My Sanctuary

The bathroom. The one place a busy mom has where she can escape for a few minutes of peace and not feel guilty. Right? Right? I mean everyone has to go to the bathroom at some point in the day. But that most special time of the day is when I can get a shower. Alone. As in no one asking me a question that must be answered this instant, wanting me to help them with a math problem, needing me to find their socks....or cleats....or the hot dogs, or any other litany of reasons that MOM must be summoned. Not that the firmly closed door deters many in my brood. It doesn't. But what the sanctuary of the shower does offer is the most lovely excuse: "I'm sorry (insert child's name) I can't hear you. I'm in the shower!" Just writing it makes me want to run in there right now and crank up the nozzle. It's a beautiful thing, really.

So now you understand the Utopia that moms all over the world have discovered within their own walls. There is one small but crucial glitch in this whole scenario, however. YOU HAVE TO SHUT THE DOOR! And I mean really shut it all the way not just where it looks like it is shut. Why, oh why, is this somehow overlooked? I have no idea. Every once in a while it just is. And when it is it goes a little something like this:

I have just escaped from being needed for a few minutes. The kids are safely occupied and I am feeling the stress of the day being washed down the drain. The first sign that this is not going to be the few moments of peace that I have anticipated is the distinct sound of Daisy pushing the door open. Then it hits me.....I didn't really get the door shut all the way.....dang it. Who can blame the poor dog? She certainly needs a little sanctuary of her own after dealing with the two year old resident all day. I peek out and Daisy has settled for a nap against the tub with a look of sweet relief on her face. That's okay, the kids are happily watching a video or playing a game, so I will just make this quick and they won't realize the door is open. What a ridiculous, fleeting thought you poor, naive woman!

Next up: Claire. She must have an alarm in her room that goes off when Daisy pops in the bathroom because within seconds she is in there too. There are many, many reasons she likes to put in an appearance during my shower. She has to go potty, she needs to brush her teeth, she simply must brush her hair or braid it, or maybe she just hasn't asked me that one millionth question and this is the best time to get that out there. Oh, I don't think I have mentioned that we have 3 other bathrooms besides the one I shower in.

Sam is usually helpful during this time. Very helpful. As in annoyingly helpful. The phone always rings during my escape. Instead of just getting up to answer the phone in a nice, calm manner, he has to sprint through the house like he's on the gridiron, snatch the phone like a football, and bust in the bathroom as if it's the end zone. Seriously. This sends Daisy into a barking fit because she hates for the kids to run, and she's probably more than a bit peeved that her quiet/no-kid time is being disturbed. Sam: "Mama!" (breathlessly) "The phone's ringing!" Me: "Okay. Who is it?" Sam: "It says Unknown Name." Me: "Then I don't need to talk to them right now.....or ever!" "Go out, please, and shut the door." Oh, he leaves all right, but does that door get pulled all the way shut? Nope.

Well, if Kate was at all interested in anything before, she now realizes that the excitement in the bathroom takes precedence over her activity. I quickly hear the pitter patter of those precious feet on the tile floor of the bathroom. "Mama! Kate shower!!" By the time I get the shampoo cleared from my eyes she has shed her clothes and diaper with her bare bottom scrambling over the edge of the tub. She loves the shower spraying on her face, but most of all she loves to be in there with me. She is giggling (hopefully because the spray tickles her and not at the sight of me) and feeling rather pleased with herself. It isn't often that Mama forgets and leaves that door open for her.

A sweet woman from church one day said that she has learned to look at the daily stresses of life like this: I am in demand. So very, very true. Perhaps I subconsciously don't completely shut the door because I know I am in demand....now....but won't always be. I am trying to live in this moment and be who my kids need me to be right now. Mom. Always present and available even if it means giving up my beloved sanctuary of a shower now and then.