My husband and I had just finished tucking our four young ones into bed one evening when we heard sobbing coming from three-year-old Erics room.

Rushing to his side, we found him crying hysterically. He had accidentally swallowed a penny and was sure he was going to die. No amount of talking could change his mind.

Desperate to calm him, my husband palmed a penny that he happened to have in his pocket and pretended to pull it from Erics ear.Eric was delighted.

In a flash, he snatched it from my husbands hand, swallowed it and demanded cheerfully, Do it again, Dad!