Pulling Teeth

The other day one of my 6-year-old daughters had a very loose tooth. It was bleeding and was ready to be pulled. For most people, this probably wouldn't be a big deal, but it filled me with a feeling of dread. For some reason, the thought of pulling a tooth makes me cringe. It makes me think of tearing flesh and other icky things.

Usually when a child has a loose tooth, I tell him or her to just keep wiggling the tooth until it comes out on it's own, or I turn it over to my husband to handle. But my Jared was gone and my daughter was crying and had a blood-filled mouth. I told her to pull the tooth out herself, but she just cried and begged me to pull it out for her. There was no one else to take care of this but me. This is when "mommy mode" switched on. I pretended like it was no big deal, took a deep breath, reached in her mouth, and yanked the tooth out. Luckily, it came out quickly and easily.

I'm thankful for the "mommy mode" that clicks on when my child is in distress and allows me to do things that I never would do otherwise.  It's useful in icky situations such as smashing black widows on the front porch (ewww!) and cleaning up vomit (I'll spare you the gritty details on that).  I suppose it's also what gives me the strength to get out of bed in the middle of the night and calm a child who has had a nightmare or whose leg hurts.  As I reflect on the strength that comes with "mommy mode" I think of the promise made in the scriptures that as we are humble and try to do our best, our weaknesses can be made strong (see Ether 12:27).  As a mother I know I have many weaknesses, but I am thankful for strength beyond my own to help in times of need.