The alarm clock rang early. I don’t remember hitting the snooze button. When it went off again I was instantly awake. I didn’t know it, but today my eldest daughter was going to give up a long held childhood belief.

I went to the bathroom, ran a brush through my hair, downed my vitamins and brushed my teeth. Looked in the mirror and decided I would just wear my glasses – I was too lazy to put in the contacts and threw on some sweats for the morning kidlet drop off commute.

Today was Dinara’s picture day at school So we got her ready first. Gramma who’s visiting from Florida, helped Noah get ready. As I pulled out pants for Emma, she stood very close to me and exclaimed in her most authoritative voice “Ha! I knew it!”

“What?” I asked.

“I caught you Mom. I know the whole truth”.

“What are you talking about Emma?” I asked truly puzzled and wondering what the heck she was talking about.

“YOU ARE THE TOOTH FAIRY”.

My stare was blank. I didn’t give anything away.

“What on earth would make you think that Emma?” I asked nonchalantly..

“I lost my tooth yesterday at school and I didn’t tell you mom. And there is NO MONEY under my mattress. So I caught you. I knew there was no such thing. I just knew it. But I needed proof. And now I know”.

When did all this growing up happen? My 7 year old trying to entrap her mother in her own little web of deceit without benefit of cross examination or anything! I wanted to be innocent. But I was guilty and my 7 year old smelled victory a mile away.

My mom, over hearing the exchange piped up with “Well Emma, of course you didn’t get money. Your mom has to email the tooth fairy to have her visit.” It was a nice volley by my mom… but my mind raced ahead… knowing that my little girl was growing up and it was time to move on from this tooth fairy fable.

Emma’s face lightened a minute. She really wanted to believe. I saw glimpses of the 5 year old… but they were gone in a flash.

I decided it was time to be truthful.

“Emma if you want the truth, I’ll be glad to talk to you about it, but we need to do it in private later ok?”

“That’s fine mom”.

And so I told her. She wasn’t too sad to find out there wasn’t a tooth fairy. Seems the sorrow was blunted by the joy of knowing she had pulled one over on ol’ mom. We agreed to keep up the ruse for the benefit of her sister and brother who haven’t had a chance to experience the joy of the tooth fairy yet. Of course, knowing there was money it for her to play along made her all the more eager.

On so many levels… the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

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