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Benjamin has a new toy, or at least a new form of entertainment. And it came from a most unlikely source.
Thanks to an unlocatable and unfixable leak, we have been without a shower in our house for several years. In fact, Benjamin was a very young toddler when we realized that we would have to stick with just baths, otherwise it would rain in the living room.
The problem had grown progressively worse, so that even often with a bath, there would be a few drips in the living room. But we made do, until finally I’d had enough. (An extra incentive is that we hope to host the Rotary exchange student later this winter, and I figured it would be good to offer her the use of a shower.)
So finally this fall we decided to take the plunge and have our tub and shower replaced. The Weiss brothers did a great job with only a minimum of inconvenience over a few days in late October, and we now have a shower again.
I’ve really been enjoying the use of the shower. Although I like a nice soak in the tub now and then, I had forgotten how much more refreshing a shower can be. And it’s a whole lot quicker, too. But the best thing of all has been Benjamin’s reaction.
On are occasions while camping or whatever, Benjamin has had a shower, but they’ve been too few and far between to leave a lasting impression. Having our own shower, on the other hand, has proved to be quite an adventure.
His first time in the new shower, he was a bit apprehensive and reluctant to step under the spray. Soon, however, he was dashing back and forth in the tub, ducking under the water each time. His shouts of laughter rang through the house.
Before I knew it, he was asking to take a shower every day. He dances and sings as the water cascades over him, and bath-time (make that shower time) is filled with laughter. I have to keep him on a time limit, though, or he’d never come out.
As I see him enjoying his showers, I’m hopeful that it will bear fruit next summer. For several years I’ve been trying to get him to learn to swim. Although he loves going to the pool, he won’t put his face in the water.
When he would take a bath, washing his hair was a big production, as he had to be sure he had his face well-covered with a washcloth before I dared to pour water over his head. Now, he’s dancing around under the water, and even allowing the water to run over his head. Hair washing is quickly becoming no big deal.
So hopefully, next summer, when it comes time to head to the pool, putting his face in the water will also be no big deal. Maybe he’ll finally learn to swim.
There is one drawback to the shower, though, and that’s the shower curtain. I’m very careful about what Benjamin watches on TV, so he’s never seen any classic horror movies with bad guys hiding behind the shower curtain. Unfortunately, his vivid imagination concocted that possibility without any outside help.
Last night as he was getting ready for bed, he moved the shower curtain back and forth. I thought he was just figuring out how it works. This morning, however, when he headed into the bathroom to get ready to school, I heard him moving the curtain, and then he came running back out. When I asked what was wrong, he admitted that he was afraid and was checking behind the curtain to make sure there was nothing there.
I guess every silver lining has to have a cloud.
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