MOM is the Tooth Fairy too!?

Teeth are falling out like crazy in this house, and when they aren't, the kids are walking around pretending they are.  Recently, Jacob lost his other front tooth, leaving him with a gaping hole in the middle of his adorable smile.  Jacob takes the tooth fairy very seriously.  He put his tooth in a small sealed Tupperware container  and set it next to his pillow, so that, the tooth fairy would know where it was.  As I asked about this strange set-up, it led us into a conversation about the tooth fairy.  Jacob asked if the tooth fairy is real or if it was just mom and dad?

I believe strongly in children keeping their child-like imagination as long as possible, so when he asked, I was sad to think he didn't think it could be possible that a little fairy came to get his tooth.  I had to think fast of something to say- the conversation went a little like this:

"Well Jake, what do you think?"
"I think that you take my tooth and keep it, and you give me the money."
"Ok- but what if I AM the Tooth Fairy?"
(Jake's eyes light up) "But you don't have a tutu like a tooth fairy."
"How do you know?  Maybe I have a  magical tutu."
(Jake smiles) "But you don't have fairy wings like the Tooth Fairy."
"How do you know I don't have magicial wings?"
(Big smile) "Really mom?"
"I guess you have to believe to know if I am or not- because I was told by the boss of all the tooth fairies, that if you don't believe anymore, then they don't bring any money anymore."
"Mom, that would be cool if you were the Tooth Fairy."

I didn't lie; I really am the tooth fairy in our house!  The bummer of this story is- I forgot that night to take his tooth and leave the money, so he was so disappointed when he woke up.  So, later that day, I had a dollar in my hand and told Jake to come into the kitchen.  I slipped the dollar into his hand,  gave him a wink, and put my finger over my mouth to remind him of the secret of being the tooth fairy.  He smiled and gave me a huge hug- he hasn't questioned it again.

I love these memories!