Bill Belew has raised 2 bi-cultural kids, now 34 and 30. And he and his wife are now parenting a 3rd, Mia, who is 8.

Tooth Fairy

Life changes after you lose your first tooth.

Losing a tooth is a right of passage. Sorta.

Tooth fairies aside. Money for an iPad game.

What I know is there is no putting the tooth back in. I tried and there was another tooth already trying to grow there.

I also learned that when my first tooth found out that I am a bigger girl now than I was yesterday.

Today, when daddy dropped me off at kindergarten, I decided I could go to my classroom alone. I don’t need daddy to take me into my room anymore. I can do it by myself. I am a big girl now.

So, daddy dropped me off at the end of the long sidewalk. We walked across the car path. Hugged. And I told him, “I am good. You can leave now.”

And I ran to class. And never looked back to see if daddy was watching or not.

Because I knew that I am a big girl now. Big girl teeth are coming in. And I have to do big girl things.

I reckon daddy got in his car, happy and sad. Happy that I am growing up.  I know he wants me to even he says he doesn’t. And sad that I am growing up. Even he says he doesn’t want me to. I know he does.

I wonder … what else will happen in my life to make me feel like I am a big girl and I have to act more grown up now?

What events happened in your life to make you feel more grown up?

Talk to Bill and others about their experiences raising bi-cultural Japanese-American kids.