Neglect?

I'm curious, is it child abuse or merely neglect that my youngest son has gone so long without bathing/showering that he has a huge ZIT and sweat rash on his cute little bum? I really don't know how I let this happen; well maybe I have an inkling. Me threatening, Tel giving me excuse, and then going about our busy day; next thing I know I have forgotten to enforce yet again.

"Tel you HAVE to shower today"

Day 1: "Why, I've been playing on the slip-n-slide all day. I'm clean, that's water"
Day 2: "I'm.....tooooo......tired.....I....will...in...the....mor......" (as he fell asleep)
Day 3: "I can't, me and the girls planned to do 'x' "
Day 4: he slept over at the girls' house
Day 5: SHOWER-----ZIT FOUND, SWEAT RASH, STINKY PIGS, DIRTY BOY

I had no idea boys are sooooo gross! My oldest boy was so good at bathing, he enjoyed it. I just don't know about this one.

Am I missing it?

Nothing funny, again. Me whining, again.

This is day 2 of me sitting and being sad. When I turned on the TV yesterday morning for my daily dose of the news, the channel was on Nick. and Sponge Bob was on. It was an episode that came out when Dax was 4 or 5; pre-Tel years. I suddenly became so depressed. I remember sitting, doing nothing, just Dax and me....for hours. We would watch TV, movies, do puzzles, read, whatever. It has been years since he has wanted to just BE with me; he doesn't even have friends over...he goes "there". The pre-teen years do NOT ease you into the teenage years, it throws you into the teenage years. I feel like I've missed it. I have great memories: some written, some pictures, some in my head. I want it back. Would I have done anything different? No, I just didn't/don't want it to end.

Once Tel ate on his own, he never wanted to hang with me; he follows Dax around like a puppy. He idolizes his brother and I wouldn't want it any other way. Buuuuttttt.....if Dax hung out, then Tel would want to, too.

So many sleepless nights of babies who cannot be comforted; children who need someone tall to do everything make parents long for the time when the said child is more independent. I changed my mind, I don't long for it anymore. I miss it. I don't want another baby; I want MY babies.

What do you do to rid yourself of the post-post-post postpartum depression? Or am I alone in this?