Skip to main content

Keeping it Clean

I didn't completely freak out today when I caught one of the girls sucking down toothpaste like it was a Go-Gurt. I think I'm growing up.  Or becoming desensitized to "gross."  It's not like she didn't already use her brother's toothbrush...which has spent half of it's life on the bathroom floor.  It's fine.  We've already had every sickness.  We are just working on rebuilding healthy immune systems.

I'm not trying to raise filthy animals, but I'm not doing a very good job of not raising filthy animals.  We recently discovered a shocking lack of soap use by the boys.  We are now very specific when we tell them to wash-up for meals.  

"Boys, wash your hands, with soap and water, and dry them on a towel before you come and eat."  Sometimes we have to repeat the details...twice, but we are getting there.  

We are still working on the niceties' of using napkins instead of clothing and tissues instead of hands or sleeves.  Clean underwear everyday is still a novelty.  "Changing is the worst!" They told me today.  They recently erased their booger wall (thank you Magic Erasers!) and are becoming better at hygiene basics day by day.  I didn't realize when I signed up for this parenting gig, exactly how purposeful and specific we would have to be about each aspect of keeping oneself clean.       

Come to think of it, there are a lot of things I didn't realize.

There, that could be the topic of a book: What you Didn't Know, You Didn't Know.  And the kids could write it because by the time they are about six, they know everything already...Maybe that's just my kids.

Speaking of being a know-it-all, my five-year-old told me yesterday that even though they are grounded right now from hoses (long story), he wasn't worried because I'd forget soon anyway. Say what?!  The time I put him in timeout and forgot about him, is coming back to haunt me.  

My point is, even if we look like we have it together, even if we appear clean on the outside, it's possible we are still wearing the same undies we had on two days ago; we are all just a work in progress. 

Keep the faith.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Advanced Placement

 Not to brag or anything, but I think we are raising some very advanced children.  At two-years-of-age, our girls have already worked out the art of manipulation and deflection.  It's the antithesis of endearing.   They went missing the other day - the girls did.  That's never a good situation.  They were in the house, and I knew they were in the house, but I couldn't see or hear them.  Silence is the loudest alarm system.  Fischer took action and found them both in my bathroom.   "MOM!" I met them in the hall.  Carter was covered in clumps and blobs of hand cream. "Emi did it," was her unsolicited response.   "No," I told her.  "I think you  did it." That night I got ready for bed and pulled out my one "self-care" splurge - my face cream .  It was in my drawer where I always keep it.  The lid was screwed on.  And it was empty, wiped clean.  "EmmmeerrrrrSON!" Guilty.  They were both ...
2 comments
Read more

Little Bit Dicey

 This might be a little controversial.  I try to steer clear of such topics in this space, but it needs to be said.  Take it as you will, but know that it comes from a place of love, concern, and respect.  Here it is: there is a right  way to cut an onion. Now, I'm not saying this to try and get anyone's dander up.  I'm just saying it's a subject that needs to be addressed in kitchens across America.  There may be more than one right way to skin a cat (I can't say I've tested that), but the same does not hold true for onions.  Please, you can teach an old dog new tricks - learn how to properly cut an onion.  It will save you time, frustration, onion tears, and possibly a finger.     Now, since I'm still sitting here on blogspot like it's 2003, I'm not going to post any how-to videos, but I'll do the next best thing.  I'll paste a link right here .    Check it out.  Practice it.  Make it a habit.  T...
Post a Comment
Read more

Staycation

 We recently had to spend some time at home as a family because: Covid.  I don't hate being stuck at home, but it was not exactly the greatest timing.  When is it a good time to be sick?  There were some things that the kids were especially sad to miss out on, but I made up for it by letting them have cereal for breakfast.  That pretty much heals all wounds in our house.  I guess they are tired of option oatmeal.   Anyway, between that and some extra screen time, we came out smelling like lilies - almost as good as roses.     Looking at the bright side of things, it also saved me from having to see people face to face while my face exploded.  Why, pray tell, am I almost forty with the acne of a fourteen year-old?  I am currently sporting a second chin.  You're welcome for my staying at home.   When I was younger...much younger, somebody said that having skin that tended to be on the oily end of the spectrum woul...
Post a Comment
Read more