Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Small Things...

As you know, Astrid is not the easiest of babies. At all.

Bath time has been one of biggest issues. She hates her bath, hates the water - whether by sponge, sink, tub, toys, warm, cold, bubbles or sans. Hates it. And since she can scream like no other baby - her bath time screaming is loud enough for the neighbors to call 911 for fear of abuse.

This is not unfamiliar, when we moved into our home 5 years ago, I went to our neighbors - whose home is only separated by a small sidewalk from ours - introduced myself and explained to them to ignore our 2 year olds crying every night at 6:30pm - as that was only bath time. We were really loving parents, but like our children clean.

Eloise stopped complaining about her bath when she turned 5 and was old enough to just take a quick shower.

At 6 months, we signed Eloise up for swimming lessons - with the thought that being immersed in swimming at that young could only develop a good swimmer. She screamed and fought and freaked for 5 years of swimming lessons...and still has little interest to put her body in the water. She takes after my side of the family - mostly made up of non-swimmers.

So we did not offer lessons to Esther, after our first failings - and the girl can swim underwater with no training and can lay in the tub for 3 hours pretending to be a mermaid.

So it was Esther who suggested this week, that now Astrid is sitting, she would take a bath with her and play with her, scrub her and play games.

Within seconds, the screaming stopped and an actual smile emerged.

One less crying episode I have to listen to each day - only 10 more to go.
xoxo,t

9 comments:

Tifani said...

I love what a good sister can do to make things better!

jill R said...

You have a Bath Whisperer! Congratulations. You need a break whenever you can get it.

Anonymous said...

I love it. And still further proof that we need to get Mary and Esther together-- Mary is 1/2 mermaid and will happily tell you so.

Momma T said...

I LOVE this picture. And I'm not at all surprised that E can calm A in the tub.

The Planet Pink said...

I somehow have managed to produce not one, but FOUR children who HATE water. Bath time is the bane of my existence.

Amanda M. said...

Oh so sweet! What a wonderful sister Esther is! <3

Melanie said...

This is completely precious! I love how each child in a family has different gifts. I am so glad that you have to endure one less crying session each day...praying that you cross those other 10 off the list soon! Hugs!

Grammy said...

It is so true that each child has a gift to offer. Smart of Esther to suggest that and it looks as though they are having a good time. I think it's time to let the older girls take charge!

Rachelle said...

Adorable pictures! Yes, I see a slight smile starting on Astrid. Way too cute!

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