vent irresponsible teen (minor issue but if I don't vent I will explode)

[Anonymous]

Two days before camp departure and he loses his ortho rubber bands. All the packs. Every last one gone missing. Has one pair of bands currently in his mouth.

ARggghh.

[Anonymous]

How much do these cost? This is a big deal?

[Anonymous]

Can't you call the ortho and get another bag?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much do these cost? This is a big deal?

In the scheme of things, no. And they cost almost nothing.

But

a) you can't buy them if you don't have a package handy with the size written on it.

b) I cannot take time for this tomorrow since my day is full with work obligations.

c) You know those times when your kid wastes your time and treats your time like it doesn't matter.... there ya go.

d) When every day for the last week you have been telling him to get his personal items together and he doesn't notice or mention that he doesn't seem to have enough bands to get him through the month he will be gone....

e) Your ortho has two locations and one is REALLY REALLY far away (too far for biking)

Like I said, not the worlds biggest problem but teenagers suck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't you call the ortho and get another bag?

That's what he said, expecting me to drop my life and take off work to run an errand for him on demand.... an errand we could have easily accomplished any of the last ten days...

[Anonymous]

What happens if he goes without?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't you call the ortho and get another bag?

Of course she can, why is why she says it's a minor issue. But braces suck - they are a huge time suck for parents between the millions of appointments, the lost rubber bands, the long dental appointment to clean around them, the endless complaining from your kid, the constant reminders to wear your retainer and having to check that they actually do. And, no matter how often you ask or remind them, rubber bands are always an emergency because even if you had enough yesterday, they are lost by today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What happens if he goes without?

For a day, nothing except a headache.

For a month, then his jaw loses some of its newly created shape.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What happens if he goes without?

I'm guessing that his teeth will not move in the expected time frame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't you call the ortho and get another bag?

Of course she can, why is why she says it's a minor issue. But braces suck - they are a huge time suck for parents between the millions of appointments, the lost rubber bands, the long dental appointment to clean around them, the endless complaining from your kid, the constant reminders to wear your retainer and having to check that they actually do. And, no matter how often you ask or remind them, rubber bands are always an emergency because even if you had enough yesterday, they are lost by today.

THANK YOU. I only drove past them with kid in car on Tuesday when I was telecommuting and had the flexibility to deal with this.

[Anonymous]

Have the teen call the office and ask them to mail them to him at camp. Orthodontists are a good time for the teens to start making the appointments etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What happens if he goes without?

I'm guessing that his teeth will not move in the expected time frame.

Actually, it is a bit more complicated since he had some very serious jaw issues which got handled with an appliance. Now we're into the next stage and the rubber bands are keeping all that work in place. The window to finish this is small because he is aging and this stuff works better before bones get dense. I would certainly let him have a headache for a few days or have this take longer, but this would be more serious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much do these cost? This is a big deal?

In the scheme of things, no. And they cost almost nothing.

But

a) you can't buy them if you don't have a package handy with the size written on it.

b) I cannot take time for this tomorrow since my day is full with work obligations.

c) You know those times when your kid wastes your time and treats your time like it doesn't matter.... there ya go.

d) When every day for the last week you have been telling him to get his personal items together and he doesn't notice or mention that he doesn't seem to have enough bands to get him through the month he will be gone....

e) Your ortho has two locations and one is REALLY REALLY far away (too far for biking)

Like I said, not the worlds biggest problem but teenagers suck.

Same poster again. I get it. They do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have the teen call the office and ask them to mail them to him at camp. Orthodontists are a good time for the teens to start making the appointments etc.

Actually, I am making him call the office and bike there (unless they are shut). We will be able to solve this tomorrow, but not without some time out of my day -- time I don't have tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much do these cost? This is a big deal?

In the scheme of things, no. And they cost almost nothing.

But

a) you can't buy them if you don't have a package handy with the size written on it.

b) I cannot take time for this tomorrow since my day is full with work obligations.

c) You know those times when your kid wastes your time and treats your time like it doesn't matter.... there ya go.

d) When every day for the last week you have been telling him to get his personal items together and he doesn't notice or mention that he doesn't seem to have enough bands to get him through the month he will be gone....

e) Your ortho has two locations and one is REALLY REALLY far away (too far for biking)

Like I said, not the worlds biggest problem but teenagers suck.

Same poster again. I get it. They do.

Thanks. Appreciate it.