I've asked this question to many of my mommy friends and have yet to receive a solid answer...When does hygiene kick in for kids? When will they want to smell good? When will they get embarassed if their hair isn't combed and contains bits of shrubbery from the weekend storm? When will they care if their breath smells like the butt of a dead horse? I preach, yell, sweet talk, finagle, buy the newest singing toothbrushes (Tooth Tunes, total waste of money by the way), and make outlandish statements of a promised allowance should they just choose to clean themselves up. But hence, it's been all to no avail.

Currently, I have a five year old son that would prefer to change his underwear four times a day rather than wipe his stinky little butt. The eight year old daughter takes pride in having "onion pits" and almost dreadlocked hair. The two year old, well, he still fishes in the toilet and eats off the floor, so I guess hygiene is a mute point with him. I just finally got hubby to stop shaving over my toothbrush and leaving me bits of hair to later gag on, so I shouldn't push my luck.

The only option I have at this point is to wait them out. I guess if you look at it, we're saving a fortune on soap, shampoo and toothpaste, since it seems like I'm the only one currently using these products. But alas, I will continue on in the hopes that the hygiene fairy will eventually shake her magical little cleaning wand on my three stinky angels.