When did taking a bath become a battle? The Mommy Moments theme for today is ‘Bath Time‘, as you see from my earlier post this morning. When the Princess Nagger was younger – you know, a year ago – she loved to take baths. In fact, whenever she’d take a bath, she wanted no less than an hour in the tub – even if the water had gotten cold, she’d pitch a fit when it was time to get out. Now she’s resistant to baths. Refuses to take them. Stomps her foot and says ‘I do not want to take a bath!’ Trying to get her into the tub yesterday, this conversation took place:

Me: “Time for your bath – I’ve got the bubbles all ready for you!”

Princess Nagger: “I do not want to take a bath – I hate taking baths!”

Me: “You used to love taking baths, and you really don’t have a choice – you need to take a bath.”

PN: “I will take a bath after-after-after tomorrow – I will take a bath next year, but I will not take a bath today!“

Me: “You better watch your tone of voice or we’ll start by washing out your mouth with soap.”

PN: “Mamaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!“

Then she stands there, with her arms crossed, her eyes closed and her nose pointing straight at the ceiling.

Me: “Do you need an attitude adjustment? Because I’ll be happy to give you one if you need it.” (Crap! When did I start to sound like my parents?)

Me: “Besides, if you wait until next year to take a bath, you’re going to be really dirty – and smelly. You don’t want to be dirty and smelly, do you?”

PN: … (tapping her foot)

Me: “Get in the tub, now, please.”

PN (walking over to the tub and putting one foot in): “This is all I’m putting in the tub.”

Me: “I don’t think so…you need to put your whole body in the tub, since your whole body is dirty, not just that one foot.”

PN: “I do not want to take a bath!”

Me: “Fine. I’ll drain the tub and you can take a shower instead.”

PN: “Nooooooooooo!!! I do not like showers! I do not like having water on my head…but wait, it’s like having rain on your head, right?”

Me: “Yeah – you like dancing in the rain, why wouldn’t you like showers?”

PN: “Because I do not want to take a shower, I never want to take a shower!”

Me: “Well then get in the tub and take a bath. You have 20 minutes before I come back up here to wash your hair.”

PN: “20 minutes? That’s not very much time to play!”

Me: “If you weren’t refusing to get in the tub you’d have more time…now get in! 1….2….3…”

PN: “Fine!”

She plops down into the bubbles, keeping her arms crossed and throwing me a sulky look.

PN: “I am not going to wash myself, I’m just going to sit here like this! Hmmmph!“

Me: “You better watch that attitude or you’re going to be in big trouble!”

PN: “Mamaaaaaaaa!“

Me: “I’ll be back in 20 minutes.”

20 minutes later, I enter the bathroom – she’s playing quite happily with her bath toys, has them all lined up on the edge of the tub while she pretends to swim…

PN: “Has it been 20 minutes already?”

Me: “Yep, time to wash your hair and get out.”

PN: “Nooooooo! I want to play some more – you didn’t give me enough time!!”

Me: “It wasn’t me who didn’t give you enough time – if you had gotten in the tub when I first told you to, you would have had more time to play.”

This has been pretty much par for the course for bath time the past few months – a battle of wills transpires trying to coax her into the inviting bubbles. I would kill to be able to have the time for a leisurely bubble bath – pre-child days I would set aside Sunday evenings as a ‘pamper me’ evening…I’d give myself a facial, soak in a nice hot bubble bath with candles, soft music, a glass (or two) of wine and a good book. I can’t tell you the last time I was able to pamper myself like that…now it’s a quick shower in the morning before the busy day starts…if I’m lucky! 🙂

I just thought of something – I can incorporate this post into an Aloha Friday moment! Ready?

Welcome to this week’s Edition of Aloha Friday.

“In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.”

My question for this week is:

Is your Bathtub a Battleground? Do you have the perfect routine or fail proof method to convince your kids to take a bath?

Happy Aloha Friday!

Go to An Island Life and answer her question and check out the other questions too! Let me know if you post a question on your blog and I’ll be happy to stop by and answer yours!

60 Comments

  1. That’s pretty much where Princess Nagger is at this point – although I finally got her to get over the rinsing of her hair part – she’s fine as long as she has a wash cloth to hold over her eyes.s Once I get her in the tub she’s OK and has a blast…it’s just getting her INTO the tub that’s a battle.s It didn’t used to be, though… I bet it’s like Ryan said – because she’s asserting her independence…and because I want her to take a bath, she doesn’t! 😉 s Thanks so much for stopping by, Elizabeth! 🙂

  2. LOL Justine!!s PN is 6…s The tempation to ‘slam dunk’ her into the tub was there, believe me! 😉 s

  3. It must be a phase then, eh?s Maybe both our Princesses will revert back to loving their baths…here’s hoping! 🙂 s Thanks so much for stopping by, Firefly! 😉 s (BTW – PN would be happy to see that that rhymed…’by’ ‘Firefly’…*grin!*)

  4. LOL!s Never wanted to get clean…that pretty much sums up the Princess Nagger at the moment…she used to get freaked out if she got a spot on her clothes and would change them right away, or if she had a smudge on her person, she’d insist on a bath…now she’s the opposite.s Hopefully we’ll find a happy medium at some point! LOL!!s Thanks for stopping by, Megan! 🙂

  5. LOL Lana!s No hate here… 🙂 s Princess Nagger used to be like that…maybe she’ll revert back! 😉 s Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂

  6. Thanks so much, Tara! 🙂 s You’re so right – why is it that we end up being the ‘bad guy’ when they don’t listen and things turn out like we said they would?s It is funny how life comes back around… 😉 s Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂

  7. We always found that good toys were important. Also letting the boys use colored bath fizzies to customize the water color helped.
    Now that they are older we only have them take showers.
    s
    What works the best is to have a reward ready for after the bath or shower. Ex. Would you like to (a favorite thing to do before bed)? Great, first you need to take a quick shower (bath)….
    The longer they fight it, the less time they have for their favorite thing (with us it’s a computer game or t.v.show)
    Happy GNO, a few days late!

  8. GREAT advice!s I think that might just work!s Princess Nagger is getting to be a proficient negotiator, so that would be right up her little alley! (grin!!)s Thanks so much!!s It was fun ‘partying’ with you the other night – hope you had a fun GNO, too! 😉

  10. Guess you would hate to hear that I had a nice soak in a claw foot tub today. No one around. Time to read and just float away. 😛

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