Straight Teeth & Starving Children

My daughter has had braces for a while, since 6th grade. She's now in 9th grade and they are coming off in a few months. I can see how straight her teeth are now underneath the wires, and I am glad.

Her mouth was so raggedy-looking, gaps in some parts and bunched-up teeth in others. Teeth behind teeth, eye-teeth snaking high out from the top gums. She took to smiling with her hand over her mouth. A pretty girl, she looked completely different when she opened her mouth. Even the orthodontist winced when he first saw her mouth, and I'm sure he's seen some awful sets of teeth.

I just want my kid to have a nice smile. Is that too much to ask? Still I feel a twinge of guilt every time I make a payment on her teeth.

I'm the type that acts all offended at glow- in-the-dark-yogurt at the store. I'm the type that tries to spend consciously. I'm the type that says think of all the starving children.

And I'm the type willing to spend what will amount to thousands of dollars on making sure my children have dazzling, straight, prep-school teeth.

Teeth of privilige. Are they teeth of selfishness on my part? Denial? Wouldn't this money be better spent donated to charity?

Sigh. Still, I plan to have my boys teeth straightened if they need it as well.