I would tell myself: "Ya look FINE!--and even if you don't, who cares!? Well, Mom cares, but she's full of cr@p".

Oddly, I was one of those kids who never brushed my teeth (well, hardly ever)and only got one cavity when I was thirty (after I had been brusing and flossing for years) Go figure.

Oh, I would also tell myself that I was really smart. I really thought I was stupid until much too late in life.