However  on this particular day, it wasn’t a win-win for Mommy.  The dentist walked in, holding the pictures of her teeth they had just taken moments beforehand:

“Well, she’s got two cavities, Leigh, and it’s ALL YOUR FAULT!  I mean, what kind of mother let’s their child drink so much juice?!  Haven’t you ever heard of water or milk?  She’s going to be toothless at age nine and have only you to blame!”

Well, maybe that’s not exactly what he said, but that’s what I heard.  Two cavities? TWO CAVITIES?!  Doesn’t this dentist know that I come from a family of dentists?  I mean, come on…he was in dental school with my cousin!  Hello? My kid can’t have two cavities already!  This must come from Ken’s genes because my genes are incapable of cavities as proven by my 31 years of life without ever having one.  EVER!

Since that day, there has been a lot of talk in our house about how sugar bugs live in our juice and like to eat holes in our teeth.  I mean, surely that mental image will make her not ever want to drink juice again, right? She is slowing becoming used to the idea that juice, even watered down juice, is a treat, and there has been a lot of negotiating going on:

“Mommy, if I drink juice right now, then I’ll drink ALL my milk with supper.”

or…

“Honey, if you will drink water with your lunch, I won’t make you use a sippy cup.”

It’s going to be a long process to get her off the juice, but I think we’ll get there eventually.  She is very understanding, and although she can’t wait to lose her first tooth, I’ve made it quite clear the tooth fairy doesn’t pay well for teeth with holes in them.