People often ask me how I'm able to manage my time with 5 children. Some days, I smile serenely and say, "I just do my best." Other days I stare wide-eyed at the person, waiting for them to notice that it's 3pm and I am still in my mismatched pajamas.
One of the hardest parts of the night is bath time. There are 5 children who need to have the playdoh, tomato sauce, super glue, chocolate chips, motor oil, and general dirt and grime cleaned from them on a daily basis. Add in supervising ear cleaning, nail cleaning, nail clipping, hair brushing, teeth brushing, and other grooming tasks...and it's enough to make you long for the good old days when people bathed once a month.
No, it's just me? Well, fine.
I'm blessed because at least two of my kids are old enough to take their own showers and be inspected by me. I'm not above making them rewash their hair and behind their ears, so they usually do a great job.
Usually.
The other day, I sent Jare upstairs to shower while the rest of the kids finished dinner. He came down five minutes later with dry hair and said he was done. I asked him why his hair was dry. He sheepishly shrugged his shoulders, so I sent him stomping back up the stairs. When I heard the shower start, I walked upstairs to remind him to clean behind his ears, like good mothers do. He'd left the door open a little, and I peeked in assuming he was in the shower.
He wasn't.
He was standing fully clothed next to the shower as it ran, counting. When he got to 100, he reached his hand into the shower and dabbed some water on his head.
Then he turned off the shower and turned around to see me waiting in the doorway.
And let me tell you, that kid jumped 20 feet in the air. It was almost worth it all just to see him so surprised and terrified.
He sighed and said, "Mom, I just hate getting wet."
And that excuse might fly with me, if I did not have photographic evidence to the contrary.
Exhibit A:
Exhibit B:
I rest my case.
*Trying to make sure my kids are occasionally clean is a full time job, but checking up on them works for me. To find more WFMW posts, visit Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer.
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Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Allergic To Water?
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23 comments:
Oh, this is a treasure you both will remember forever! What a surprise!
Oh what an awesome surprise!
Haha! Poor kid. Guess that'll teach him to lock the door, huh?
Great post. I am glad you had pictures to prove your point.
I used to only get a bath once a week. Sunday nights. Yuck.
You have to give him credit for at least TRYING to be obedient. He did "get wet".
That is great! My little brother used to pull that. My dad would end up standing in the bathroom to make sure he got clean.
My understanding is that this is a stage with boys that they do grow out of.
I'm still waiting.
Meanwhile, since mine has taken to locking the bathroom door during showers, I do body sniffs after the shower. That's what's working for me...sort of.
That is hilarious! I love that you just waited to see what he was going to do. Classic!
Hee hee. Letter of the law, Mom. Letter of the law.
Wow, you can get your kids to take a bath every day. I try for at least twice a week unless he's extremely dirty! Yeah, I know, I am a bad mommy.
Wow! Can we say BUSTED?!?! :-)
I'm with Nancy M. my kids are not bathed daily. I aim for every other day but must confess sometimes it is twice a week. And I only have 3 to corral in the tub!!
LOL Awesome story.
Thanks for the out-loud laugh!
Oh that was a good one - I love it! Makes me think of those times I catch my daughter dancing around in the shower - using up all the hot water!
Ah, bathtime! My girls scream on the way in because they don't want to bathe, and scream on the way out because they don't want to get out of the tub ...
ha ha ha! That story was priceless.
Ok, is it wrong that I only have two boys and there are many days that I let a swim in the pool count as a bath?!
He he, poor thing actually thought he was going to fool his mommy. lol
I know you did not ask for tips but something that has worked for me this summer-I bought one of those 8.00 camp showers. When the boys get out of the pool they quickly was their hair and body, they love that they get to take a shower in their swimsuit-and outside to boot!
Traci
Hilarious! I especially love how you have photographs as evidence...ha! Thanks for the laugh today :)
Busted! I hate getting wet, too. But I do shower, lol.
Absolutely priceless!
No doubt next time he'll remember to shut the door or actually shower!
haha...I have an 8 year old who does the same thing and I also send him right back into the bath. He knows the drill - he goes back upstairs (stomping the whole way), then comes back down and bows his head before mine so I can sniff :) What is their aversion to being CLEAN?
Very diligent of you to make the time to get your kids to bed clean at the end of each day. Like other commenters, I only have 2 boys and sometimes resort to using a wipe to clean the dirty spots.
I would have loved to see the look on his face when he spotted you. Great story!
So how old is old enough to be bathing themselves? I feel like we are getting to that point but I am sure I will have the same problems with my son. He hates to wash his hair.
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