Dirty face...

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Dirty face...
16
Mon, 05-21-2007 - 10:44pm

Hi all,
Ok, this certainly isn't the most pressing issue in our lives, but it is something that we have to deal with constantly. My nearly 8 y.o. son always has a dirty face and I worry that kids will make fun of him for this. He has a tough enough time socially as is, and I don't want a visual reminder for the other kids that reminds them that my boy isn't a desirable playmate. I have reminded him until I'm blue in the face. I have put a little mirror in his lunch box, w/ tissues, etc. etc. I even tell him that he needs to keep his face clean because of how important it is for sanitary reasons and also for social reasons. He knows it, but he always forgets. He has a very high IQ, but as you know, he doesn't know simple day to day things that we do as social norms.

So, do any of you have this w/ your child? If so, how have you dealt w/ it? Even if you haven't, but if you're creative enough to think of something....I'd love to know about it.

Thanks!
Irene

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
In reply to: kootya
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 4:22pm

My biggest deal with Josh at 12, always knowing what he had for lunch and seeing it still there. Well we are not that bad. But chocolate, ice cream and other simialr items we need reminders to wipe our face. Also to wash our hands after using the bathroom. But to make al feel better, even my NT kids will try to bypass the sink after they used the bathroom.

I have been thinking of throwing some wet naps in his backpack. But josh buys his lunch and he may not see his backpack till time to go home but for those who bring in there lunch do you think throwing a couple of wet naps into the lunch box might help as a reminder?

Another issue I have with Josh is when he drinks ,doesn't matter from a water bottle, straw just from the cup we have major backwash issues. I always have to make sure Josh has his own bottle, beverage. Sharing these items with Josh is not a good thing unless you want to take a chance on the particles floating make it back into you rmouth.

How do we sole that problem.

Rina

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
In reply to: kootya
Tue, 05-22-2007 - 11:31pm

The wet wipes might work for some kids, but they did nothing for my dd, even when I put one in her lunch sack. I even got the "cool" looking ones with fancy scents. They mostly ended up getting thrown away unused.

As far as backwashing, so does my 12yo (8yo isn't quite as bad thankfully), so I don't know how to solve the backwash problem. Blech! I didn't even know you COULD backwash in a water bottle with a sports pull-top cap until I had her! We also just make sure she has her own drink container. At least they don't complain about their own backwash.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-10-2006
In reply to: kootya
Wed, 05-23-2007 - 9:39am
Hi!
We have this too with Nick. He could go all week without a bath if I let him, which is why we do baths every other day unless he is really dirty. Plus it is impossible to get him in the bathtub, he will fight me tooth and nail and it causes me to grow an ulcer each time! I do make him wash his hands before dinner because I can see the dirt on his hands as he plays outside before dinner, plus he likes to draw on his hands with markers at school so that helps. I also wash his face, hands, feet and bottom before bed (he protests the whole time), but I will turn the tv off if he doesnt let me. I also keep his fingernails and toenails short so it isnt quite as gross looking. That is a whole 'nother barrel of fun to do. We also buzz cut his hair so it doesnt look as scraggly if he wont let me wash it and it is amazing if you take a little sprinkly of baby powder and fluff it up, makes it smell really nice. As far as backwash, he now gets his own small bottle of water as I mistakenly drank from mine after he did and nearly gagged! I dont know how he will be at school this fall, he is oblivious to food on his face. Hopefully his teacher will help him out and wipe his face for him so he wont be able to eat lunch for snack later on. And maybe some day bath will get easier!
Christine

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Christine

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
In reply to: kootya
Wed, 05-23-2007 - 10:24am

Thanks everyone. I had no idea that so many other moms have to deal with similar issues. I'm not giving up on my son, that's for sure. It reminds me of that saying that many parents have to ask their kids: "How many times do I have to ask you to ____ before you do it?" I guess the simple answer really IS: "as long as it takes."

Again, thanks so much for taking the time to help me out and to share your stories. It really does help so much.

Hugs,
Irene

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: kootya
Wed, 05-23-2007 - 12:35pm

Well, I have to tell Henry (7yo ds) every single morning that I HAVE TO brush his teeth, so other kids won't tease him about having stinky breath, and I HAVE TO wipe the poptart and stuff off his face so the other kids won't laugh at him for having crud on his face.


He's actually gotten better about wiping the orange Cheeto stuff off his hands after lunch. He even asked me to put a napkin in his lunch bag.


Henry would NEVER do anything hygiene-related if I didn't force him. And when I'm not here at bedtime, dh doesn't even think of it.


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
In reply to: kootya
Wed, 05-23-2007 - 1:48pm
I totally feel your frustration w/ the situation. It's one of those things that people take for granted and it seems so minute, and yet, it can really get to us day in and day out. Maybe one day, they'll be more self-sufficient. After all, I've heard that .75% of the engineers in Silicon Valley have AS (don't know if that's true) and I used to live out there and never noticed any adult w/ a mess on their face! ;)

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