Boys in the Bathroom

Oh don't worry! I am sure the title of this posting is setting off alarm bells in your mind regarding the obvious things I might discuss regarding sharing a bathroom with 4 males. But what I have to talk about has absolutely nothing to do with the toilet. Instead, I'll just point out a few good lessons I've learned being, so far, the only female in the house.


#1 - Use pump soaps! Shortly after marriage and moving into our home together, one night my husband was taking a shower. I could smell the unmistakable smell of my Neutrogena gold bar face soap. I peaked into the shower to see Kevin lathering up as if it was an all-over body bar! "Uh, honey. That's my face soap!" He apologized, but shortly after I switched to the pump version of my favorite soap.


#2 - Don't use the hand towel. You never know where it's been! One night after reminding one son to feed the dog, I happened to stick around long enough to witness his procedure. Instead of just replacing the food and water in each dish with a fresh supply, he took each dish, wiped it out with the hand towel before adding fresh food and water. Then he hung the towel back on the bar and left the room! Trust me - I will never use the bathroom hand towel again. I always get out a clean one, regardless of adding to the laundry pile!


#3 - Bleach your scrubby. One night our youngest boy seemed to be taking an extra long time in the bathtub. So I went in and opened the shower curtain to find him happily scrubbing the shower and tub as far he could reach. The entire thing was scrubbed and bubbly, and he was so proud! "I washed the whole tub, Mom!" he claimed with glee. The only problem was he was scrubbing it with my shower sponge! Yuk! Another thing to wash or replace!


#4 - Your special products are not that special. Just because you are the only female, don't think you have dibs on all the good "products". Having long hair with many moods, I have several different types/brands of shampoos and conditioners in the shower at one time, much to my husband's dismay. With a crew-cut hairdo, doesn't know what it means to have to tame down frizz in the midst of summer, or reduce build-up, or condition or shine. And then there are the facial washes and creams. I used to feel guilty about buying those things just for me, but then my eldest became a teenager. At one point he was using as much mousse, gel, face wash and lotion as his mom. There have been times that I want to gasp as I see him freely spraying the salon product into his hair, but then remind myself to share!

So those are just a couple lessons I've learned along the way living with a house full of males. Well, just wait! The little girl will probably be putting me in another frame of mind when it's her turn!