Etta is over 3 weeks old now. And she has yet to have a bath. Of any kind.
We had a wonderful home birth, and part of that process is allowing the ultra-moisturizing vernix to absorb into the baby’s body, which means, no bath right after.
You also aren’t supposed to submerge the umbilical cord, which was a great excuse…until 2 weeks ago when it fell off.
Still no bath for Etta.
Because I’m tired. And I’m busy. My husband has been back at work. And my mom’s not here anymore. And honestly, it’s not life or death, which means it’s not a priority at the moment.
And for the love, I just want to take a shower.
It seems that the times where it is convenient to bathe her also happens to be the times when it is convenient to bathe myself. And this, my friends, is where I get selfish.
If my kids and I are both hungry, I feed them first. If my kids and I both have to go to the bathroom, I’ll dance a little dance and hold it while they go first.
When my kids need anything that’s a true need, I will provide it for them first, sometimes meaning that I often forget to do the basics myself like drink enough water, eat a meal, or just freaking pee. And I’m not even going to talk about sleep…what? sleep? I’d almost forgotten…
You parents know what I’m talking about.
But for some reason, when it comes to bathing, I get selfish. I mean, she doesn’t stink…yet, and I probably do. And everyone knows a stinky mom is way worse than an unbathed newborn.
So no, baby, you don’t get a bath. It’s my turn. Sorry.
See? Selfish.
This isn’t the first time this has happened. I remember when Hank came home after his first long trip away after Miles was born. He picked up our new sweet baby, snuggled him up for a kiss and immediately made a face, turned to me, and said:
“Babe, our baby stinks so bad I don’t even want to hold him.”
Me “really? I mean, it’s just that stinky-sweet milk-in-the-neck-creases smell…” trying not to get defensive while trying desperately to remember just when I had last bathed the boy.
Hank “Seriously, he stinks so bad it’s embarrassing.”
Well, for whatever reason this didn’t affect me much because here we are, 3 weeks in, and Etta is still without her first bath…
maybe today, or tomorrow…or maybe I’ll just nap instead…yep. nap it is.
selfish.
live well. be well.
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