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Email a FriendPosted by Arwen Mosher on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008 1:15 PM (EDT):
Hahaha! Also, EW.
But I don’t think it’s your fault, Lisa. What’s that phrase? “Boys will be boys.” When Danielle’s are teenagers, maybe they’ll do the same thing!
Brotherly Love?
Looks like we need to have a little chat about oral hygiene!
Posted by Lisa Hendey in Family on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 11:30 AM
When I went into my sons’ bathroom this week to clean it, I was greeted by this note which I found perched between their two sinks.
Written in Adam’s most menacing handwriting, it warns his big brother to “STOP STEALING MY TOOTHBRUSH!!!” I love the “all caps” emphasis for added effect.
My first thought when I saw the note was, “Gross!” My second thought was of the lovely Danielle Bean, who manages the teeth of eight children (plus her own!) and blogged recently about the fact that her family’s toothbrushes are sanitized on a daily basis to eradicate creepy crawlies!
“Oh man, if anyone finds out about this I’m sure to get my invitation to Faith and Family Live revoked!” I thought to myself.
But these little episodes are too good to pass up. I called Adam and Eric into the bathroom and asked for an explanation. Eric copped to using his brother’s toothbrush, explaining that “Mine is downstairs, and I’m too busy to go get it!”
I’ll agree that my seventeen year old has been very busy lately, and has been working diligently. But I couldn’t keep a straight face when he seriously thought I was going to accept this excuse. First I sent him on the transcontinental journey to the downstairs bathroom to retrieve his own toothbrush. Then we discussed, once again, the importance of good oral hygiene and also the sanctity of “personal space” and respect for other members of the family. For those of you with little ones who are anxious to be through the diaper phase, just know that sometimes kids act like babies regardless of their chronological age!
Both boys were issued new, out of the box toothbrushes and a stern warning about “sharing” and “stealing”. No fistfights ensued, although a lot of germs were likely swapped in the process!
Danielle, I regret that in the area of toothbrush sanitization, I’m a failure!
Comments
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Posted by Danielle Bean on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008 1:38 PM (EDT):
Very cute! If you could see the drink sharing and binky swapping that has gone on around here over the last 13 years or so, though, you would not think I was so “sanitary” after all.
“Transcontinental journey” ... I love it. I say buy that poor child a spare toothbrush—one for each bathroom.
Posted by Kansas Mom on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008 2:07 PM (EDT):
We keep finding our daughter (who is only 2) using her toothbrush to “clean” the tub or sink. Ugh. We always throw them away and give her a new one, but who knows how often she does that and we don’t catch her. (Her older brother often forgets to close the door after he uses the bathroom.)
Posted by Lisa Hendey on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008 2:40 PM (EDT):
Y’all are making me feel like less of a mom-loser! Oh, and the extra toothbrush purchase thing happened at Walmart yesterday, so there should be no excuses! L.
Posted by Erin Bartholomy on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008 3:05 PM (EDT):
Lisa: TyTy is suddenly all into brushing his teeth. This weekend he kept running into the bathroom to retrieve his and Evan’s toothbrushes, handing one to Evan and saying “Evie, let’s brush teeth!” And Evan would enthusiastically join in. The only problem was, there was no attention paid to which toothbrush either boy was using, so there was lots of germ sharing to say the least. And Evan is often jealous of Tyler’s toothbrushes, if he thinks they are cooler than his. I want to know how Danielle sanitizes her toothbrushes, in the diswasher? I can totally see Evan (the older brother, like Eric) “stealing” Tyler’s (the younger brother like Adam) toothbrush and then making up an excuse about it.
Posted by Beth on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008 4:26 PM (EDT):
Okay, Lisa, so they “borrow” a toothbrush…big deal! LOOK at how younger brother is handling the situation!! Writing a note versus sneakily waiting for said culprit to come into the bathroom and pounce on him! WHAT IS YOUR SECRET??? Yes…the ‘all caps’ are a riot! That note is going in the memories box, right?
Thanks for sharing this with us!
Posted by Andi on Wednesday, Oct 15, 2008 8:29 AM (EDT):
My Grandpa came back home from WWII to his family of 13. His younger sister, Sis was preparing for her upcoming marriage at the time. About 2 weeks went by & she got married and moved to her new home. Suddenly Grandpa noticed “his” toothbrush was missing. He confronted her on her “mistake” and they got a good laugh. They had been using the same toothbrush for 2 weeks! See Lisa…this has been an ongoing problem in American families for at least 60 years!!
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