So, I did something today to teach my child the importance of dental hygene. This morning I told him he had to brush his teeth. He fought me. He's got a cavity in every tooth and the dental bill is gonna cost about $2700. We have no dental insurance. So brushing is important. I told him I saw a picture of a person who had such a bad cavity that it ate away half his face! I didn't show him the picture, I just told him about it.
Right about now, I'm having memories of my father. He took me to see the Texas Chainsaw Massacre when I was in kindergarten. That was about 1978 or so. I'm OK today, I just have a phobia of chainsaws and demonic possession. Why demonic possession? Well, when VCRs first became popular, my dad got a copy of The Exorcist. I sat and watched it with him. I was six years old. He reassured me that it wasn't real and it was all make-up, pea soup and a doll spinning it's head around. He showed me that scene where she pukes on the priest about 20 times to show me how it was just pea soup coming from a doll. So, yeah, I don't eat pea soup either... This was quality time with my dad.
It's interesting that I had nightmares about The Exorcist until I was 12 and it's now one of my favorite movies. I still get scared watching it in the dark and by myself. Just the opening titles gives me the chills. Texas Chainsaw Massacre, not so much. I couldn't watch that movie again until I was a sophomore in college. I was amazed at the level of detail I remembered that movie. Every minute until the end was burned into my memory like I was the one experiencing it. I don't ever need to see that movie again.
Funko Figures are my son's favorite toys. They are so cute and funny looking! You can buy a Funko in almost any character from a game, movie or cartoon. I'm trying to get him to pick the Beatles Funkos from Yellow Submarine. Right now he's got George Harrison and a Blue Meanie. But there's one that he keeps asking for, Leatherface. I can't believe they made a cute little doll of Leatherface!! He asks for it because he knows it upsets me but he mocks me anyway. "But, mommy, look at how cute he is!" I tell him that Leatherface is evil with no redeeming qualities. The Joker, Riddler, Lex Luther, they are villains, yes, but they have heroes that counter them, Batman and Superman. Leatherface has no hero counterpart. He just kills people with his chainsaw and wears their skin. And the Funko Figure of him is so cute an funny looking, even though he's sneering and holding a chainsaw.
This evening when I came home from work my darling son asked me about the guy who lost half his face because of a cavity. He wanted to see the picture. Now, the picture I mentioned was a man suffering a rare condition of necrotizing faciitis caused by a tooth abscess. Seriously, half the guy's face was gone, it was terrible. I told him that it was a disturbing picture and it might be scary for him. The more I warned, the more he wanted to see it. So I showed it to him. I could see the horror of it stir in him. I felt ashamed. I traumatized him. I lead him to believe that cavities could eat your face away if you don't brush. Tonight, he brushed his teeth 3 times before bed. I told him he has to brush in the morning and at night and after eating anything sugary. I don't think I'll have to tell him again. Ever.
Am I a bad parent?
