Overloaded Post
So, I want to tell you about all these great things that have been happening around here lately. Blog launch parties with friends, winning some gorgeous pots and pans, getting VIP treatment at Sun & Earth. But alas, I can’t write it, not today, because my little boy is having his teeth extracted tomorrow. Extracted. Isn’t that just the worst word? It really is.
Today I’d helped organize a huge group of bloggers and local moms to head over the the Sun & Earth facility for a tour and a picnic. Now, before you start thinking Sam got hurt in some factory malfunction, let me say that Sun & Earth was WONDERFUL. The tour was great and totally safe (just like their products - see my Mama Speaks review here). They had even shut down operation for the day so that we could be there. They were incredible hosts, and the kids had so much fun. They got to plant seeds, send a bottle down the line to be filled with the wonderful all purpose cleaner, and look into the big ol’ vat of stuff. And as if that wasn’t enough, when we headed out for our picnic we discovered beautiful colorful tables to be filled with tons of food, a face painter, a caricature artist, a kid’s comedian, and tons of carnival games for them to play with. They seriously went all out for us in every way.
Unfortunately for my son, the games including an incredibly fun, oversized, inflatable bowling set. Initially the kids used the game for its intended purpose, but soon it became more of a bopping each other with the big balloon-like bowling pins kind of activity, with no one realizing that the huge pins had some sand or other hard substance in the bottom to weight them down. And it was with this sand/other hard substance that Sam got hit in the face.
I knew as soon as I looked into his mouth that he’d be losing at least one tooth. We left abruptly and headed to the dentist, where it was confirmed for me that he’d actually be losing two - his top two front teeth. Tomorrow.
And now I don’t even know what to say. I’ve spent the whole day just kind of trying to hold it together, and now I feel kind of numb . . . or exhausted . . . or overwhelmed.
I was not quite ready to see my child toothless just yet. I’m not ready for him to be the only one he knows with missing teeth, and I’m so afraid he’ll be self-conscious about it. The dentist says that because they have been removed his permanent teeth will come in faster, probably around 5 1/2. That seems so incredibly far away.
Tomorrow I’m going to find excuses to take pictures of him all morning long. And then you can bet your ass that the tooth fairy is coming tomorrow night, and she’s gonna rock it.
I feel your pain! MJ knocked out his front tooth (root and all) at age 18 months. Blood everywhere. Fun times in the overcrowded ER at Saint Mary’s. People thought he was involved with a murder.
His speech is fine, and I’ve only had one bratty kid say, “Hey! Where’s your tooth!?!”. But then again, that kid also called someone else a “fa**ot” in the same breath.
A lot of people don’t even notice. Check my photos in the Facebook profile! The gap is kind of cute!
I hate that you had to go through that today! What a shame. I hope he is feeling okay tonight. Hang in there.
Oh poor thing, but I agree it may be hard to really notice, and probably cute. I’ve been noticing missing teeth since my son lost his, and I commented to a mom about her son’s missing front. Then found out he actually lost it years ago, and we’d never noticed in the two years we’d known him - doh! Good luck at the dentist.
My 3 year old knocked out her front tooth a few days before Christmas, I cried becasue my baby didn’t have a front tooth, but people barley notice and it fits her personality now! It will take awhile to get used to seeing him withiut the teeth, but you will get used to it. Good Luck!
Oh, Beth. I have no words.
Oh no! I’m so sorry. How is Sam feeling about the whole thing?
My daughter Rosey did a face-plant going UP the stairs when she was almost three-and-a-half. Swallowed a tooth, and broke a root on her front tooth, which is still hanging in there (although grayish). You’re right. Seeing her gap-toothed was horrible for the first few weeks. (And I’ll admit I still see the tiny-toothed perfect smiles of other kids and get a flash of regret)
It’s been a year. She doesn’t remember it at all. (Just me - bad enough, I’d say!)
I’m so sorry, and I hope Sam forgets quickly!
What a bummer… I’ll be praying for him (and you!) to be brave and for the dentist to do good work!
I’m so sorry! What an awful way to end such a fun event. And I feel your pain about having a toothless child so young. I would not be the least bit happy about that. ((hug))
Beth, how did it go today?
oooo, beth!!!! i’m so sorry to hear that!!! we have friends who have a child in the same predicament. different reason, same result. toothless in the front. and the parents fretted much more than the child. she thinks it makes her special and fun and she smiles proudly to show you. hopefully sam deals with the dentist better than my boy does….
[...] would say that today was almost the opposite of what I’d expected. When faced with the fact that Sam would be [...]