We are struggling with out teenage son. (Quelle surprise!) One of our constant battles is with daily tasks, things like washing his hair with actual shampoo, brushing his teeth, and putting trash bags into cans he has emptied. Three times in less than a week, he has left for school without brushing his teeth.
I am entertaining productive suggestions on how to drive this point home with him. Is there an appropriate punishment for forgetting? Is there an appropriate negative reward? I refuse to actually reward daily hygiene in a fourteen year old.
I did however agree to purchase "Tag" deodorant for him this afternoon, because he really likes the smell of their product. If it means that he might actually consider putting some on even half the time before he goes to school, I'd be thrilled.
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2 comments:
This kind of stuff has natural consequences. We tell ours what's expected, enforce a bare minimum (shower and shampoo once a week, reminder about deodorant and teeth brushing), and leave it at that. If he stinks, his buddies will eventually let him know, and probably unmercifully. Interest in girls improves hygeine eventually -- even our guy makes sure to shower before club meetings where his current interest is going to be. But truthfully, that kind of thing will take care of itself. As to the trash, if he is the only one who has to empty it, and it gets nasty, and he has to wash the trashcans, he will eventually figure out what makes it easier (like putting in new trashbags).
My father always said he wished he has stock in the Breck shampoo company. There are 3 of us girls and we were always washing out hair or taking a shower. My own boys now 21 and 17 avoided hygeine in there early teens but came around when girls were noticed. Let's face it, the male is the grungier of the sexes.
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