About Rebecca Eckler
Since becoming pregnant with her daughter Rowan, Canadian journalist and author Rebecca Eckler has penned three hilarious books, including the best-selling Knocked Up. Catch Rebecca’s weekly unique perspective on motherhood and single parenthood.
Magical Moments
eckler plus one canada
(Feb.11.10)
I can feel the “magical moments” are about to end. It makes me sad. It also has caused me to argue with six year-olds, which I don’t really like to do.
A couple of weeks ago, my daughter lost another tooth. Of course, the tooth fairy came and left a cute note, a handful of loonies, and a couple small key chains shaped like animals, under her pillow.
My daughter woke up in the middle of the night, telling me she had felt the Tooth Fairy kiss her cheek. (I know, sweet, right?) She was so excited she remained awake from 1 am to 2 am talking about the Tooth Fairy. The next morning, my daughter wanted to bring the note and gifts from the Tooth Fairy to school to show her friends.
“But, Mommy, what if Joanie* doesn’t believe me?” she asked. (*name has been changed to protect the identity of the pint-sized in my daughter’s class.)
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“What if she tells me again that YOU’RE the Tooth Fairy?” my daughter asked.
“I’m most certainly NOT the tooth fairy,” I huffed. “I was in the washroom when you found what was under your pillow, so I didn’t even see her! Do you see wings on my back?” That was enough to convince my daughter that I, indeed, was NOT the Tooth Fairy.
Fact is, some children in my daughter’s class are aware The Tooth Fairy doesn’t exist and have been spreading the word! I want to, um, tape these children’s mouths shut! (I don’t really mean it, but you know what I mean.)
My daughter believes Santa, The Easter Bunny, and The Tooth Fairy are all real, as are the stories I tell her about Puppy Land and Baby Land (right in between in Rainbow Land). My daughter believes a family of “belly buttons” lives across the street. She’s not stupid. She’s six! I love this age, because not only do they believe, they can talk about it. It really is a magical time. (Wipe tear from corner of my eye.)
Last week, as I dropped my daughter off in class, I also, of course, said goodbye to her stuffed animal. (Yes, my daughter also believes her stuffed animals can talk.)
“Stuffed animals can’t hear you,” said another little girl in my daughter’s class, witnessing my exchange with a stuffed turtle.
“Of course they can. They talk to me and I talk to them,” I told the little girl. “Every single stuffed animal in my house talks.” My daughter nodded.
“No they don’t,” this little girl argued. “They DON’T TALK!”
“Yes, THEY DO,” I argued. (This is how I found myself arguing with a six year-old.)
In any case, I feel the time is coming, when this is going to end. When you think about it, it really is sad. How MAGICAL is it that your children believe in Tooth Fairies and that stuffed animals can talk. Once that’s gone well….it’s gone. FOREVER.
So, please, if your children don’t believe in the Tooth Fairy, can you tell them something like, “Some of the other kids in class still believe. So don’t tell them!” Some of us mothers want this magical phase to continue. I know not forever, but just for a little while longer.
*Due to popular demand, we're excited to announce that beginning next week Rebecca Eckler will be posting new articles for us twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays)!
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