Hottest day of the season an my son refused to bath... how to handle?
By viju0410
@viju0410 (2286)
India
May 18, 2012 6:54am CST
Hi friends,
Yesterday was the hottest day (in Central parts of India) and my son, aged 11, was in no mood for his morning bath. It was very irritating for me but then somehow i controlled my anger. 
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Its summer vacation in school and so my children (daughter 14& son 11)) has modified their schedule by getting up late, no morning walks/ activities and do their work (school projects and i have given them some add on responsiblities like dusting etc)as and when they wish. It seems both are enjoying their holidays but as i & my husband had to leave the home for our respective work, we want them to have breakfast with us and when they delay things, i get upset. My husband is giving freedom to them and somehow he too enjoys with them (staying late in bed)
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Any / all suggestions welcome how to make them back to routine? Or should i too allow them to enjoy their off days? 
Happy lotting friends.
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Its summer vacation in school and so my children (daughter 14& son 11)) has modified their schedule by getting up late, no morning walks/ activities and do their work (school projects and i have given them some add on responsiblities like dusting etc)as and when they wish. It seems both are enjoying their holidays but as i & my husband had to leave the home for our respective work, we want them to have breakfast with us and when they delay things, i get upset. My husband is giving freedom to them and somehow he too enjoys with them (staying late in bed).
Any / all suggestions welcome how to make them back to routine? Or should i too allow them to enjoy their off days?
Happy lotting friends.2 people like this
7 responses
@rosegardens (3034)
• United States
18 May 12
I think having a family meal is a wonderful idea. I guess the best way to handle this is to take away something he enjoys until he begins to comply. Why do kids act like they are getting every tooth in their head pulled without anesthetic when it comes to bathing? lol! I would be upset too, since you are both working and do not see your children for an extended period. Even so, family meals are very important and your son must learn to honor your request.
If I disobeyed like that when I was his age, I would be thrown into the bath clothes and all and get a slap or 2 on the rear or the face, whichever was closest. My parents did not tolerate disrespect.
I use a squirt bottle to discipline my cats. I wonder if you squirted him awake how that would work? lol.
@rosegardens (3034)
• United States
18 May 12
Right. You did not dare NOT listen, else there would be punishment. Not a bad thing at all, unless it is to the point of abuse. Being corrected and getting a slap or 2 is not too harsh. In the future when the child goes to work, he/she will be praised for being a hard worker and may end up with a promotion or better job offer. If you allow them to control you and your household, they will not be so great at working and may not be able to hold a job, or worse get into some other serious trouble. Correcting them and making them follow your directions is better for them. They will be afraid to get into trouble and will be good, honest people and the parents will also be praised for raising such good children.
@viju0410 (2286)
• India
18 May 12
Hi rose,
I was thinking in that lines too. But rather than taking away, i started offering his favorite cookies / biscuits etc and told him he can do his own shopping of these cookies in the morning hours. It worked for 3-4 days and now he is ready to get them in the evening so that he can get /enjoy his morning sleep..
oh god - so you too were naughty, right? 
The good thing so far is only in holidays they are behaving in this manner. otherwise (touchwood) they act independently and carry out their tasks smoothly.
@ Roz - these days the parents don't dictate the kids, it is the other way. LOL.
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oh god - so you too were naughty, right?
The good thing so far is only in holidays they are behaving in this manner. otherwise (touchwood) they act independently and carry out their tasks smoothly.
@ Roz - these days the parents don't dictate the kids, it is the other way. LOL.1 person likes this
@rosegardens (3034)
• United States
18 May 12
lol--yes I was a little naughty. But honestly, when we were in public and even the neighbors did say we were the best behaved kids. Teachers said that too. 
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
19 May 12
I have a question, you have him takes morning baths? What about evening baths, because in the evening he is hot and the bath will feel great if the water isn't too hot. Plus, getting a bath at night, he won't be a sweaty dirty mess in bed.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
20 May 12
Well, sometimes traditions need to change, especially if your son likes baths at night, he is probably saying he would rather be clean for bed, and in reality, he stays clean, other than maybe washing his face and hands in the morning, he is still clean. I prefer my son to take his bath after playing hard all day, sweating and getting dirty, that way he can sleep soundly knowing he isn't sleeping in filth.
