Random hygiene/health thoughts

I got my teeth checked and cleaned this morning. I love it when they are so smooth and I can feel the air between them in the front. Silly I know. I do take good care of my teeth. I smile a lot and gross teeth are a real turn off for me. Maman was always a stickler for good hygiene even if we didn't have much money and trendy clothes, we took care of our bodies inside and out. OUt of habit when we would say our prayers, we would thank Heavenly Father for our health, etc. everytime. Only today do I realize fully what a blessing health is. Maybe it's good genes, maybe it's good habits, but rarely do any of us get sick, whether in this family (Don, the kids and I) or my first family (my parents and siblings). I have learned to be tolerant of those who do not enjoy great health (mental or physical) and especially not to take this gift for granted anymore.
Who says aging is bad? I'd rather be old and wiser than young and foolish.

By the way what is it with boys and hygiene? Is it so bad to be clean and smell good? I have 3 little boys, one started to develop body odor a couple of years back. What's up with that? He was only 9.5 when he started. Do you think it would make a difference that I can't stand being close to him when he doesn't wash? Nope. He couldn't care less. Geesh, the deodorant we bought for him even expired. I didn't even know deodorants had an expiration date. Well apparently they lose their effectiveness after a couple of years! Not that I or his father would know since ours don't last that long. Add that to the recurrent jokes on bodily functions and you're served! I feel bad for anyone who has more boys than I have around in close succession. They are a bad influence on each other.
Teach by example is what I try to do here, but I'm not very successful, so I nag. I'm really good at that. I don't know if it's an effective teaching method, but it gets results everyonce in a while, at least with the children. Another way to get it done is to do it myself. They don't care too much for their mother to come in the bathroom and scrub them. Oh well, maybe they'll see my point one day hopefully before they are grown men and woman.
Yuck I hate dirty & smelly things. I don't like messes. But that's for another day.

PS: We have proof though that washing can be rewarding experience: Don caught Nathan singing a happy song in the shower.