5 things to tell a child who's lost a tooth.

Tooth loss offers a wonderful opportunity to lie to your child.  Ema lost her first tooth last night.  She's not thrilled to be the first kid in her kindergarten class to lose a tooth, despite the fact that the Tooth Mouse will be bringing her a gift.  In fact, the lurid specter of the Tooth Mouse may only have worsened things.  The best way to help children through these early traumas is to leave them so bewildered and uncertain that actual problems, like the shedding of milk teeth, recede into the background.  I offer a few suggestions, with absolute faith in your ability to do better.  Just close your eyes, and let the winds of deceit blow through you.

1. "I'll make you a new tooth, a better tooth, a wooden tooth."
2. "Uh oh, your left ear's gone a bit wobbly too."
3. "Sleep with your mouth shut so the Mouse gets the right one."
4. "Look, the new one's coming in already!  What a great color!"
5. "With less weight, you should run faster.  Go on.  Run."