We’re not quite sure what happened last night. My husband and I have chalked it up to a glitch in the Matrix. If my fae child knows, she’s not telling.
School has been back for nearly a week—not the longest time, but long enough for routines to start settling and for us to spot the pressure points. Last night, we hit a new one.
Our bedtime routine—set in stone for years, and mentioned more than once on this blog—has worked without complaint.
Until last night.
Last night, she suddenly decided she didn’t want a bath. Or a shower. In fact, wiping her face with a cloth and brushing her teeth was apparently pushing it.
With some coaxing, we got her up the stairs. With more coaxing, we almost got her in the bathroom… before she collapsed on the floor, screaming that she “didn’t want to get wet.”
This, from a child who willingly spends two hours in a swimming pool twice a week.
We pointed out that she likes being wet. She was unmoved.
We reminded her the shower doesn’t have to be long. No interest.
I tried the classic: “You’ve done PE, dodgeball and yoga today. I just don’t want you to smell.” Nothing. No budge. She was holding that hill.
Ten minutes of cajoling (you can choose the bubble bath), bribery (you can have your favourite book after), and negotiation (what if you choose which shower we use—yes, we have more than one, no, don’t ask)… all of it: useless.
Eventually, we caved. We told her: if she pinky promises—because everyone knows a pinky promise is more binding than any magical oath—that she’ll shower tomorrow (yes, she can use Daddy’s shower), then we’ll compromise: just face and hands washed, and brush your teeth. Non-negotiable.
She sniffled, nodded, pinky swore…
Then got up, wiped her eyes, and marched straight into her father’s bedroom.
Leaving us baffled in the corridor.
A few minutes of bemused communication followed—a mix of words (us), noises and signs (her), and possibly semaphore (everyone)—and then…
She brushes her teeth.
She hops in the shower.
Wait, WHAT?!
I’m sorry, what just happened?
Weren’t we half an hour behind schedule because you didn’t want to do that?!
Didn’t we say you didn’t have to do that?!
Why are you doing that?!
I’m so confused.
She showers. She gets dressed. And bedtime routine resumes its regularly scheduled programming, if a little behind schedule. So… yay?
I guess?
But seriously.
What just happened.
Anyone?
Raising the Modern Fae 