The War That Is Bathtime (Qin)

Prompt: Bathtime

 Having a toddler can be exhausting. Having a toddler that hates water is even more exhausting. It’s at times like this, sitting here in the middle of another hectic bathtime, where I find myself strangely grateful for Xu’s motor delay. While she plays with the toys and seems otherwise distracted she still refuses to let me wash her hair and screams if I so much as get it the tiniest bit wet on purpose, though she has no problem if water splashes on either me or her as she plays. Other forms of distraction prove futile though she does not physically protest much, in part due to the delay, the girl has a set of lungs that could rival an opera singer. It’s at this time I consider calling on my mother or even my father for help, though I can’t given the distance, they live much further north. With a sigh I sit back on the towel that sits on the floor for a minute. Xu, having heard my sigh looks at me curiously and babbles something unintelligible. “Mama’s tired and taking a break. Play with your toys.” I tell her, moving one of the toy boats around in the bath to show my point, and that explanation suffices for the moment. After a few minutes of quiet play Xu does something that surprises me and fills up one of the toy boats with water before dumping it over her head, and then repeating the process another two times. I look at her somewhat shocked, she’s never shown that much intentional motor control before nor has she allowed her hair to be soaking wet without throwing a tantrum. She looks at my shocked expression, holds up the boat that is once again filled with water and says to me “wash hair!” before pouring it over her head again and giggling. “You want me to wash your hair now?” I ask, still somewhat shocked at the whole situation and she tells me yes. “And you won’t scream this time?” she shakes her head. Cautiously I go quickly to find the soap, all while scratching my head at the sudden change in demeanor. Xu keeps to her word surprisingly and doesn’t cause much of a fuss at all, even allowing me to brush her hair after it’s been dried. Once the rather astonishing situation that was bathtime is over and Xu has been changed, refused to be put in her crib, and read at least three stories she falls asleep against me as I sit in the rocking chair in her room about to fall asleep myself. Life with a toddler can be exhausting, regardless if bathtime is a war of its own, and overall a strange and ever evolving series of experiences. Looking down at the sleeping little girl in my arms clutching her stuffed guar I find myself thinking that despite the exhaustion that comes with raising a toddler, particularly by myself, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.