I never knew parenting would be so rewarding and yet so mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting at the same time. I feel like we have conquered a HUGE challenge in the last 36 hours, so much so, that I had to share.
Let me just give you a little peak into the beginning and the ending of a typical day's events which includes TEETH BRUSHING! Agghhhhh! This little bit of Maria personal hygiene has just about put me in the grave the last month or so (or however long, I am trying to put the memories out of my mind). When we first introduced teeth brushing to her, she was hooked. She loved it...mostly just loved sucking on the brush, but she did let me brush her teeth, without tears and wailing and backbends.
Now let's jump ahead to the last dreadful chapter of Maria Teeth Care. It has just been dreadful! I am a firm believer of good oral hygiene and since I am kissing little Maria's face all day, I do not want nasty breath coming from her either! Brushing teeth with Maria usually ends in me (or Ben) practically holding Maria in a head (forehead) lock and brushing her teeth while she scream and FREAKS out. I usually start crying too and Ben keeps his cool and I loose it just watching. It is pathetic on all parts.
Last week I asked my friend Becky if she had any tips to thwart this kind of behavior. (This is after I dropped Maria off at Becky's house at 6:50 in the morning to be taken care of while I worked all day. I was getting ready to turn in my Worst Mother of the Year application because of the tears and meltdowns (both Momma and child) that were had at 6:15 when I am pleading with Maria to brush her teeth, and then brushing them for her...you get the sad story...it was NOT a pretty sight, and I was feeling so bad and like such a bad mom.) Becky mentioned that her husband had bought their daughter a toothbrush that lights up and that they use yummy toothpaste.
So after work, I went straight to the store and found a light up (Firefly) toothbrush (that was cheaper than any of the other rip-off children brushes) and some Princess paste. Ben and I presented Maria with her 'hygiene gifts' on Sunday morning and SUCCESS!!! Maria brushed all by herself and enjoyed it, and we didn't have to medicate ourselves either (j/k)! She brushed her teeth again after church and afterward put the supplies in the drawer and turned to me and said, "Tank you Momma!"
I don't have much parenting advice, but this advice I do have: Just buy your child the Firefly flashing toothbrush and some cool toothpaste. You can even brush teeth in the dark (as seen above).
Let me just give you a little peak into the beginning and the ending of a typical day's events which includes TEETH BRUSHING! Agghhhhh! This little bit of Maria personal hygiene has just about put me in the grave the last month or so (or however long, I am trying to put the memories out of my mind). When we first introduced teeth brushing to her, she was hooked. She loved it...mostly just loved sucking on the brush, but she did let me brush her teeth, without tears and wailing and backbends.
Now let's jump ahead to the last dreadful chapter of Maria Teeth Care. It has just been dreadful! I am a firm believer of good oral hygiene and since I am kissing little Maria's face all day, I do not want nasty breath coming from her either! Brushing teeth with Maria usually ends in me (or Ben) practically holding Maria in a head (forehead) lock and brushing her teeth while she scream and FREAKS out. I usually start crying too and Ben keeps his cool and I loose it just watching. It is pathetic on all parts.
Last week I asked my friend Becky if she had any tips to thwart this kind of behavior. (This is after I dropped Maria off at Becky's house at 6:50 in the morning to be taken care of while I worked all day. I was getting ready to turn in my Worst Mother of the Year application because of the tears and meltdowns (both Momma and child) that were had at 6:15 when I am pleading with Maria to brush her teeth, and then brushing them for her...you get the sad story...it was NOT a pretty sight, and I was feeling so bad and like such a bad mom.) Becky mentioned that her husband had bought their daughter a toothbrush that lights up and that they use yummy toothpaste.
So after work, I went straight to the store and found a light up (Firefly) toothbrush (that was cheaper than any of the other rip-off children brushes) and some Princess paste. Ben and I presented Maria with her 'hygiene gifts' on Sunday morning and SUCCESS!!! Maria brushed all by herself and enjoyed it, and we didn't have to medicate ourselves either (j/k)! She brushed her teeth again after church and afterward put the supplies in the drawer and turned to me and said, "Tank you Momma!"
I don't have much parenting advice, but this advice I do have: Just buy your child the Firefly flashing toothbrush and some cool toothpaste. You can even brush teeth in the dark (as seen above).
4 comments:
We got them a vibrating one. They love it.
Your a much better parent than me, Meg! I'm afraid if I had a child rebel against tooth brushing like that, I would just not do it! As it is, Smitty throws gargantuan fits every time we bathe him and wash his hair, so the poor boy only gets cleaned about once a week and it is a MAJOR ordeal- so I sincerely feel ya, sista!
Success!!!
(I'm dreading the day...)
I was laughing out loud at this post! Not at you but at the fact that we have had tantrums in the past over this, (and I'm a freakin hygienist) so of course I feel your pain! anyway, way to go mama meg! We got the vibrating ones too and they like them and the yummy paste helps. You're doing a great job and will NEVER qualify for the worst mom of the year award! Miss you xoxx
(PS My brother used to hold his kids down and they screamed the whole time and he's a dentist. They all turned out fine :)
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