Preteens and Braces: Responsibility

Let’s face it – kids love candy. O.K., I know a kid or two who can take or leave candy. My teen regularly throws away all but a few pieces of Halloween, Valentine’s, and Easter candy. Who is this kid, anyway? But for my preteen, candy is scrumptious. When she got braces a month ago, I worried about how she would cope with not being able to eat candy.

The preteen is a candy-a-holic. If it is chocolate…gooey…chewy…gummy…and sweet, she is all over it. The gummier and gooier the better. She has been known to eat her own candy and any other candy she can get her hands on. Until last month.

Last month she got braces on her top teeth. We knew she would get them eventually. She knew she would be getting braces. The teen has been in braces for over two years. We prepared our tween. We talked to her about not eating chewy or hard candy. We stressed that if she ate chewy or hard candy, the brackets on her teeth might break. Even after all our discussions and chats, I wasn’t sure how she would handle her new responsibilities.

I was pleasantly surprised to see her take the instructions about what candy not to eat seriously. She told both grandparents that she could not eat caramel, nuts, Skittles, Starburst, jaw breakers, and many other ooey, gooey, sticky treats. She allowed herself a couple of Twixes and some Dip-n-Stix. She sucked on, but did not bite into, the Dip-n-Stix stick.

I was impressed by how she handled all that was required of her and her new braces. I have not had to ask her to brush her teeth once! It was good to see her showing newfound responsibility.

Has your preteen surprised you with something he or she has done? Did your preteen do anything this year that he/she would not ahve done last year? For instance, working on a homework assignment ahead of the due date? Showering without being asked to? Cleaning her room? Leave a comment. 

When not pestering her kids to do chores she would rather not do, Jill blogs about her messy house at Musings from Me. Jill blogs about raising a family in D.C. She writes about raising tweens in Baltimore, too, since she lives between D.C. and Baltimore!

Related posts:

1. Car Safety and Preteens
2. School is a different world for preteens
3. Preteens Are Helpful
4. Bedtime Routine for Preteens
5. Middle School Back-to-School Night for Parents of Preteens