How much money does the Tooth Fairy leave at your house?
My brothers and I used to get 25 cents per tooth, but in the decades since our teeth fell out it appears the Tooth Fairy has adjusted her rates and is now paying out a pretty penny (in the form of 5 and 10 dollar bills) for baby teeth.
Evidently, the days when the Tooth Fairy could get away with leaving a couple coins and a pack of Trident gum are long gone.
Our neighbor’s 6-year-old son ran over to our home yesterday flashing a new toothless grin and waving a crisp $5 bill in my daughter’s face. Needless to say, my 4-year-old spent the better part of the night trying to yank out her front teeth so she too could get her hands on some dough. Despite her efforts I assured her that it would be highly unlikely that the Tooth Fairy would be doling out $5 bills for a single lost tooth in our home. She looked at me in disgust, badgered me with a litany of “whys” and resumed her yanking.
I gave her my answer and wondered if the Tooth Fairy was really short-changing my little girl. My feelings of parental guilt were alleviated a bit when I ran across this recent article from the UK’s Telegraph.
According to the write-up, like many individuals around the world, the Tooth Fairy is feeling the crunch of a shaky economy as well. The article reports that Tooth Fairy payouts have fallen in the UK in the past six months, from an average of just over $2.00 to a little more than $1.50.
Given that the current amount is still more than six times as much as my brothers and I got from the Tooth Fairy back in the 1970s I don’t see the problem. But I suppose when you are a child used to being rewarded with 10 quarters for a single tooth and suddenly see only 6 under your pillow you would be a bit disappointed and wonder why the Tooth Fairy was holding back.
The article included an interview with Dr. Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, who expressed optimism about the Tooth Fairy’s financial situation saying: “Hopefully the tooth fairy can weather the current economic climate and we’ll see her return to top form soon.”
It’s no secret that times are tough. Household budgets are tight and families are being forced to cut back on “extras.” Have times gotten so dire in your home that the Tooth Fairy is now cutting back on her payouts? And how many of you feel that $5 is excessive for a single tooth?
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