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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

How many time’s do you ask teenage DS/DSS to brush teeth etc at age 13

16 replies

AliceRR · 08/09/2018 22:34

Just that.

Do you ask your teenage sons (or daughters) to have a shower, brush teeth, wash hands etc at this age or do you leave them to it.

My Mum didn’t ask me to do any of hedge things at that age but maybe it’s a girl / boy thing.

I asked DSS to get in the shower and brush his teeth about four times before he actually did it. He just said “ok” but didn’t move. I think he was tired but if left to own devices he sometimes doesn’t brush his teeth all weekend that he is here!

But I took him to the cinema earlier and we both had sweets and popcorn so I particularly wanted him to brush his teeth!

OP posts:

BarbraDear · 08/09/2018 22:41

DS16 had to be constantly reminded to brush his teeth/wash etc at that age. It went on for months, maybe even a year or more before he finally started doing it without needing reminded.

DS12 is there now. Every day is the same nagging from me and him saying he will try to remember next time but it doesn't happen and I have to keep telling him to do it. Drives me batty but knowing that DS1 did it too and they do eventually get there makes me feel a little better.

familygermsareok · 08/09/2018 22:44

Depends on whether they need reminded. DS16 is never out the bathroom, empties the hot tank with his prolonged showers and never forgets to brush teeth at least twice daily. Has been like this since about age 10.
DS14 would probably never shower or do teeth if unprompted. Shower is morning routine on school days but he often skips at weekends if he thinks he can get away with it and I nearly always have to remind him re teeth daily.
Both need a bit of a shove to get out of bed though!

cariadlet · 08/09/2018 22:48

I still need to remind my dd and she's 15!

ILoveDolly · 08/09/2018 22:53

I think my 12 yo dd would live permanently without washes or tooth brushing if not reminded

TammyTwoSawnson · 08/09/2018 22:54

Every morning and night. And I check and make him do it again if I think he's fibbing about having done it.

I don't know what it is about teeth brushing, but he honestly wouldn't have a tooth left in his head if I didn't make him brush.

He showers without prompting every morning, so I just don't get why the teeth thing is such an issue.

ThanosSavedMe · 08/09/2018 22:55

Omfg. Constantly and it drives me mad.

TwitterQueen1 · 08/09/2018 22:56

Quite simple really - tell them their breath stinks and no-one will ever want to kiss them.

Harsh? absolutely, but it will make them do it.

MadameButterface · 08/09/2018 22:57

Of the teens in my family, it’s my dniece who live like mr trebus and my dnephew who’s never out of the bathroom, so not a boy/girl thing at all (from my sample size of two)

DayKay · 08/09/2018 22:58

Never to brush his teeth but sometimes to have a shower. He’ll do it without being reminded again. I think it’s just laziness.

Original poster

AliceRR · 08/09/2018 22:58

@TammyTwoSawnson Well at least he showers! I get the tooth brushing in a way, don’t get me wrong, I brush my teeth twice a day, but I do find it a chore and don’t enjoy it, whereas showering I don’t find a chore 🤔

I feel bad asking again and again but I know he’ll just ignore us if he thinks we will not mention it again...

OP posts:

BarbaraHepworth · 08/09/2018 23:04

None of my brush teeth unprompted apart from one who does on school mornings.
That one also manages to shower every school morning. Likes a routine.

I think I was probably about 16 before I did my teeth twice a day without being nagged.

You reap what you sow 😂😂.

Ivaidea · 08/09/2018 23:04

DD(14) has known since the age of 10 that a daily morning shower is non-negotiable. In the evenings she takes off her make-up , cleanses her face then brushes her teeth. It helps that there are some stinky kids at school and she doesn't want to be one of them!

llangennith · 08/09/2018 23:26

I hoped this would happen naturally as DGS matured but he's 10 and still makes a fuss about cleaning his teeth. Says "I've done them." (Lies)
"Then do them again."
"So you want me to clean them again?"
"Yes"
Eventually he does them while moaning that he shouldn't have to do them twice.
At the moment he's young enough to be made to bath or shower but I dread to think how stinky he'll be if this continues.

Tatapie · 08/09/2018 23:50

All the time, every day I ask ( twice a day, numerous occasions if necessary.) DS 15 will attempt to lie but I can spot it! Nag nag nag!
DD 13 bit better but will still Forget

Largepiecesofcrookedwood · 09/09/2018 00:19

Due to our background DS has bathed or showered every day (since birth) so the idea of not showering simply doesn't occur to him (apart from scout camp ) The application of shampoo and shower gel is more of an issue, as he still harks back to the days when mere running water was enough!
Teeth cleaning has always been done regularly but with varying degrees of diligence. A rather severe public dressing down by the orthodontist/ hygienist lady and an enforced appointment to be taught how to clean his teeth correctly seems to have solved that problem thankfully

BrokenWing · 09/09/2018 00:24

Ds(14) is just in the habit of showering and brushing teeth every morning for the last couple of years.

He sometimes forgets at night and then will get up 15 mins after going to bed and do it.

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