Braces & Zits: A Time Most Would Rather Forget

Today, my 13-year-old son had braces "installed." Brings back memories to my time of the dreaded metal in my mouth. Poor kid is so distraught, he cannot eat, can't close his mouth properly and the whole hygene routine is arduous! It's tough to keep a positive outlook, because your future looks so bleak with the rail-road on the teeth. Railroading's fun, but not when you have to live with one in your head! Tonight, even eating bread was a "derailment," as he put it. I call it a train-wreck, by the way he's acting. Not that I blame him, remember, I've been there, done that and even got the t-shirt but NEVER want to do it again.

Having gone through this myself as a youngster, I feel his pain. In fact, from the moment we signed the contract and paid the Ortho, I felt this bit of dread. Fortunately, today, kids find it "cool" or it's just in, unlike "my day," when "Bracey-Faces" were considered freaks. Then again, I was a freak (still am, I guess) to begin with! *chuckle*

Two years seems so long to a teen-ager. It will be over before he knows it, though and he'll finally have straight and healthy teeth.

Fortunately, he's not battling the Bulge of zits! Yet.