Thursday, October 27, 2005

Bath time

Tonight was bath night at the zoo. The two older kids have long outgrown the take-a-bath-with-a-sibling phase of their lives. While they were busy taking their own showers, I got to give the little guy a bath.

The ritual began with his frantic search for his froggy goggles. Then we picked out an appropriate towel - it had to be a solid color. He selected his pyjamas - blue one-piece jams that turn him into blueberry boy - and chose his bedtime music. After twenty minutes of meticulous preparation, he was ready to get into the bathtub.

But not to bathe. First he had to play for a few minutes. I figured a slightly later bedtime was worth it, so simply watched from the sidelines as he explored the tub and took himself on a pirate's adventure with the Tupperware bowl I had left on the side.

Eventually, I suggested we get washing before he turned into a prune. He reluctantly agreed, then helped me make his hair shmushy with his shampoo. He's getting more ticklish these days - he is his mother's son, after all - so I let him do his neck on his own, too. I admit I enjoyed trying to clean there, because his giggles were priceless.

After what seemed like nowhere near enough time, it was time for him to get out. I wrapped his wiggling, shivering form in his too-large, solid-color towel and sent him on his way to finish drying off.

It wasn't an overtly memorable event in his life. He's had plenty of baths thus far, and he'll obviously have many more. But as a vignette, a slice, I wanted to remember what it felt like to spend those few minutes with a little guy who so very much loves being a little guy.

Maybe those small moments are worth writing about after all.

16 comments:

MaR said...

I always enjoy visiting your blog. Michele sent me this morning! You (and your kids) will love to have captured these moments for posterity.

Zinnia Cyclamen said...

Those small moments absolutely are worth writing about, especially when you write so well.

I'm still waiting for the breakfast food photos you promised, though, because your photos are great too!

kenju said...

You and he will remember these moments far into the future, Carmi. Savor those small moments, for they are truly the stuff of life (and maybe the staff, too).

doug said...

Hello again C .... I just posted a very long winded retelling of a phone call from nephews and family earlier in preperation for saturdays wedding of one of my many nephews - he being one of the many I mentioned earlier in being raised up!.. bath time around my s/o's house has to have all the horses rounded up before our Ash can set foot in the tub..... or she won't go near it!

blackbird said...

Truly.
I am sure they are.

Unknown said...

Your writing masterfully captures the love and adoration parents feel for their children.

Spock said...

The world needs more Dads like you Carmi.

jennypenny said...

Those small moments are definitely worth writing about. It is when you get older that for whatever reason you wish you knew that your parents cared and remembered those kind of moments and it makes you feel special. Thanks for your comments on my site. I also feel a special bond to those bloggers local to me!

Olyal said...

What a lovely story Carmi!! It's little things like that your kids will remember when they grow up. :o)

kenju said...

See, I came back from Michele's - just as I said I would!

utenzi said...

They do grow past that point so quickly--and it sounds like this will be the last one. You're obviously keeping this in mind and enjoying every day, Carmi.

Happy 11 years and 3 days!

Michele sent me over to your blog, Carmi.

buffi said...

These are the moments that make it all worth it. I'm so glad you wrote this down and shared it. For my sake as well as for yours.

I find that when they are being little stinkers it is good to go back and read these so that we are not quite so tempted to wring their little necks!

Unknown said...

When he's grown he'll probably be amazed that he made such a production out of bathing.

Visiting from Michele's.

dena said...

You've captured that childhood happiness perfectly. We love bathtime, and it's wonderful to read how much joy you find in helping with the bath. I am so sad when I hear people moan about giving their children a bath.

visiting from michele's

Sandy said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I've enjoyed scrolling through yours ever since following another of Michele's games over.

My friends without children often view bath time as a rather mundane task in the list of mudane parental duties. This post captures well just how wrong that theory is. I often think the most amazing moments in life are those that are so amazingly not spectacular. Their very poignant normalcy make them incredible. If that makes any sense.

Anyway, enjoyed the read.

Mellie Helen said...

What is more worthy to write about??