Around 5:00 pm every evening I used to feel a tiny knot of dread tightening in my stomach. I knew that bath time was around the corner and that it was going to be a battle. My boys did not like being pulled away from what they were doing to wash up. And it usually resulted in a thrashing, watery mess. After many months of this senseless watershed, I implemented a few changes to resolve the situation.
My first order of business was to get my boys interested in the water. I let them each pick out their favorite bubble bath. I also bought some bath fizzies that turned the water different colors. Then I told them that I had a surprise for them in the bathtub. In the tub, I had updated water toys waiting for them. The rubber duckies and foam letters just weren’t working. I remembered how they were always begging me to spray shaving cream and food coloring on the shower walls (yes, really) so I decided to get a water art kit. While the paint went straight down the drain, the crayons are great! The boys doodle on the wall while I scrub them up. A few other things that were a huge success were little water guns, a wind-up boat, and these little capsules called water creatures. When you put them in water, the outer plastic capsule melts away and spongy little creatures emerge.
I also learned that I could benefit from a little more organization. I bought a storage net that suctioned to the corner of the shower wall. It is much better than the tupperware bucket I used to store their bath toys in because it allows the water to drain, preventing their new toys from getting slimy and water stained. I also picked up a pitcher shaped like a pelican that is specially molded to pour water over little heads and keep it out of their eyes. This is much better than the plastic cup I used before, as it eliminates the squirming and screaming associated with washing my boys’ hair. Although I used to shield their eyes and face with my hand, they never seemed to have much confidence in me. The pelican is much more reassuring to them, making it easier for me too. Then, I created my own bath apron. If you are handy with a sewing machine, which I am not, you can sew two pieces of twill tape to the short side of a towel. Space them so that they’ll tie around your neck comfortably( usually about 6 inches apart). Since I am not confident around my sewing machine, I just cut a small slit on the short side of a towel about an inch down from the seam. Then I threaded the twill tape through the slits and knotted it. This keeps my clothes dry and offers a buffer for my sons to dry off on as I transferred them to their little robes.
For less than $40 I was able to turn a nightly chore into a pleasant experience for everyone. Sometimes my boys even ask to take a bath now. That’s what I call money well spent!
(Photos By: Just Jennifer and Yogi)
Comments
No comments.