Mermaids

I remember figuring out that there is neither a Santa Claus bringing gifts nor an Easter bunny delivering eggs, fairly early in life. Nobody told me, it just didn't seem logic.

But I always loved the magic of it so when son was born I went all out with the magic of Christmas and the happiness of Easter. My American husband insisted on the existence of the Toothfairy and I was happy to add her to our life also.

I decorated and told stories, mixing husband's and my culture into a nice, a bit confusing mixture. Son always loved it and so did his sister when she came along.

What I never considered though, was that by living it so whole heartedly, my kids would believe in it forever. I just didn't know how to tell them. I hinted but my hints never amounted to any critical thinking on their part. 

When son was in second grade, and still a believer, he got into a heated discussion with a third grader about the non existence of Santa Claus. He was sitting at the kitchen table telling me about the ignorance of his schoolmate when I sat next to him and told him we needed to talk.

He took it pretty hard. Actually, he said he needed some time alone to get over Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. 

He was just about to leave the kitchen when he turned towards me and said with relief: "at least there is still the toothfairy." It was very, very hard for me to shake my head and say "no, no toothfairy, either."

Similar situation with daughter. She must have been the oldest believer, ever, and she is not very happy with the truth. I can see that she still wants to believe in the magic of it all. So we both just play along but once in a while she winks at me to let me know she's in on the whole thing.

Two days ago a tooth of hers fell out. She made a big production about putting it in a plastic bag along with a letter for the "toothfairy". She even taped a ribbon to her pillow and arrows to the floor so the "toothfairy" wouldn't have to search for the tooth too long. All the while, winking at me.

The next day, after the "toothfairy" had picked up the tooth and daughter had found her little present under the pillow she looked at me and said "what did you do with all my other teeth, Mom?"

Well, truth to be told, I saved one and threw the other ones out. One of them, I remembered, I threw into the ocean because at the time it fell out, we were vacationing and I had it in my pocket while walking on the beach. 

"I  threw  them  into  the  ocean." I said. 

That was when she started crying.

And I started to panic. Was she upset because she wanted them back?  

"What happens if fish swallow them and die?" she cried. "Why would you throw them into the ocean?"

Yes, why the heck would somebody do that???

"Because the mermaids like playing with them." I said. "I put all your teeth into a little pink box and threw it into the ocean. At one point a mermaid will find the box and will play with your teeth."

Daughter was still wiping the tears off her face when she said "I like that. That was a very good idea of yours."

We now believe in Mermaids.