You know all of those commercials by various baby soap/shampoo companies out there where the child is splashing and smiling while the mother revels in the cute scenario of bath time? Before I became a mother I dreamed of sharing those tender moments with my little one.
This has not been my reality.
Maybe it is just me, but since my daughter does nothing but show her disdain during the cleansing process, bath time is not a fun event in my house. Indulge me as I describe the actual bathing process.
First, the baby bath tub, washcloths, soap, rubber duck, and towel are all set up. Then, due to a crazy fluctuating faucet, I bottle water while using a thermometer to make sure that the water is at the perfect temperature. Next I lovingly place my squirming bundle of joy in the baby bath tub, within my bath tub. The rest of the process involves keeping her from trying to crawl or wiggle her way out of the bath tub while also carefully soaping her up and rinsing her off. The wiggling shows she is mildly irritated. When the actual water is in the bathtub and poured over her head is when her (and as a result my) misery ensues. Although I try to distract her and entice her with the rubber duck, various bath toys, and songs, more often than not, she wants out.
Bath time used to be something we did on an as-needed basis. Now that daycare is in charge of our daughter during the day, we have to bathe her every single night. Beyond the need for bathing to simply wash away germs picked up in the school, she is messy in ways she never was when she was home alone with me. My daughter leaves our house sparkling clean, but she is returned looking as though she did in fact take a bath…in her food and milk.
The daily slob fest that is my child leads to the necessity of bath time after every single long work day. Regardless of whether I am brave enough to bathe her or my husband is left with the responsibility, the hysterical cries can probably be heard around my neighborhood.
I do remember being in the hospital taking a baby bathing class immediately after she was born. The nurse conveyed that babies do not like baths at first, but by their second month of life, they love it.
Apparently, my daughter did not receive that memo.
Maybe someday I will finally have that beautiful bath time experience with my child, but until then, I will focus on all of the other beautiful experiences to be had. Truth be told, as lovely as the advertising images are, there has never been a televised image that captures the joy, love, and beautiful essence of motherhood that all of us hold in our hearts so dearly each day. Johnson and Johnson, you have nothing on us…
This has not been my reality.
Maybe it is just me, but since my daughter does nothing but show her disdain during the cleansing process, bath time is not a fun event in my house. Indulge me as I describe the actual bathing process.
First, the baby bath tub, washcloths, soap, rubber duck, and towel are all set up. Then, due to a crazy fluctuating faucet, I bottle water while using a thermometer to make sure that the water is at the perfect temperature. Next I lovingly place my squirming bundle of joy in the baby bath tub, within my bath tub. The rest of the process involves keeping her from trying to crawl or wiggle her way out of the bath tub while also carefully soaping her up and rinsing her off. The wiggling shows she is mildly irritated. When the actual water is in the bathtub and poured over her head is when her (and as a result my) misery ensues. Although I try to distract her and entice her with the rubber duck, various bath toys, and songs, more often than not, she wants out.
Bath time used to be something we did on an as-needed basis. Now that daycare is in charge of our daughter during the day, we have to bathe her every single night. Beyond the need for bathing to simply wash away germs picked up in the school, she is messy in ways she never was when she was home alone with me. My daughter leaves our house sparkling clean, but she is returned looking as though she did in fact take a bath…in her food and milk.
The daily slob fest that is my child leads to the necessity of bath time after every single long work day. Regardless of whether I am brave enough to bathe her or my husband is left with the responsibility, the hysterical cries can probably be heard around my neighborhood.
I do remember being in the hospital taking a baby bathing class immediately after she was born. The nurse conveyed that babies do not like baths at first, but by their second month of life, they love it.
Apparently, my daughter did not receive that memo.
Maybe someday I will finally have that beautiful bath time experience with my child, but until then, I will focus on all of the other beautiful experiences to be had. Truth be told, as lovely as the advertising images are, there has never been a televised image that captures the joy, love, and beautiful essence of motherhood that all of us hold in our hearts so dearly each day. Johnson and Johnson, you have nothing on us…