TADPOLE IN THE SHOWER

After a long day that has been filled with stress and tension, do you long for a soothing, hot shower? The kind where the water pulsates against your skin as the steam rises up around you bringing with it the scent of some exotic shower gel you have lathered into your skin. Just the thought seems to slow my heart rate and brings me to a place that I desperately want to be.

Lately, a shower like that is something only in my distant thoughts because these days I am experiencing a completely new sensation when showering. It is one mixed with drama, humor and resolution that this is the way things will be for a while. You see, I am joined in my nightly shower by my three year old daughter. For her, it is an experience she never wants to miss.

Yes, gone are the hot, steaming showers as her young skin can only handle tepid warm water. Gone is the sound of the water hitting the side of the shower and a few moments of simple solitude and privacy. Now, I have a little shadow that joins me each night. The commentary is something that only a mother can truly love and appreciate. Because let me assure you…there is a lot of commentary between she and I during these times.

Of course, she notices everything and some of those things I will not mention – as I am sure your mind can take you there. Others are priceless and sometimes leave me without an answer…speechless, if you will believe.

Let’s start with “Mama, what are those?” Ah yes, you guessed it – the booby question. I respond with, “They are boobies just like yours.” She tilts her head slightly and says “But you have red tips on yours, how come I don’t have red tips?” I am left with…”someday you will.”

Shaving is no longer a mindless task that comes naturally. Now it is an endeavor filled with explanation of why do you shave and yes…hair grows in other places than just your head. But why? Because that is how god designed it…”Does God shave too, mama?”

I turn around to face the shower and lather up my head – trying to massage the soap into my scalp and soothe my head some. Immediately, I am reminded of the movie, “The Karate Kid” … wax on, wax off. Yes, someone is washing my "tail" reminiscent of the “wax on, wax off” scene from the movie. Ah, joy.

I turn to offer thanks and encourage the cleaning of her own "tail" – as it is important, too. I look down, trying to focus as the shampoo is still rinsing out of my hair. I am startled at what I see. It appears to be a little brown tadpole racing for the drain.

Immediately, I move like lightening has just went through me. I question my young shadow…”Dude, did you poopy in the shower?” Her answer comes very matter of fact, “No, it was just a little piece that got stuck in there from earlier when I didn’t wipe good. Don’t worry mama, I didn’t poop in here – it just fell out.”

Does this happen to all moms? Or am I just the lucky one? Is there some sort of mother self help book I should be investing in? Maybe I am a bit skewed…but somehow I find humor in this and felt the need to etch it in print. Possibly to use against this young one at a later date…like when she is sixteen and does not want to even be in the same house as me!

For now, I will be content with tepid showers, non-stop questioning and commentary and tag-team showering. It is my summation that laughing is better than crying and if the nightly shower inspires smiles and laughter…I can get used to it.