For the Child Who Only Brushes in the Morning

Four lines you can say out loud tonight. Word for word. Free to save.

What to say

1. Morning brushing is easy and night brushing is not, and both of them happen.

2. By eight your patience is gone. The whole day used it up.

3. Tonight is thirty seconds, back teeth only, with the big light on and the door open.

4. You put the brush by your bed before dinner, and at eight you just pick it up.

When to use it

This is for the moment it actually goes wrong — not the calm version you rehearse in the car. Pick one line. Say it once. Then stop talking and wait three seconds. If they push back, repeat the same line, not a new one. Say the same thing for five nights before you decide it doesn't work.