Copyright: nolan777 / 123RF Stock Photo
Well, whatever it's next to, it isn't my son! Today was the third "nail in the coffin" for Luke being able to be trusted to go to his room, take a shower, and brush his teeth. The conversation:
Me: Did you brush your teeth?
Luke: Yes.
Me: (sniffs his breath, does not smell mint) Did you use toothpaste?
Luke: (dead silence, no eye contact)
REALLY??!!! This comes on the heels of having to tell him sometime in August that YES, he has to use soap every time he takes a shower. And just last week, he got out of the shower, and the top of his head wasn't even wet. "Did you wash your hair?" I got a very indignant "yes, I put the shampoo right back here" (pointing to the inch of hair at the base of his neck). ARGH!!
So I have now added yet a third item to my standard spiel:
- Wash your entire external body with soap and water.
- Every hair on your head needs to come into contact with both water and shampoo.
- Your teeth do not count as brushed and clean unless you use toothpaste.
frustrated
So... way back in the day, when my dad was a single parent, my brother was pulling the same stunts involving personal hygiene (at about the same age as Luke, actually).
ReplyDeleteMy dad got so exasperated, he declared they would share the shower (it was not small) so that he could supervise my brother and make sure he cleaned himself completely. I found it (and still find it) hilarious. I think it took a few showers for my brother to realize my father was dead serious and it killed that problem pretty quickly.
I don't know why I shared that, but every time I hear of one of my parented friends having this issue, that memory pops into my head.
Good luck!