me to believe it is still in the snow. But I don't know that. I shoveled the suspect snow into a bucket on my porch in the hopes that when that melts there will be a tooth at the bottom. I have heard many stories about children swallowing a tooth. Apparently if you leave a note, explaining why you have nothing to leave the tooth fairy she will find it in her heart to leave you something anyway. She's a trusting soul. Ethan is comforted by that idea. We'll test it out tonight. But, honestly, have you ever heard of a child losing a tooth in a snow drift? Really!?!?! This is why I wanted to be a mom. No doubt about it. Today is one of those priceless days. Now, if I can just find that tooth I'll be mother of the year!
