So the Question Is…
Jaybird has lost a tooth. One of the molars, you know, the biggies toward the back of her mouth. We were expecting it, as the orthodontist that put on her braces told us that she still had some baby teeth to lose. She had told me that it was loose, but I didn’t really pay much attention.
She came home from school (yesterday? two days ago?) with her tooth in a napkin. She showed me the lost tooth, placed the paper towel-wrapped tooth on the breakfast bar. The tooth fairy did not leave her any money that night, as the tooth was not under her pillow. A few days (1? 2?) passed and she still had the tissue with tooth tucked into the corner on the breakfast bar.
Then came the day that I cleaned the kitchen. I threw out the folded paper towel that had been sitting on the breakfast bar for far too long. I swept, scrubbed and mopped. The kids returned from school and Jaybird starting looking around in the kitchen. I asked her what she wanted, as this is unusual. Usually the kids run to the pantry as soon as they arrive home. Apparently there is some kind of food shortage a few kilometers away at their school which causes them to be ravenous wolves by 3:45pm each weekday. But I digress. She told me she was looking for the paper towel that had been sitting on the counter. She was going to put it next to her bed at that precise moment so not to forget again and miss out on the money from the tooth fairy.
Moment of truth. I have mentioned before that I sometimes will tell a little white lie to my kids. What to do here? Bloody hell. She is twelve years old. I turned to her with a very serious look and quiet voice.
“Jaybird, do you still believe in the tooth fairy?” I asked. She smiled and whispered, “no.” I smiled back at her, gave her the money for her tooth, and told her to keep this whole thing a secret. She is now a conspirator. I followed up with a “Is there anything else you would like to ask me about? Anything you may or may not believe in?” I was on a roll and to be honest, about done with the upcoming Christmas charade that we parents play. I was ready to deal with the “Santa Question” as well. But nothing. She had nothing further.
So the tooth fairy thing is almost done. Santa Claus? Another time, perhaps.
The American Calgarian 
You can keep the Santa secret with your first child(although I am sure that she knows) but it’s almost impossible with the younger ones but I really tried for as long as possible because it’s such a magical thing and while easier for me once they knew(no more special wrapping and hiding- remembering not to fall asleep before the gifts/tooth money was done-)- it was kind of sad for all of us~~~