Greetings YMIB Sistahs,
My Princess recently turned five and I noticed that her bottom teeth became spaced. Not long after that, she informed me that her two bottom teeth were loose. It seems like just yesterday she was a babe in my arms and now she's about to start losing her baby teeth. With that, comes the childhood lie: the tooth fairy.
My Princess' father and I agreed that our daughter would not be raised to believe the childhood lies that we grew up with: Santa Clause, the tooth fairy, the Easter Bunny and others.
My dilemna is that my FAMILY will undoubtly make comments about the tooth fairy to my daughter along with the "ritual" of placing the tooth under her pillow in expectation of money upon awakening. I do not wish to go on with this charade. Family members will agrue that "it's all in fun" or that "there's no harm" in having her believe these lies, but I don't agree.
Have any of you had to deal with this issue with your families? How did you deal with it?
Ase'!
I've always told my little
I've always told my little one those myths are not real. So far I explained Santa and those childhook characters as make believe "like on tv and cartoons". Which leads him to ask me about EVERYTHING on tv to make sure if it's "real" or just "make believe.
As for my family, as we have all grown and matured we've decided to respect the differences in how we all raise our children. We don't always agree but we allow each other as parents to choose how we raise our children assuming it is causing no harm to them. So my family knows I don't tell my son there is a tooth fairy and respect that. Oh, they have their lil jokes about how I take the fun out of everything but deep down we all know my lil one is happy and healthy without Santa, the tooth fairy and whatever else we know isn't real or has any spiritual relevance to him.
For anyone else who tries to tell him about those myths he's at the point where he will tell them it's not real "because my mom and dad said so". And I respectfully inform people that we do not teach him those things exist.
I think it's important that you continue to reinforce your values and beliefs at home. No matter what they are. Yes, it's likely your child will come home asking about xyz myth someone told them about at school or wherever but that is where you step in as a parent and reinforce what you believe.
Who knows, my son may teach his children otherwise, but as a parent it's important to me and my responsibility to instill and teach my child what EYE believe to be important to his upbringing. My job is to mold him the best EYE know how and to the best of MY beliefs. So while giving him the proper tools and life lessons I pray he will keep many of the things that I've taught him but also have the ability to discern and incorporate what he feels to be righteous and helpful in his life.
~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Buy Handmade from
BreathofLight
and
BreathofLight
Thanks Sistah Innarae!
You are a frequent commentor of my posts and your wisdom is highly regarded and appreciated!
Yes, this does help. Actually, on yesterday, I told my Mom that when the Princess' tooth finally comes out that I would appreciate it if she would restrict herself from mentioning "the tooth fairy" because we are not teaching her to believe in that. I shall follow with other family members as well. I have dispelled the myths with her as best I can but I also wanted to let family members know.
My daughter LOVES Kirikou and watches it frequently. I have pointed out myths contained in it and I shall continue to do so in other videos, movies and books.
Thanks again for your response.
Ase!
Sis. Nzinga
~I affirm that I am a divine wombman who lives a life of courage, adventure and bliss!
Aaaawww...
...these stages in life are too cute. And I rejoice with you as you journey with your little one through growth and transformation. Every household differs on how they intend make childhood special. With my children, I also took the time to dispel the myths you write about in your blog. So, when they are confronted with the highpitched "What did Santa/Toothfairy get you?"...they politely respond by stating "We don't believe in that". I immediately support them, by adding, "We don't teach them to believe in those things." Afterwhich, I neither communicate nor make eye contact with naysayers and resume my activity. Keep in mind that there are African myths and stories that are also - untrue - but loaded with life lessons and messages of inspiration and hope for children. My personal favorite is KIRIKOU AND THE SORCERESS! Hope this helps!