Tooth Saga-Over Reacting And Patching

As a parent, do you ever over react? Here is my latest...

Gabriel, my 7 year adventure, has managed to loose several 


of his front teeth. Each in separate incidents via "all boy 


accidental knock outs." He recently got hit in the mouth by a 


basket ball.

He told me it poked a hole.


Really, what is the likely-hood? Perhaps a scrape that could 


turn cold sore, maybe...

He was barely crying, there was very little blood, and when I 


looked at his gums later, all I could see was a slight abrasion.

Bumps, bonks, bruises and kloncks happen so often I 


encourage the boys to shake it off and go on.

Well, two days later my lovely little freak show comes to me 


while I am talking with his Grandma. He uses one hand to pull 


his upper lip past his nose while the other hand wiggles a 


tooth. 

 Slight glances from me at the ever giggling boy, I give an 


approving nod and continued visiting.


He recognised my half hearted attention and moved in closer 


to reveal his comic delight.

Now, more directly, he pursues my whole attention. “Look 


mom, my tooth pokes out my gum!" “Isn’t it cool?"

I hear, I see, I look closer, my stomach flip flops, and I squeal!


That was just the provocation he needed to turn and display 


his mouth with vigor to grandma. To his delight she squealed 


too. 




Shock courses through my veins.. 


Here it comes, the part where mother scolds from fear that 


rises like vomit...Blah I spewed stern words all over his 


innocent fun.  "Gabriel Stop!"  "That's NOT normal!" "That is 


not right!" "It is not funny or OK that your tooth is poking out of 


your gum!"  "You must not wiggle it like that for anyone else!"






Ugh, the mother afraid of wounds that won't heal just dug a 


deep hole. 


Shared fear clawing at us both.


He runs off.  






I just sit shaking my head.


I wish he could have stayed long enough for the shock to wear 


off.  He would have heard something that resembled the 


chuckles he was after...




Grandma exits and tries to get him to show grandpa.  He 


heed's the voice of his mama and will show no one his wound 


now multiplied. 




Moments later he wonders in.  Tail between the legs, beaten, 


clearly dejected and worried.




I see what I have done soul deep.


He cowers under heaviness..  




I cover him with the balm of an apology for my fearful loud 


words.  I draw him in close. 


Gently, but firmly I begin to remove every fear I placed within 


his heart.  




It is a bit like running into a cactus. 


Some thorns pull out easy. 


I let him know that it is best to not wiggle the tooth out of the 


hole until we know more.




Some are deep and take the firm, stable grip of love.


I coax his confidence and build his faith anew.  "Countless 


children all over the world have put their teeth through their 


lips."  "They heal!" You too will heal."




Others, well they are what we call no see-um's.  


They are invisible,  but you continue to feel their prick.  


On the ride home he needs to know again how everything will 


be all right.  "Indeed son, the God who made you, created 


your mouth to produce saliva which is loaded with what 


is necessary to clean, heal and make new cells to patch the 


hole."






God is in the business of healing holes of all kinds...He does 


it for us regularly. Consolation and healing takes on many 


different forms.