Saturday, April 19, 2008

Like Herding Cats....

December 31, 2007 - Monday

Like Herding Cats....
Category: Life

Have you ever heard the expression 'like herding cats'??

Like herding cats - An effort that will likely be futile or at least very, very difficult to accomplish.

Have you ever tried to give a bath to a 20 month old and a five year old who is on over-tired hyper drive? Pretty much the equivalent of herding cats!

A couple of days ago, I tried giving Nick a bath without his bath seat. He was in the tub by himself because Ethan was at the movies with his cousins. Nick LOVED it! He laid down, rolled over, slid down the side, scooted back to the other end, and slid again. He did great, except for trying to stand up all the time, and I just kept pulling his arm down and saying sit down. No big deal right? No messy wet bath seat at the end, and Nick had a great time playing in the water.

Fast forward to tonight, when I decide to give them a bath together without the bath seat. Ethan thought it was cool to watch Nick sliding around. Again, Nicholas is rolling around, sliding, scooting, having a great time. Again, I have to keep pulling him down to sit down, which was okay until it was time to wash their hair.

So, squirt some soap on their heads. Pull Nick to sit down. Suds up Nick's hair. Pull Nick to sit down. Suds up Ethan's hair. Pull Nick to sit down. Start the water running to rinse them off. Pull Nick to sit down. Test the water to make sure it's not too hot. Pull Nick to sit down. Pull Nick to sit down. Pull Nick to sit down. Start (Pull Nick to sit down) rinsing (Pull Nick to sit down) Nick's (Pull Nick to sit down) hair.

Now, all that was pretty much a 2 handed juggling act. Rinsing his hair (and pulling Nick to sit down) with one hand, and holding the detachable shower wand with the other. THEN it got really tricky.

Now it becomes a three handed juggling act! Rinse with one hand. Hold the shower wand with one hand. Keep Nick sitting down with one hand. Yes, I know I have only 2!!

So, here's how it went, and when the "Herding Cats" expression popped into my head.

(Pull Nick to sit down)

Start to

(Pull Nick to sit down)

rinse

(Pull Nick to sit down)

Ethan's

(Pull Nick to sit down)

hair.

(Pull Nick to sit down)

Hand Ethan

(Pull Nick to sit down)

a wash cloth

(Pull Nick to sit down)

(Pull Nick to sit down)

to wipe the

(Pull Nick to sit down)

soap from his

(Pull Nick to sit down)

face.

(Pull Nick to sit down)

Finish

(Pull Nick to sit down)

rinsing

(Pull Nick to sit down)

Ethan's

(Pull Nick to sit down)

hair.

Sounds about like herding cats, doesn't it?


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