Losing Teeth, Letting Go: 

What a Loose Tooth Taught Me About Letting Go

I was recently spending time with my seven-year-old niece when she lost one of her baby teeth. It was a big moment — full of anticipation, the “under the pillow” ritual, and a magical visit from the Tooth Fairy. She looks absolutely adorable with that goofy, gappy smile. And it got me thinking: maybe there’s something deeply symbolic about losing what no longer serves us… and making space for “what’s next”.

When kids lose their baby teeth, it’s a rite of passage we celebrate.  There may be a moment of discomfort, even a bit of fear and uncertainty, but there is also excitement. That small gap in their smile isn’t just empty space — it’s a sign that something bigger, stronger, and more permanent is on the way.

Her old tooth didn’t fall out because it was bad, wrong, or broken.   It fell out because it had done its job and its purpose had been fulfilled. It had supported her through her earliest years – helping her chew, speak, and smile. But now, it’s time for growth, and growth involves change.  It’s time for something new to take its place.

This simple, natural process we go through in childhood mirrors something much deeper that we face as adults: the art of letting go.  Letting go of what no longer serves us: whether it’s a job, old habits, friendships, seasons of life, or even a marriage, we sometimes outgrow what once fit us perfectly. 

Just like a child who wiggles a loose tooth for days — unsure whether to hold on or pull it out— many of us wrestle with when to let go. There’s fear: of the unknown, of pain, of judgement. But in the end, clinging to something that no longer fits only delays the growth waiting for us.

Divorce, though often painful and complex, can be viewed through the same lens: a necessary shedding of what no longer serves us to create space for something stronger, healthier, and more aligned with who we are becoming and who we authentically strive to be.

Divorce is not a failure. It’s not a sign that what you had wasn’t real or valuable. Just like those baby teeth, it served a purpose. It carried you through an important chapter of your life. But if it’s time to move forward, clinging to the old only keeps you from receiving the new — the stronger, more lasting pieces of your life that are ready to emerge.

The gaps left behind after a divorce, like the gaps after losing a tooth, might feel strange at first. Raw and empty even. But over time, something new grows — more grounded, more resilient, better suited for the life you are now ready to live.