The Weird Things We Do For Our Children

Those of you who know me and read this know I am not a cutesy voices type of person.  I do not read books with characters very well.  I can do high and low and maybe a little sing songy, but just not character cutesy! I’m not one very parentese, haha.

UNTIL LAST NIGHT when Lil’ Red refused to brush his teeth allow mom to brush his teeth. He wanted to “do myself” and “I do, I do!”  Well, me being the mom that I am decided that just isn’t good enough when all he does is suck off the toothpaste and doesn’t really move the toothbrush around.

(Yep, all my kids have done it, but we were able to stay on top of the others pretty well. This little guy is a different story.  He was super great about letting us brush his teeth or help brush his teeth until sometime this year.  Some nights we let it go so a major fight/meltdown did not ensue waking him up and keeping him wired for an extra 30-60 minutes.)

Back to last night, Lil’ Red had his Elmo toothbrush and did the clamped lip routine.  I held him on my lap and laid him across trying to hold his arms and gently wiggle the toothbrush in. Then I thought I might as well capitalize on his love of Elmo.

I TALKED IN A SQUEAKY little ELMO VOICE!! and it WORKED!   He opened his mouth so Elmo and mommy could clean his teeth.  I only had to talk a few more times like Elmo letting him know which area of his mouth needed cleaned next.