Growing Up

Growing up. Now that’s a topic we can get in trouble with ❤.

My 6 year old got her tooth pulled. This was her first baby tooth. She was brave through the entire process. When it was all over, the dentist was amazed at how present she was to what was happening and how easily she communicated her needs and feelings throughout it all.

But… the tooth in the image is not Kali’s.  It’s mine. It is my last baby tooth. At the age of 43, I finally gave up the last of my very first set of teeth. Even though I knew I would be okay and the whole process would take less than 30 minutes, I had nervous energy. So, I asked my Mom to go with me :).

This tooth remained with me this long because there was no adult tooth to push it out and because the two teeth on each side of it were wedged in there just enough to hold it in as long as it needed to stay.  It was barely holding on by the roots, yet it still needed extraction.

I’ve known for over 30 years that we would have to cross this bridge one day. Pulling the tooth was never a big decision. It was always a matter of ‘when’ to pull it. The decision I’m left with is what will I do to fill the gap? For some it’s an easy decision. They either don’t do anything or let the dentist tell them what’s next.

Oh that’s far too automatic for me. I like to explore my choices and make decisions now that I am grown. So, how will I feel this gap? I’m not sure, nor am I in a hurry to decide. Today, I will let it heal. Today, I rest in the goodness of God for seeing me through. Today, I am grateful that my Mom and Keelie were with me for support. Today, I delight in the thought of the tooth fairy celebrating this last baby tooth as I wait with anticipate the gift she will exchange it with.

This is what life is about. Being present wherever you find yourself as Kali was when her first baby tooth was extracted, and celebratory when my last baby tooth was extracted. What a wonderful way to embrace life.❤