Magical Creatures
Where I grew up, we had neither the Tooth Fairy nor Santa Claus.
The Tooth Fairy, of course, collects lost teeth left under children's pillows and leaves behind money instead, whereas Santa Clause visits all houses by reindeer-pulled sled, the night of December 24th and then climbs down your chimney and leaves gifts for kids to open Christmas morning.
In Switzerland we only have dentists (ha ha) and the "Samichlaus", which comes to your house with the "Schmutzli" on December the 6th. The "Schmutzli" are Samichlaus' mean assistants, dressed in hooded, black robes holding a broom (to beat bad kids) and a big potato sack to take away all the kids that mis-behave.
When I was a kid, I was TERRIFIED of December 6th and I'd lock myself into the bathroom every single year, and hearing the "Samichlaus" ringing his bell on the back of his donkey, walking up our street with the "schmutzli" would cause me to immediately break out in hysterical crying.
At my mostly Americanized house now, the Tooth Fairy definitely is the most popular magical creature. I mean everyone agrees that Santa is WAY cool and all, but since he only shows up once a year, and the Tooth Fairy visits out house on a monthly basis, Santa has not managed to win that popularity contest.
Santa's existence has also been the topic of many discussions, starting about 4 years ago in a conversation one Christmas between Lawya (then 6 and already very cynical) and IslandBoy (then 4 and just wanting to be part of something greater).
IslandBoy: I think I heard something outside! Maybe it's Santa or his reindeer, will you go look for them with me, brother?.
Lawya: Sure thing, and while we're at it, why don't we look for the Easter Bunny too.... or God, perhaps they're out there too!
Ouch!
Even though the boys had always been in a Christian pre-school/after-school, that day, I pretty much came to terms with the fact that Lawya was never going to believe in anything he couldn't poke with a stick or prove in his own mind.
Fast forward a few years and an upcoming 14th visits by the Tooth Fairy which brings us to this note I found Lawya (now 10) writing to the Tooth Fairy:
"Dear Tooth Fairy, can you please please get me a Nintendo DS with a dual screen and a Neopets game instead of money? Write back if you can, but big please so I can read it.
P.S. I adore what you do for me"
Wow!
Could it be that he's actually opened his mind to the possibility that something he can't touch might exist?
Or was it the last note a few months ago when the Tooth Fairy responded for the very first time (explaining the conversion rate from EC - Eastern Caribbean Dollar - to US Dollars) that did it?
Even though the Tooth Fairy wrote too small for Lawya to ready it, I suppose it was enough proof to change his mind.
So the morning after the "I want a Nintendo" note, I was woken up by Lawya at 6am, with a frown and a puzzled "my tooth is still there" statement.
(insert the sound of me cursing internally and damn that late night proposal that made me forget)
So another morning after and I was once again woken up by Lawya at 6am - this time with a huge grin on his face. Apparently, the Tooth Fairy had left him a tiny, hand-made envelope, full of $6EC dollars with a tiny note on the inside saying:
"Dear Conner,
I am sorry, I can only bring money.
I must also apologize for being a day late, I was sick yesterday and couldn't fly."
Lawya took that note, completely accepted the "no Nintendo" answer without question and proudly took it to school with him, proclaiming that he didn't care who had what flavour of thoughts about the existence of the Tooth Fairy. And surprisingly, all the kids at school thought his note was neat!
Now, I'm not sure if trying to keep up the "magical creature" myth is a good thing to do or if that breeds deceit and distrust, but later that evening, while putting the kids to bed, the most amazing conversation with IslandBoy confirmed that we were on the right track.....
IslandBoy: Mom, did you know that some people think Santa Clause and the Tooth Fairy aren't real?
Mom: Yes, I know.
IslandBoy: What do you think about that? Just tell me the truth, I can handle it...
Mom: Well, I think that people like believing in magical creatures because it's fun, they bring you stuff and it makes you feel special. I think that someone like Santa or the Tooth Fairy probably existed one day and that their tale and spirit just goes on and on.
IslandBoy: Hm, yeah, I think that too. Did you know that someone at school actually tried to catch the tooth fairy?
Mom: Oh wow, that's not cool!
IslandBoy: Yeah, bad idea...... but I think that in a way, Santa Clause is all around us all year long, wanting us to be good all the time.
Mom: Hm, neat way to put it and you know what - I feel the same way and it's just that his "big deal of the year" is at Christmas.
IslandBoy: Do you think I'll ever see Santa Clause or the Toot Fairy in real life?
Mom: No.
IslandBoy: Do you think I'll see them in heaven?
Mom: Definitely, you'll see everybody there and it'll all make sense.
IslandBoy: That will be neat...
I don't know what sort of creatures you believe in, or what you all practice with your kids, but having a special visit from the Tooth Fairy or Santa Clause sure beats believing that the "Schmutzli" are gonna beat the crap out of you and take you away each December the 6th!
