Two in one day.

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Wren has always been a rule follower. When she first started crawling and getting into things, we just had to tell her “no” once and she’d abandon whatever she was getting into. We never even had to really baby proof the house.

So, when she discovered her first wiggly tooth, I said, “Don’t wiggle that tooth…I’m not ready for it to come out yet.”

“Because you’re not ready for me to grow up, right mom?”

I signed as I thought back to all of the sleepless nights we spent waiting for that very tooth to pop when she was an infant. Wasn’t that just yesterday? “You’re right. I’m not ready for you to be a big girl.”

The thought of my baby loosing her baby teeth, made so many emotions surge. It wasn’t prepared for this. But luckily, because she is a rule follower, she hardly ever wiggled and I had plenty of time to grow used to the idea.

Fast forward about two months and now there were two super wiggly teeth dangling from her bottom row of teeth. Two grown up teeth were assuming position behind them and we teased Wren that she was becoming a shark. “Just wiggle them,” I instructed, now nervous about the fate of her smile and the prospect of braces. This went on for a few more weeks.

My sister, via FaceTime, would coach me on pulling them. Having four kids of her own, she’s an old pro at this point. Despite many attempts, I just couldn’t follow through. So, the coaching continued. “Keep wiggling!” Still weeks passed, many apples were eaten. Nothing.

I stopped reminding Wren to wiggle her teeth as I grew used to her lopsided grin.

Then one day, as I dropped by bags in my room after arriving at work, a message popped up on my phone. “Mimi, my tooth fell out in my cereal!” my mom shared, quoting Wren.

I had missed it. My eyes filled with tears.

Later that day, as I drove home from school, my phone rang. It was my sister. “Wren just called to tell me her other tooth fell out.”

“What? Two in one day?”

It was true. Two in one day.

That night as Wren got ready for bed and finished brushing her teeth, she came to me, bearing her new smile and said, “I don’t look like myself anymore.”

“Of course you do, my sweet girl. You look beautiful,” I replied pulling her in for a hug.

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Published by Jessica Carey

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I'm a mom of three daughters and a literacy coach in CT. I love to learn and share with others.

8 thoughts on “Two in one day.”

  2. Our children’s teeth are so small, yet such big milestones! It’s hard not being there for every single significant moment, but I think it prepares you for when they fly the nest. Ours got his braces off by himself yesterday, but managed to swing by my school so I could take a peek at his beautiful smile before he flew back to college life.

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  3. Beautifully written, conveying your point of view as the mom longing to freeze time. This is one of those moments that I think could be written with various tones. One of celebration that the first tooth fell out and then how lucky to have two teeth fall out on one day! ” I signed as I thought back to all of the sleepless nights we spent waiting for that very tooth to pop when she was an infant.” – this line is so powerful as it connects past and present! Thanks, as always, for sharing!

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  5. Losing teeth is a huge milestone! I’m surrounded by wiggly teeth, at home and at school. It does seem to be a door into growing up. I never realized this when I was teaching grade 3, but in grade 2 everyone is losing teeth!

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