Draw the Line

One of the things I have become very good at is hiding snacks and candy from my children. More than once, I’ve hidden behind a fridge door just scooping a pint of ice cream I’ve stashed in the back of the freezer into my face. I’ve exited the pantry with chip and cookie remnants in my hair. I feel zero guilt for not sharing. I deserve all of my hidden snacks and these moments for myself. 

This summer, I noticed my May Lindstrom facial products were out of the bathroom cabinet and on the sink counter. I opened up the “Blue Cocoon” moisturizer, and saw a large finger had dragged itself through the shimmery blue oils. A lot of it had been used.

At the time, I shared a bathroom with my seventeen-year-old son, Henry. I asked him if he had defaced my Lindstrom moisturizer and he nodded. “That stuff works. My skin tone is even, with less redness.”

Back in the bathroom, I went through all of my May Lindstrom products and he’d used all of them, the oils, the masks, the muds, for quite some time, or perhaps too much at a time. I can only budget these products as a once-a-year purchase. I’d just lost six months worth of anti-aging products to a seventeen-year-old face. Yes, for those of you who are wondering, he even used “The Youth Dew.”

I do not think parents have to share anything of theirs with their children. The denial of things kids want can cause tantrums when they are little and the silent treatment when they are older. But access to your Youth Dew is not their birthright just because your body was their host for nine months.

That said, I picked my battles and didn’t tell Henry to stop using them. He was leaving home at the end of the month and his skin was more even toned, with less redness. I did draw the line at giving him the skin care products when he asked. But, honestly, I do feel guilty when I get a text like this.

Addendum: This is not a sponsored post. I’m open to trying anything though. What are your favorite products? My allotted budget for the rest of the year is slim. Thank you.