Summer Teeth

My daughter was so excited last night when her tooth fell out during dinner. She's beaming with joy and her Daddy affectionately tells her, "Now you have summer teeth." Full of trust and innocency she falls right into his set-up by asking, "What are summer teeth?" To which he replies, "You know, some 're here and some 're there." Even his corny jokes couldn't dampen the joy of a lost tooth for her. We don't do the tooth fairy in our house, but we still give a little money for a lost tooth. She knows it's me giving the money to her, but she still likes for me to slip it under her pillow while she's sleeping. It's fun for her to "find" in the morning and it's definitely an easy way for me to please her. Unfortunately I forgot all about it before I went to bed last night, but I remembered as soon as I woke up this morning. She was still asleep so I could have attempted to sneak in there, but I was afraid to wake her up. I like my alone time in the morning, so I didn't want to ruin that. I decided to slip a dollar into the door where she could see it sticking out when she got up to leave her room. I then prepared my story of why I ruined her fun of looking under the pillow. But it all worked out in my favor. She came upstairs after she woke up and was so excited. She told me how she looked under her pillow and was disappointed because the money wasn't there. But then she said that she knew I wouldn't forget, so I must have hidden it somewhere else so she could have fun looking for it. I'm glad I didn't let her down with my mistake. I guess instead I've started a new tradition. Such a simple event, but I know these are the things that will make memories for her. When I think back to my childhood I only remember the good things that my Dad did for me and the fun times we had. I know he made me mad at times, but I don't remember why. I'm sure he disappointed me and made plenty of mistakes, but I can't think of any. I guess my Dad did enough good things for me that those times stick in my mind and there's no more room for the bad. Now I'm the mother. I know I make lots of mistakes and I know I make my kids mad at times, but I'm holding onto that hope that some day the good memories will outweigh the bad. I can see God's grace working already, as evidenced by this picture my daughter drew of me. "This is for the sweetest Mom in the world!"