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

I lost a tooth. 

Daddy says it’s a kind of right of passage.

I lost my first tooth when mommy was brushing my teeth. All of a sudden, there was blood. And the little fellow came out.

Now daddy says I can play red neck for a while.

One test for a real red neck – they can drink through a straw without opening their mouth. I can do that now!

I have another loose tooth. Right next to the one that just fell out.

Daddy says he can get it out for me.

“Let me take a look.”

“No way! Your fingers are too big and you might push it out!”

1. The first way to get a tooth out is to let your daddy feel it.

“Momma, get me some string. Mia, come here.”

“No way!”

2. The second way to get a tooth out is to tie a string to the tooth and to a door. Then close the door.

Rattle rattle. “Where’s my pliers?”

3. The third way to get a tooth out is to grab them with a pair of pliers and yank.

Push push.

4. The fourth way to get a tooth out is to keep pushing it with your tongue. That works.

Brush brush.

5. The fifth way to get a tooth out is to use a tooth brush. It worked on my first tooth.

Wiggle. Wiggle. Nobody can pay attention forever in class. So I put my finger in my mouth and just wiggle it.

6. The sixth way to get a tooth out is to wiggle it with your finger when you are bored at kindergarten.

Chomp chomp.

7. The seventh way to get a tooth out. Eat an apple. But be careful to check before you swallow.

What do you think is the best way to get a tooth out?

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

Author Bill Belew is also featured in Prachesta Magazine. Here is the Interview.