I don't remember, but brushing my teeth wasn't always a given

Wake up in the morning, wash your face, and brush your teeth.
When you get home, wash your hands and gargle.
Take a bath, brush your teeth, and go to bed.

Why do we do these things every day?
Have you ever thought about it?

These are habits so deeply ingrained in us adults that we sometimes find ourselves holding a toothbrush in our mouths half-unconsciously while rubbing our sleepy eyes.

So, who exactly created those habits?

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The other day, my eldest son, who is in the fourth grade, said this while watching my third son, who is two years old.

“You know, chopsticks. Even though you start out holding them in a fist,you learn to use them properly by instinct,right?”

I was surprised to hear that.

“No, that’s not true. We practiced together.”

This time, my eldest son was surprised and said, “Really!? I thought it was something you could just do by instinct without being taught!”

In the same way, my eldest sonthought he had learned to brush his teeth by instinct.as well.

Honestly, I was a little shocked.

You don't remember...?
Singing 'swish-swish♪' and 'scrub-scrub♫'
Playing 'say ah' with a Shimajiro doll
Exaggerating and acting silly, saying 'You can do it yourself!? That's amazing!'
Having your head and arms held down so I could finish brushing your teeth
Biting the toothbrush while crying your eyes out...

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I am currently raising three children.

Wash your face when you wake up. Wash your hands when you get home. Brush after you eat. Making these things a matter of course was a huge struggle.

"Wash your face when you wake up."
No!

"Wash your hands when you get home."
No, no! Run away!

"Brush your teeth before you go to bed."
No, no, no!(hiding under the covers with only their bottom sticking out)

I never dreamed that "normal habits for an adult" would be such a high hurdle for a child.

I wonder when exactly it is that we start to feel "uncomfortable if we don't brush our teeth."

I think a habit is
"something built into your body to the point where you feel uncomfortable if you don't do it, without anyone telling you to."

The habits I thought were just natural to do were taught to me by someone—my mother, father, grandfather, grandmother, or a teacher—when I was still young. Even if I don't remember it.

My children seem to think that it's no big deal if they don't brush their teeth for one night, or that washing their hands is a hassle.

I try my best to explain things like "there are germs on your hands..." or "there are germs in your mouth..." but... for now, it seems they only act because "Mom will get mad if I don't."

In a few more years, hand washing, gargling, brushing teeth, and face washing will surely be incorporated into their lives as a matter of course.
My eldest son has already reached that stage.

And then, I'll be holding my head in my hands over new habits they can't do yet, like "Did you do your homework?" or "Did you wash your indoor shoes?" I suppose I'll just have to accept being thought of as a nag.

But what if those things were also incorporated into your life as a matter of course?

Whether it's "I'll practice swinging my bat 100 times a day" or "I'll write 400 characters of a manuscript a day,"I think you can commit yourself fully to a new habit.

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The habits that we adults take for granted were built up by someone else to be that way, even if we don't remember it.

Some of you might remember constantly resisting brushing your teeth. But perhaps, through interactions not just with your parents, but with teachers and friends, you made an effort to build the habit yourself, realizing that "it might be bad if I don't brush my teeth."

I have no intention of saying "thank you for building my tooth-brushing habit" to my parents now, nor do I expect that from my own children.

However, if you feel like you don't have any "important habits," I just want you to suddenly realize that you are living in a daily life of important habits without even noticing it.

It seems it wasn't something you were able to do by instinct before you knew it.

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#DailyImportantHabits