Giving my kids a bath is one of the things I really loved as a Mom. The toys, the playing, the splashing…so much fun.
Noticed I said loved…past tense.
Yep, that’s right, my girls have moved on.
Both my 5 and 3 year-old daughters are now all about the showers, the showers, no bubble.
Let me rewind a couple of months ago when I introduced my 5-year-old to the shower. I told her this may be a better option on the nights when we wash and condition hair. Since her hair is getting longer it became a real pain in the bubble to get all the soap out.
We did it. My 3-year-old took one too.
They liked it the first time. After that they missed playing in the bath. So we went back to the bath. I went back to hunching over the tub to make sure every nook and cranny was clean and every bubble of shampoo was rinsed.
Of course I complained about it. But, deep down I loved it. It was our little quiet time to talk without interruption. At times I would learn an aspect of their day they didn’t bother to tell me earlier although I was around for hours. That time was sacred. Not anymore.
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when my 5 year-old requested a shower totally out of the blue. Her sister followed. I wasn’t going to say no, but I saw the look on rubber ducky’s face. He didn’t like it. Neither did I. My girls didn’t give a quack.
Ever since then, each girl has taken her turn stepping into the shower. They pull the curtain closed and tell me they’re going to get washed all by themselves…even my three-year-old.
Sigh.
So, I stand on the outside, shut out of our otherwise special time.
Did you wash your face? Did you wash your ears? Did you wash your butt?
Yes. Yes. Yes. That’s all they tell me. I do sneak the curtain back to make sure they are scrub a dubbing all the essential parts and everything else in between. Believe it or not, they do a really good job.
Sigh. Sigh.
You would think I would be happy because it’s one thing to cross off my “To Do List”. But, I’m not. Truth be told, I’m sad. It’s just more proof they are getting older. You would think my 3-year-old would indulge me and let me at least give her a bath. Nope. Instead she reminds me she’s getting bigger every day. Geez, can you throw momma a bubble? Afterall, I did lug you around in my uterus for nine months. Isn’t that the least you could do? Guess not.
It seems as though there’s no turning back now. It looks like rubber ducky and I are on our own.
That’s right little yellow guy, it’s not about us anymore. It’s all about the showers, the showers, no bubble….or ducky for that matter.
Any signs that they are growing up are sad… although I hate giving my girls baths. It’s lovely until I wash their hair… then they FREAK OUT! LOL.
Thanks for sharing and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop.
Wishing you a lovely day.
xoxo
I can soooo relate to this 🙁 My 5 year old decided he was done with baths recently as well 🙁 And as you said, you would think this would relieve me a bit… One less thing to do right?! Nope… makes me sad every single time.
Ah, yes, the “I can do it MYSELF!” phase! I appreciate the independence, but it’s hard to avoid hovering to make sure it’s done “right”. Like teeth brushing. My 3 & 5 yr olds swear they’ve got the skill mastered, but… yeah, not so much. 🙂
I know, my girls are the same age. They say they’ve brushed. Then they open their mouths and it smells foul! At least I can still help them brush!
I have a 7 year old daughter and two boys, ages 5 and 3. My daughter does the shower thing and adores it. I peek in and have to help her with getting the shampoo out of her hair. It makes me sad that she is old enough to do this on her own, but I know it is good for her to gain some independence. My boy’s…. they have no interest and HATE taking a shower. For now it is a bathtub party with my two boy’s.
I can so relate to this. Its exhausting giving bath to kids. 🙂
They grow up so fast! If only they knew that being big isn’t always fun 🙂 My daughter will not let us call her little because she is 3 and a big girl.
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I was always so conflicted when my children decided they would rather shower. While I enjoy the fact I no longer have to help them (I am on the “one less thing to do” side), I too struggle with not knowing if they are actually washing themselves properly. I feel like a drill sergeant when I bombard them with a million questions of whether or not they remembered to clean all their parts.
I can relate to this! My kids are only 3 and 1 but the 3 year old is becoming obsessed with showers. She wants one every night. I blame my husband he encouraged it to make things easy and now it’s all she wants!
My 2.5 year old has bathed in the ‘waterfall’ , as we call the shower, and few times out of necessity. He still chooses the bath when given the choice, though. I’ll, too, be sad when he moves on for good!
Oh, I’m entering the no-more-bath-zone. My boys are turning 7 & 6 here in the next few months and they’re beginning to say, “mom, I can do it myself”.. Sigh… Enjoy the moments!
Wow! how grown up…and how bitter sweet for you, Mummy! It’s great that they’re doing it themselves, and I hear that constantly from my 3yo boy who wants to be just like his 7yo sister. However, we did introduce the shower and they both said “no”. Your post has made me realise that I’m in no rush to put aside our rubber duck and I’m going to count my blessings…for now!!!
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We only do showers now as well. all three of my kids take showers. My 4 year old still smuggles in cups and toys.
It is fun to let the kids play at bath time. I’ve still got a baby so I’m not missing it yet 🙂