The Tooth Fairy, of course, collects lost teeth left under children's pillows and leaves behind money instead, whereas Santa Clause visits all houses by reindeer-pulled sled, the night of December 24th and then climbs down your chimney and leaves gifts for kids to open Christmas morning.
In Switzerland we only have dentists (ha ha) and the "Samichlaus", which comes to your house with the "Schmutzli" on December the 6th. The "Schmutzli" are Samichlaus' mean assistants, dressed in hooded, black robes holding a broom (to beat bad kids) and a big potato sack to take away all the kids that mis-behave.
When I was a kid, I was TERRIFIED of December 6th and I'd lock myself into the bathroom every single year, and hearing the "Samichlaus" ringing his bell on the back of his donkey, walking up our street with the "schmutzli" would cause me to immediately break out in hysterical crying.
At my mostly Americanized house now, the Tooth Fairy definitely is the most popular magical creature. I mean everyone agrees that Santa is WAY cool and all, but since he only shows up once a year, and the Tooth Fairy visits out house on a monthly basis, Santa has not managed to win that popularity contest.
Santa's existence has also been the topic of many discussions, starting about 4 years ago in a conversation one Christmas between Lawya (then 6 and already very cynical) and IslandBoy (then 4 and just wanting to be part of something greater).
IslandBoy: I think I heard something outside! Maybe it's Santa or his reindeer, will you go look for them with me, brother?.
Lawya: Sure thing, and while we're at it, why don't we look for the Easter Bunny too.... or God, perhaps they're out there too!
Ouch!
Even though the boys had always been in a Christian pre-school/after-school, that day, I pretty much came to terms with the fact that Lawya was never going to believe in anything he couldn't poke with a stick or prove in his own mind.
Fast forward a few years and an upcoming 14th visits by the Tooth Fairy which brings us to this note I found Lawya (now 10) writing to the Tooth Fairy:
"Dear Tooth Fairy, can you please please get me a Nintendo DS with a dual screen and a Neopets game instead of money? Write back if you can, but big please so I can read it.
P.S. I adore what you do for me"
Wow!
Could it be that he's actually opened his mind to the possibility that something he can't touch might exist?
Or was it the last note a few months ago when the Tooth Fairy responded for the very first time (explaining the conversion rate from EC - Eastern Caribbean Dollar - to US Dollars) that did it?
Even though the Tooth Fairy wrote too small for Lawya to ready it, I suppose it was enough proof to change his mind.
So the morning after the "I want a Nintendo" note, I was woken up by Lawya at 6am, with a frown and a puzzled "my tooth is still there" statement.
(insert the sound of me cursing internally and damn that late night proposal that made me forget)
So another morning after and I was once again woken up by Lawya at 6am - this time with a huge grin on his face. Apparently, the Tooth Fairy had left him a tiny, hand-made envelope, full of $6EC dollars with a tiny note on the inside saying:
"Dear Conner,
I am sorry, I can only bring money.
I must also apologize for being a day late, I was sick yesterday and couldn't fly."
Lawya took that note, completely accepted the "no Nintendo" answer without question and proudly took it to school with him, proclaiming that he didn't care who had what flavour of thoughts about the existence of the Tooth Fairy. And surprisingly, all the kids at school thought his note was neat!
Now, I'm not sure if trying to keep up the "magical creature" myth is a good thing to do or if that breeds deceit and distrust, but later that evening, while putting the kids to bed, the most amazing conversation with IslandBoy confirmed that we were on the right track.....
IslandBoy: Mom, did you know that some people think Santa Clause and the Tooth Fairy aren't real?
Mom: Yes, I know.
IslandBoy: What do you think about that? Just tell me the truth, I can handle it...
Mom: Well, I think that people like believing in magical creatures because it's fun, they bring you stuff and it makes you feel special. I think that someone like Santa or the Tooth Fairy probably existed one day and that their tale and spirit just goes on and on.
IslandBoy: Hm, yeah, I think that too. Did you know that someone at school actually tried to catch the tooth fairy?
Mom: Oh wow, that's not cool!
IslandBoy: Yeah, bad idea...... but I think that in a way, Santa Clause is all around us all year long, wanting us to be good all the time.
Mom: Hm, neat way to put it and you know what - I feel the same way and it's just that his "big deal of the year" is at Christmas.
IslandBoy: Do you think I'll ever see Santa Clause or the Toot Fairy in real life?
Mom: No.
IslandBoy: Do you think I'll see them in heaven?
Mom: Definitely, you'll see everybody there and it'll all make sense.
IslandBoy: That will be neat...
I don't know what sort of creatures you believe in, or what you all practice with your kids, but having a special visit from the Tooth Fairy or Santa Clause sure beats believing that the "Schmutzli" are gonna beat the crap out of you and take you away each December the 6th!
Comments