One of my insecurities has always been my teeth. Just to give a little history, I had 5 years worth of braces throughout junior high clear into nearly my senior year of high school. And to complete the job, my orthodontist wouldn’t remove the braces until I received oral-maxillofacial surgery (realignment of the jaw - both jaws to be exact). On New Year’s Eve, I endured a few hours’ out-patient surgery, and ended up with 28 plates and screws in my face (all interior) and my jaw wired shut – for three weeks. I lived off of apple juice for about a month until I could actually chew, lost 20 pounds in the process, but eventually showed off a gorgeous, perfect smile!
Well, with a perfect smile, you don’t want to taint it with more metal, compliments of the plastic retainer. So, you guessed it, the retainers were a thing of the past and over the years, I thought my indestructible smile would never change. I was wrong.
Throughout the past few months, I had been debating whether or nor to go through the torture of braces again - the sore teeth, the lips that turn into raw hamburger, the self-consciousness of smiling with added hardware… Ad helped me make my decision.
About a month ago, she chose to watch a little bit of “How the Grich Stole Christmas” with Jim Carrey while I put C8 to bed. I eventually joined her at the part of the Grinch’s “theme song”. Remember this line? “you’re a mean one Mr. Grinch, you have termites in your smile…”
Without skipping a beat, Ad, with eyebrows furrowed in disgust, says, “Mom, his teeth look just like yours!” That’s all it took.
On Friday, I received my new full set of braces – and now I wonder if this torture of pain from sore teeth and hamburger lips is worth it. Then I look at the picture of the Grinch again…
**Has your child ever been known to say something somewhat less tactful?**
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I don’t think your teeth ever looked even close to the Grinch’s, but I can see how a comment like that would motivate you to action!
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Camille you have the best best smile I have never noticed anything wait so you are doing braces?!
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I remember a time when my daughter said something less tactful in the store. Let’s just say it has something to do with a baby and a monkey. Need I say more?
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I know this thread has been closed for quite a while, but I am a retired NICU nrse,and have to share this. When my DD was about 4, I had reason to attend a (former) patient’s funeral. The baby who had passed was 4 moth’s old and only had frown to about 4 lbs. Needless t say, the casket was small,white with a pink satin ribbon on the top and hand carried into ( and out of) the church by the baby’s father. My daughter behaved OUTSTANDINGLY during the entire service, and, at the completion of the Mass, when the father, carrying his baby girl’s casket, was just passing us up the center aisle on his way out of the church, my darling piped up ( in her not too Church voice) ” mom, there is just one thing I don;t understand… what do you suppose they got in the box?” Ever want to melt away right on the spot?????
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