Click!
I’d sent my 7YO to go brush his teeth and after he shut the door, I heard the click of the door lock.
Now it might not be weird for people to lock bathroom doors in your house, but it is around here. In fact, with my boys, it is weird if they even shut the door at all. Just be prepared, should you ever come to visit.
So, I knew something was up.
I hear water running and all the usuals of teeth brushing. But, that click…
He comes out.
“Did you brush your teeth?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“Did you use toothpaste?”
“Yes.” Shifty eyes.
“Let me smell your breath.”
He uses watermelon toothpaste so sometimes it can be difficult to discern whether or not he’s brushed his teeth or eaten a piece of candy.
He breathes in my face. Hmm…
“You didn’t use toothpaste! Now get back in there and brush your teeth again.”
“Yes, I did! You just couldn’t smell it!”
A retort! Not his usual defense. Must employ elevated tactics.
“Well, let me smell your toothbrush!” Evil mother eyes.
Busted!
His mouth turns up into that little upside down grin that says, “She knows!”
“Uh huh! Now get back in there and brush your teeth! And do it RIGHT this time!”
Often I feel like my own private investigator. I feel like I’m both the good cop and bad cop. I feel like I live with a bunch of criminals just waiting to break Mommy Law. And now it seems they do so and then lie to me about it.
Will they proceed from not using toothpaste and on to a life of organized crime?
Or will my detective work moments serve to build a conscience that will speak to them when I’m retired?
Will I ever be able to retire??
Just another day in the life of the Toothpaste Detective.
Hope your pearly whites are minty (or at least watermelony) fresh today!
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One day they will see the light, (at least as far as tooth brushing is concerned), and you can retire your Deerstalker and Magnifying glass. (I just traveled all the way to Seattle to see my dentist because my teeth are so important to me now.)
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