08.23.10
5

It’s hard to believe that almost three years ago to the day, I was feverishly reading all the what you need to know about your baby books in anticipation for the arrival of Prince Baby-Ko. As I made mental lists and actual lists (God, I miss having the time to be anal retentive), I’m pretty sure I declared a whole lot of sheeeyaat that I absolutely thought I would never do….

Yup. At the time, I was pretty sure that *I* would never be the one to discourage teeth brushing at bed time.
Cue 2 weeks ago…
I’m marching Baby-Ko in to his room after his third attempt to escape and stall what should not come as a surprise after 3 years on this planet:
“Baby-Ko. It. Is. Bed. Time.”
“But… but… Wait a minute, mommy. We forgot to brush my teeth.”
Totally in his room, and in the-perfect head on shoulder- body relaxing- pacifier in mouth- I might miss a golden opportunity to put this kid to bed once and for all if I don’t seize this opportunity right now-moment, I choked:
“Uh, that’s okay. Not tonight.”
“But I want to brush my teeth,” he said trying to squirm out of my arms.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Your teeth are too tired. They just can’t do it.”
“My teeth are too tired?”
“Yes, exhausted. It’s night night time.”
Please, buy it.
His head settled back down.
Phew.
No. No. I did not think, based on the hours I spent in prenatal yoga, chanting to the gods of sun and powerful vaginas that I, a woman seeking natural and no interventions childbirth, would so naturally and effortlessly intervene my own child’s right to dental hygiene with silly lies (that would selfishly bring me one step closer to leftover Chinese food).
And I most certainly did not think, after working full time and having my son in day care full time for the past 2 years that Baby-Ko starting preschool would get me farklempt.
But alas, here I am. Lying, lazy, teary and all.
In just a few weeks, Baby-Ko will start preschool…. Gulp. So many thoughts running through my mind and I’m sure that I will write a post as the big back to school day actually approaches. But in the meantime, I wanted to share a promotion that we’re running on Parents Ask. Winner will get $250 gift certificate to Old Navy. (Good stuff, huh?!) So spread the word, leave a comment (on the video/link) and tell us what your favorite back to school ritual is.
Also, tell me that you didn’t notice said chinese food leftovers/container on the stove in the background as it is making me crazy. Hmm, maybe there is hope for my anal retentiveness after all….

FILED UNDER: A Little Life
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Comments

  1. Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
    Hair gets tired too you know... and also, sometimes moms get too tired to argue about whether or not a bathing suit really constitutes as underwear and an undershirt too.
    I'm just saying...
  2. Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
    Does it count if my "ritual" is non-ceremoniously handing them off to their teachers and literally sprinting back to the car so I can utilize and cherish every nanosecond of kid-freedom?

    (Well... almost freedom. The twins will be napping, so it's a half-freedom.)

    As for your post, I am so glad I'm not the only one guilty of occasionally talking my kid out of teeth brushing. Tired teeth, huh? I'm going to have to remember that one... ;)
  3. Thursday, August 26th, 2010
    If you've ever read The Kissing Hand, you'll get it...I draw a heart in my little guy's palm with a Sharpee. Then I tuck in a kiss for the day.
  4. G
    Sunday, August 29th, 2010
    There is nothing in the world that I love than watching my son (now 4 1/2) grab my daughter's head (she is almost 8) and pull her in for a goodbye kiss on her first day as he tells her he'll be waiting "RIGHT HERE" for her when she comes home. The kids began when he was one and he makes a big deal of it every year - reminding her she can't leave without it. Note: The kiss is ONLY good on the first day of school. All other kisses are given after MUCH begging.
  5. Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
    i want to borrow the "teeth are too tired" please... it's brilliant.