Wednesday, October 26, 2011

I Nag About as Well as I Floss: My son just went to the dentist, and miracle of miracles, he did not get a lecture about brushing more. Which is a good thing, because nagging him to brush has been a source of some tension lately. I've been feeling like a terrible parent when, at the end of the day, tired and lazy, I take him at his word when he says he's brushed even though I'm reasonably sure he's done no such thing. In the morning, rushing to get to school, I also believe him when he goes into the bathroom for five seconds and assures me he brushed. Calling him out for a liar in these instances generally starts a spiral of nagging and digging in that sets both of us on edge, so I guiltily put it in the "battles I will not fight" basket. It's a huge blessing that he apparently has teeth that really don't care so much either way.

2 comments:

Jennifer Bristow said...

After 19 years, I can say it's good to pick your fights. Especially when you don't know how long you have with a person. Good for you to know when its your time to "let it go".

Terri Mauro said...

Thanks, Jen! I remember writing an article on tips for mainstreaming your morning routine a while back, and suggesting that if tooth-brushing was causing excess stress you could skip it, and some readers were scandalized. Teeth are important, but getting my son to school as calm and in control as possible is way more so. He can always brush later. Theoretically.