He who doesnt wash his hair, doesn't keep his hair....

Cleanliness next to godliness? Yes, Im sure you have heard that phrase before. In this house we don't necessarily take it that far, but this momma will not have dirty babies. That is a fact. My darling almost 7 year old boy is now at the point in his growth where momma cannot under any circumstance see his lily white behind (...a far cry from the shaking his tail at me while giggling and telling me "you see my buuuuuutt") Even though I did indeed spend many years cleaning it, and sometimes ~gasp~ swatting it. So every night he takes his own bath, and mommy gets to "smell" him,..making sure that he did shampoo and soap himself. Many times sending him back into the water shaking my head. Lately he has become quite shaggy, making my military roots cringe, but we wanted to see how he would like longer hair (as well as look with it). Being around bath time, and in the interest of a timely parental lecture.....(we had also finally resigned ourselves to a haircut, and mommy's knowledge in that area falls short) .I brought out the clippers. After gathering quite the pile of thick red hair, I pulled out a washcloth and scrubbed his scalp with it. You can imagine his surprise at the color change that happened on the poor lamented thing. A stern look, and " he who doesn't wash his hair, doesn't keep his hair". For just a moment he looked ashamed....until little fingers reached up to rub the prickly cue ball now sitting on top of his shoulders....."Oooo Mommy...I love short hairs!!!".....followed by giggling and running around the house making us all feel his head. I would love to believe that he is properly chastened, and will now follow his washing more closely.....but I fear that having to smell check his endeavors is far from over....(for those of you who have a little boy....you know exactly what I mean).....Part of me is thankful that these years have not flown by that quickly.... he does after all, still call me mommy.....and need me for some things :-)