The Tooth Fairy
My son lost his tooth last week, this gnarly pre-teen molar looking thing. It was at the end of the day and I realized I didn't have any cash to pull the old switcheroo with the tooth fairy. For a minute, maybe more, I contemplated just telling him."There is no tooth fairy," I would say. Just blurt it out. Get it off my chest.
It was one of those days you have as a mom. I worked most of the day preparing another stack of writing samples. That's one big difference I've noticed now that I'm working for clients in New York. They can't seem to get past literal. You need to have work samples specific to their client or their business, preferably work done for a big name. They can't look at a body of work and say, "Yes I do believe you are a writer." I gotta tell you, I think writing is writing. Either you can or you can't. You have or you haven't. But that doesn't fly in the big City.
Anyway, four hours of gathering and formatting samples to send to a recruiter who won't read them but insists on seeing them. Throw in a few loads of laundry, some light housekeeping, cooking breakfast and dinner, bed making, working out and it's a full day. It was one of those days I have when I close my eyes before opening the dryer, praying there isn't a load of clothes already in there that I'll have to fold.
I thought screw the tooth fairy. Will is going to find out at some point. Why not just tell him?
I couldn't. I mean I've done some shitty things as a parent but I couldn't do that. Here's what I did instead. I borrowed money from him. I borrowed money from him to put under his pillow so he could still believe in the tooth fairy and I was off the hook. I told myself I'd pay back the 5 bucks but I haven't yet.
Frankly he's a money pit, so I rationalized this whole thing to myself by saying I spend at least 5 bucks a day on some kind of junk for him, gum or iTunes that's he's downloading. I've explained several times that every song costs me a dollar. "It's only 99 cents," he says as if that makes it alright. Thanks Apple for making a buck only seem like 99 cents.
It's these little tit for tats we have with our children that feel like bamboo shoots under the nails. I stole 5 bucks from my kid to pay the tooth fairy who paid him. He broke even and I didn't have to destroy his illusions. I'm saving that for later.
It was one of those days you have as a mom. I worked most of the day preparing another stack of writing samples. That's one big difference I've noticed now that I'm working for clients in New York. They can't seem to get past literal. You need to have work samples specific to their client or their business, preferably work done for a big name. They can't look at a body of work and say, "Yes I do believe you are a writer." I gotta tell you, I think writing is writing. Either you can or you can't. You have or you haven't. But that doesn't fly in the big City.
Anyway, four hours of gathering and formatting samples to send to a recruiter who won't read them but insists on seeing them. Throw in a few loads of laundry, some light housekeeping, cooking breakfast and dinner, bed making, working out and it's a full day. It was one of those days I have when I close my eyes before opening the dryer, praying there isn't a load of clothes already in there that I'll have to fold.
I thought screw the tooth fairy. Will is going to find out at some point. Why not just tell him?
I couldn't. I mean I've done some shitty things as a parent but I couldn't do that. Here's what I did instead. I borrowed money from him. I borrowed money from him to put under his pillow so he could still believe in the tooth fairy and I was off the hook. I told myself I'd pay back the 5 bucks but I haven't yet.
Frankly he's a money pit, so I rationalized this whole thing to myself by saying I spend at least 5 bucks a day on some kind of junk for him, gum or iTunes that's he's downloading. I've explained several times that every song costs me a dollar. "It's only 99 cents," he says as if that makes it alright. Thanks Apple for making a buck only seem like 99 cents.
It's these little tit for tats we have with our children that feel like bamboo shoots under the nails. I stole 5 bucks from my kid to pay the tooth fairy who paid him. He broke even and I didn't have to destroy his illusions. I'm saving that for later.
Labels: iTunes, motherhood
posted by Beck at
7:42 AM
4 Comments:
oy. sorry. and i'm one of the recruiters that made you send samples.
You're not the one I'm talking about.
I think my mom borrowed money to buy beer, so I think your borrow is acceptable.
And cigarettes or just beer? I'm weighing the offense against mine.
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