Warning: Controversial material contained in this post. . . do not continue reading if easily offended. Post is not intended to offend, but merely to invoke thoughtful consideration of traditions and possible implications.
My regular readers may not be surprised to find out that we don't do the tooth fairy. Rich and I decided long before having children that we would not participate in traditions of the tooth fairy, easter bunny, or santa claus because telling our children those things would be a lie. When we first had the conversation about these childhood tales - I'll admit - it threw me for a loop. I had never once given thought to the fact that those things were lies. I had to spend some time thinking about it in that context. Once I really throught it through, I could not come to any other conclusion - but that - it was indeed a lie. My old perspective on it was that it was just some kind of childhood fantasy. How could it possibly do any harm? But of course, the problem with that is that from the child's perspective, it isn't fantasy at all - it is reality. Children believe what you tell them. I do believe that it is most definitely fantasy and make believe for the parent telling the tale. What brought me completely over to my husband's way of thinking was the comparison between childhood tales and God. The stakes are way too high the way I see it. If I tell my children that someone they cannot see and won't ever see leave them toys or money - and then later they find out that I made all that up - what will they think about God? (the One they can't see) Will they think I made that up too? That is just not a risk I am willing to take.
So, instead of the tooth fairy, we do a treasure hunt. I set up a hunt for him by providing 6 or 7 clues. I give him the first clue, he has to hunt for all the rest of them until he finds his tooth and his last instruction. The last instruction sends him to trade his tooth for a dollar. My other two boys are very excited about the day they get to go on a treasure hunt for their teeth!
I think doing a treasure hunt is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteThere will be no tooth fairy, easter bunny, santa, etc in our house as well. Great post.
ReplyDeleteMartin looks so grown up in these pictures~ A treasure hunt is always so fun for kids!
ReplyDeleteI love these great ideas as my husband and I have also talked about not wanting to get into any of these childhood fantasies. My girls get excited about Santa when they see him, but I don't think they know why. They know he does not bring them gifts, anything they get comes from mom and dad or other family, and thank you notes to those people quickly follow. Thank you for posting!
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly how my husband and I feel about these traditions. Many of our friends and family members do not agree. To keep from "ruining" holidays we have to explain the various traditions to our children, so they know what their friends or cousins or classmates are expecting. On a side note, I never would have thought of doing a treasure hunt for teeth.
ReplyDelete