Anna left on her excellent European vacation today.Take that, any readers who think we are just so mean to our daughter, by the way...
Yesterday Anna and I managed to get through the suitcase purchase and the shoes-suitable-for-walking-through-European-cities purchase without any blood spilled whatsoever. It was amazing. I began to fantasize that maybe things were getting better between us; maybe, just maybe, she could actually stand being around me. What brought me back to reality was watching her put her packed suitcases in our friend's car (aka the escape vehicle). I swear, I never saw her move so fast.
I made her come back for a good-bye hug, though.
Oh, and you want to hear something amazing? Unlike every other grown person alive, Anna doesn't need to floss her teeth. Ever. Really! She told me so. Isn't that great?
I made her pack the floss anyway. Because I'm an annoying old lady with nothing better to do than harass my teen daughter. It's sad, really. Why don't I get a life?
My husband doesn't floss, either. I don't know how he can live that way.
ReplyDeleteOnly as an annoying old lady herself will Anna understand the need for flossing... and that will be as the dentist is filling cavities between her teeth. In the meantime, welcome her back with lots of corn-on-the-cob. That always gets me to floss!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the relative peace of the next few weeks, and may she miss her mommy (and dare to tell you so).
This is going to be great for her (and her rotted teeth).
ReplyDeleteone day she will thank you - NOBODY doesn't need to floss.
ReplyDeleteENJOY your blessed vacay.
Anna can join both my grown children getting root canals and crowns one day with all the money she will save not buying dental floss now. Ask me how I, a child who never flossed either, know this!
ReplyDeleteI don't know, I have to side with Anna on this one. If she isn't going to floss (whether she needs to or not) then why carry it around?
ReplyDeleteBut maybe that is because I'm only 25 and therefore probably still have some frontal lobe stuff going on. Ok...I'll shut up now.
Anon - I can't say I disagree with you. But, as I pointed out, I'm an annoying old lady...
ReplyDeleteIn other words, I know it was useless making her take it; but sometimes we parents can get pretty illogical, especially after years of shelling out mega-bucks to ensure that our heedless progeny are sporting beautiful smiles as adults.
Wouldn't it be great if when she grows up she marries a dentist? He will make her floss.
ReplyDeleteShe's a lucky girl, and not just because she's getting a trip to Europe.
ReplyDeleteThese posts (and their comments) are totally cracking me up.
ReplyDeleteWay to go, Mom (or annoying old lady)...make her pack the floss. She'll NEED floss one day anyway, as does my 36 year old husband who never thought floss was important. After many root canals and other terrible procedures, he believes in floss.
I hope you told her that of course she doesn't have to floss ALL of her teeth - just the ones she wants to keep!
ReplyDeleteMy mother always says "Be true to your teeth or they will become false to you." (She has a way of clacking her false teeth about in her mouth while saying this, to great effect. My kids are TERRIFIED to omit flossing their teeth.)
ReplyDeleteI hope she has a great trip! She'll think of you every time she sees the floss in her bag. Who knows, maybe its chic to floss in europe and she'll pick up the habit.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking about putting my 8 y/o onto a plane headed East for a couple of weeks. I'm hoping the time away will make our hearts grow fonder. I'll pop in and find out how things went with your teen!
ReplyDeleteHave I mentioned how much I'm NOT looking forward to the teen years when 7-8 is kicking my ass?! Ack!
When do you get to go on your European vacation?
Besides, if she has the floss, she can hotwire some sort of MacGyver escape route when she needs to get away to the clubs and pubs in Europe;)
ReplyDeleteI'm ready to shove Shortman's headphones into his teeth, so enjoy your time (I'm sure Anna will enjoy hers!)
ReplyDeleteyeah, when is it time for your european vacation? i can offer a bed for 2 in my home in germany. only an hour to dresden, an hour to berlin 4 hours to frankfurt. let alone all the cheap airline opportunities....think about it!
ReplyDeletefranzi
of note- I don't floss but use that Oral B tooth brush (the electric one) with these plastic things in between the bristles...each time I go in for my cleaning my hygienist tells me what GREAT job I do with my cleaning and flossing...I just smile and say - yeah sure! :) I bought the same one for my kid...I just can't stand the string thingie...and don't have problem teeth- never have. :)
ReplyDeleteHope Anna has a grand ole time
Oh, I hope she has the greatest time ever. How exciting at her age.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the peace and lack of eye rolling.
I am happy for your daughter . . . and you're a really great Mom :)
ReplyDeleteTo you and Anna both--Let's get this party started!
ReplyDeleteUhhhh dude? She thru away the floss, if I'm remembering my life correctly and good teeth come from flouridation and genetics.
ReplyDelete