Today I have been shocked by something that never fails to shock me – money. A friend of mine at work has two beautiful boys who are similar in age to my monkeys. We often get to talking about parenting dilemma, swapping stories and notes and I have to admit that I have learnt a fair bit through our little discussions.
We somehow got on to the subject of the Tooth Fairy. Now don’t get me wrong, I love the opportunity to encourage imaginative play and fairies are always conducive with that however, I find the Tooth Fairy a little … weird. I mean, what on earth does the tooth fairy do with all those teeth? Does she live in a little tooth house somewhere built out of all the teeth that she’s collected over the years? Does she sit there polishing them with little rags? Are they used as fairy tender? Does that make the Tooth Fairy like the bank manager of the fairy world? My mind has a tendency to wander sometimes.
But the point of this rant is this: what is the going rate for a tooth these days? In my day, I got 50p and I was super excited because that meant a trip to the newsagents to buy a Mars bar (oh the irony of sugary rewards for teeth). But I was nothing short of horrified when my friend informed me that her Mummy friends are of the opinion that a tooth is now worth £5!!! Yes you read that right, a fiver, a taxi driver, a bluey, a Lady Godiva, FIVE OF YOUR FINE ENGLISH POUNDS!!! What is wrong with that fairy?! Is she insane?!
I want to instil good values in my children, but how can I do that if I’m rewarding them with a small child sized fortune for basically doing nothing but shed a tooth? Now I’m feeling bad, but will my children suffer from getting 50p for their tooth? I don’t think so. Maybe I’ll up it to a pound, after all, I do understand that there has to be some sort of inflation after 30 odd years. I am banking on the fact that at the tooth shedding age, my children will still be in awe of the whole concept of fairies thus negating the need for me to have to fork out so much money. Here’s to hoping anyway.
Michelle The Moonlighter 
Holy Carp! 5 pounds? No that is insane. I also would have said a pound- at a stretch for a tooth. But my little monster has not lost any teeth yet…
I cannot recall at all what I got for teeth. I only remember wibbling them with my tongue until they hung by a thin red thread…..
Haha … me too. I was recanting early an experience i had with one where i turned it backwards and it got stuck. Gross! It is just daylight robbery. I’m working on the pretence that i will be forking out for them when they are older and want to go to uni etc, so i think paying them a pound now can’t be a bad thing.
Hi Michelle – loving your work here! 🙂 Our two (4 & 7 years old) get one shiny new pound for each of their teeth. £5 is, as you say, insane!!
Thanks StuPC. It’s always nice to get compliments!! I’m glad £1 seems to be the running theme. I just can’t get my head around this £5 thing. Maybe everyone is just super rich in the East Midlands!
It’s £1 in our house. £5 is madness! Anyone I know gives about £1. On the subject of the tooth fairy, I saw the sweetest thing the other day – http://www.handmadecharlotte.com/free-printable-tooth-fairy-notes/ Going to try that next time!
Oh wow Caroline, that is a brilliant idea!! I’m going to save that for when my monkeys lose their teeth. I love the little envelope that’s great. Even my husband likes it. Thank you for posting the link.
Love your writing, really made me smile. Absolutely agree, it’s £1 here as well (well my kids are too young but for other people that I know). Good luck with blogging – i’m a newbie too 🙂
Hi there! Thank you very much, i’m beginning to get very addicted to blogging. I will pop on over to yours in a minute to check out the competition 😉
Was 10p for me. I think I was diddled! Has to be a coin, it’s just wrong for the tooth fairy to be using notes.
Totally. It’s just wrong. It’s like Santa using a plane instead of a sled; gets you there just the same, but it’s just not right!
it tends to be £2.50 per tooth in our house
See £2.50 i can cope with, but the whole concept of a fiver is just absurd to me.