Half hour—how can I make my evenings run more smoothly?

[Anonymous]

How is a 7 year old not good at showering? It’s just standing in water and smearing a tear free shampoo:body wash all over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is a 7 year old not good at showering? It’s just standing in water and smearing a tear free shampoo:body wash all over.

That’s how your kid showers. Many don’t like an all in one. Some aren’t good at washing their backside. Some get shampoo in their eyes. Some don’t rinse their hair well. Some have trouble getting the bubbles all washed away. You can’t envision any scenario where a 7 year old needs to improve his showering skills?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is a 7 year old not good at showering? It’s just standing in water and smearing a tear free shampoo:body wash all over.

That’s how your kid showers. Many don’t like an all in one. Some aren’t good at washing their backside. Some get shampoo in their eyes. Some don’t rinse their hair well. Some have trouble getting the bubbles all washed away. You can’t envision any scenario where a 7 year old needs to improve his showering skills?

Uh no. My 4 yo can shower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is a 7 year old not good at showering? It’s just standing in water and smearing a tear free shampoo:body wash all over.

That’s how your kid showers. Many don’t like an all in one. Some aren’t good at washing their backside. Some get shampoo in their eyes. Some don’t rinse their hair well. Some have trouble getting the bubbles all washed away. You can’t envision any scenario where a 7 year old needs to improve his showering skills?

Uh no. My 4 yo can shower.

NP here.

I have a 5 year old who CAN shower by herself, but really prefers to have help. She has thick hair that needs real shampoo/conditioner and thus needs help rinsing it. I use the time as a few minutes to sit in the bathroom, helping sporadically. She sometimes start chatting to me about her day etc. Just because a child CAN do something on their own, doesn't mean it's a mandate that they MUST. I agree teaching kids to be self-sufficient is a good goal, but I tend to think care taking times shouldn't be first on the list of "things to do alone". I'm sure you're 4 year old could also put themselves to bed, but you still snuggle and tuck them in, right? Why? Same reasoning with bathing and eating. Save the self-sufficiency for chores at first.

[Anonymous]

I would lay down and rest for half an hour.

[Anonymous]

Unless doing something like meal prep would make your evening dramatically easier, I would for sure take that time for myself. Read a book. Take a nap. Do 30 minutes of yoga if that's what helps you relax. I usually think the screams for "self care!" are a little eye-roll inducing, but I don't know, a short window of calm before the storm feels like it could really be ice.

[Anonymous]

ugh. could really be *nice, not ice

[Anonymous]

Either chill and relax for the extra 30 minutes or get a jump start on dinner prep, laundry, whatever. Be happy you’ve got an extra 30.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Set up the coffee pot for the morning
Prep something for breakfasts or lunches the next morning, or prep something you'll need for dinner the following day
Tidy up the house (if this is something you normally do in the evening)

This is what I do and it's so helpful! Also I fold/put away laundry or do a load, feed the dog, etc.

[Anonymous]

Take a nap for 1/2 hour. Keep a plush , comfy throw on the sofa, and go to sleep there.

This is the best thing you will do for yourself. Remember that any phase your kids are in will eventually go away.