A Strong Dose of Mom Guilt

Just look at that attitude. 

Last night, at about 20 minutes before it was time to ship the girls off to bed, I remembered I hadn't given them a bath. If it were any other day, I'd just skip it and chalk it up to a long day. But yesterday they played outside, got sweaty and then sat in a sandbox for a couple of hours. They had sand in places that should never have sand in them. 

They needed a bath. 

So, I summoned every ounce of motivation I could and marched them upstairs. 

It should be noted that at this time of day -- 20 minutes before bedtime -- I'm usually nearing my breaking point. By that point, I have been up for about 18 hours, the girls are getting cranky and fighting with each other and I'm ready to plop on the couch and relax. 

Let it also be noted that by the end of bath time, I'm usually sweating and panting because there are few better workouts than trying to wrangle my two toddlers into getting clean. They are constantly switching spots and splashing and kicking and throwing toys and fighting with every muscle they have to avoid washing their hair. 

So, with that being said, last night, when I was already tired and cranky and they were being less than compliant -- I may have raised my voice to Claire who had for the THIRD time filled up a cup with water and flung it at me while I was rinsing shampoo out of Grace's hair. My shirt was completely drenched. Water was running down my face. Grace was screaming because she was getting splash damage, while also being being tortured by me washing her hair. And I had told Claire not to do it already twice before. 

So, on the third time (when I may have raised my voice), I said: "CLAIRE PARKER! THAT IS ENOUGH! I HAVE ASKED YOU THREE TIMES TO STOP THROWING WATER. STOP DOING IT RIGHT NOW OR SO HELP ME GOD I WILL YANK YOU OUT OF THIS BATHTUB AND MAKE YOU SIT AND WAIT UNTIL GRACE IS DONE!"

She froze.  

And then looked me straight in the eye, cool as a cucumber, and said "Mom, don't yell at me." 

Game. Set. Match.