@viju0410 (2286)
• India
19 May 12
Hi,
We were bought up in the tradition of having a bath in the morning hours as it will keep you cool - both mind & body -make you feel fresh. In my house, my mom used to enter the kitchen only after her bath and i too follow her. So we are all morning people. LOL.
Evening or at night i don't have to tell him for bathing as he too loves the evening baths compared to the morning (strick) ones.
1 person likes this
@loveandpeace (470)
• Indonesia
19 May 12
Hi, I have 2 daughters and yes sometimes they really love to wake up late in weekend. I'm a morning person, so I always remind them not too late to wake up. It's okay if they like it around 7am but I'm not allowing them to wake up after 8am. I told them that unless our bodies were sick, we really need a morning bath and breakfast. It will gives us energy to start our day. Happy weekend .
.@viju0410 (2286)
• India
19 May 12
hi,
That is cute of you to have explained the simple thing in a great way. I too ask them to be up by 8 in this holiday but sometimes he will not leave the bed, though awake. LOL.
You are right we need to be more soft towards them and being annoyed will not serve the purpose. Happy weekend to you too.
@thewonderboy (7501)
• India
18 May 12
Vacation is the time of fun and enjoymen for kids. All the children have little smiles when they get into the vacation because they are free from all the things and i think you must make your kids to enjoy the most. Vacation is the only time they can enjoy the most and the kids are not able to have a long sleep because they have school and other works. So i think they should be freed to do extend but never allow them to break their daily routines.
@viju0410 (2286)
• India
19 May 12
Hi WB,
Oh god, they are actually enjoying the most dear and don't tell me to allow more freedom. . See here he's not breaking the rule but delaying the routine that makes me get late for my work. I even thought of putting him in some summer classes but unfortunately nothing has worked out so far. I was worried as they will face a problem once the holidays are over...or may be they'll b back to routine then.
have a nice weekend.
. See here he's not breaking the rule but delaying the routine that makes me get late for my work. I even thought of putting him in some summer classes but unfortunately nothing has worked out so far. I was worried as they will face a problem once the holidays are over...or may be they'll b back to routine then.
have a nice weekend. @srikanth777ias (326)
• India
18 May 12
in child age every child i like that we should try to tell them some thing and make them to bath . it is the just growing age so we should not show angry on them . every thing should be tell like a cool and pleasant way then they will obey them . and this is the time we have to tell and make them to learn the good things mainly telling about the stories of great persons and our past history and teach about the well being of the society and this is not enough we try to make them to follow all the things
@viju0410 (2286)
• India
19 May 12
hi,
Your story idea is good but der i don't have that much patience and time for telling stories in the morning time as i hav to leave home by 10 for my office. This holidays are making them more lazy and enjoy their free time. Sure, i will not be angry the next time he do some pranks. LOL.
@Lizomatic12 (96)
• United States
19 May 12
I have raised four children ages now are 30, 27, 15 and 13 years old I have 23 daughters and 1 son. ALL of my children went through what I call the "NO BATHING" period in their lives. My son was the worst. I actually caught him sitting on the sink while the shower was running so if I looked under the door I would not see his feet and i would assume he was in the shower. I asked him why he was doing this and he told me...He didnt feel like doing EVERY thing I tell him to do, so this was his way of getting back at me. He felt that in secret to him self, that he had me fooled. As for my girls...still haven't figured that one out. I just know all 4 of my kids went through this before they were a teen-ager. Good Luck:-)
@viju0410 (2286)
• India
19 May 12
Hi, Its so good to know about the 'no bathing' period! So it seems children at certain age and certain time feel it not compulsory for their bath. Ok, since he's 11, i can watch for other excuses of him, in case it is one of the pre-teen syndrome.
I really appreciate your son telling you 'not feeling like doing everyting' told by you, that shows his innocence too.
My daughter is 14 but she never did such fuss for her bath at either of the time. She loves bathing just after returning from school at afternoon 2.30 as well.
@GemmaR (8517)
•
18 May 12
I think that a lot of children go through the phase of not wanting to bathe, and it is usually when they are around that age that it starts to become a problem. You should explain to him why he needs to do this, and that at his age he starts to sweat a little bit more meaning that he will start to smell if he doesn't choose to take a bath. You should also take something away from him and say that he can have it back when he has had a bath. Something like a mobile phone or a games console would be ideal for this, because it would make him want to do whatever he could in order to get it back.
