“Alright, Big Brother. While Little Brother’s having a nap, I’m going to go have a shower.”
“Okay.”
“You stay out here and do your colouring in.”
“Okay. I’ll just come in if I need to go to the toilet.”
“Sure. Do you need to go to the toilet?”
“No.”
“Okay. Then you stay here, and just come in if you need to go to the toilet.”
“Or if Little Brother starts crying.”
“Okay.”
“Or if I want to show you my colouring.”
“No. Please don’t come in if you want to show me your colouring. I’ll be back soon. You just stay here and do your colouring, and only come in if you need to go to the toilet, or if you’re hurt, or if Little Brother is crying. Okay?”
“Okay. Or if I want to check on you.”
“No. Don’t come in and check on me.”
“Oh. Why not?”
“Because… Look, I’m just going to have a shower. You stay here. Don’t come in unless you need me, okay?”
“Okay.”
“I’m going now.”
…
“Where are you going?”
“With you.”
“Wha- Why??”
“Because I love you.”
“… But… You… We…” Sigh. “I love you, too. But I’m going to have a shower.”
“Yes.”
“So, you stay here and do your colouring.”
“Oh. Okay. But what happens if Little Brother wakes up and he starts crying because he wants to know where you are?”
Pause. Deep breaths.
“Look, I won’t be long. If Little Brother is crying, come and tell me.”
“Or if I need you.”
“Yes. If you need me. But not if you just want to ask me something, and not if you just want to show me something, and not if you just want to check on me, and not if you want to say you love me, and not if you remember a joke you want to tell me. Okay?”
“Okay. I’ll just come in if I need to go to the toilet or if I’m thirsty.”
More deep breaths.
“Are you thirsty?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
Pause.
“Are you going in the shower now?”
—-
I have this conversation more often than I really care to admit. Does it sound familiar to anyone else?
How about now?
Jo Eberhardt is a writer of speculative fiction, mother to two adorable boys, and lover of words and stories. She lives in rural Queensland, Australia, and spends her non-writing time worrying that the neighbour's cows will one day succeed in sneaking into her yard and eating everything in her vegie garden.
Yep, VERY familiar lol. Gotta love the younguns!
That’s definitely one way to look at it. 🙂
OMG Jo – thank you! For the smile you just brought to my (and my Mum’s face) and for being someone who understands just how hard it can be to have a quiet shower – alone.
You’re very welcome. I’m sure you can relate — or you will be able to VERY soon. 🙂
Oh my gosh I suddenly feel very sorry for my mom. I WAS Big Brother.
Ha! I can easily imagine that. 🙂
When I read these exchanges, I get a headache. Coincidence? I think not!
See, look at what you’ve got to look forward to in the years to come. And you thought you had headaches now!
Someone get that poor Momma some migraine medication now! 😉
As usual you are writing the story.of.my.life Loving it It won’t last forever I’m told… oxox
In some ways, I can’t wait until it ends. In others… well, in an odd way, I’m sure I’ll miss my little Monty Python moments. 🙂
Absolutely – great reason to write them down on the blog 🙂
Pingback: DTD: Signs of hope, New Challenges and Random Fun | Ben Trube
haha! ive missed your stories!!!!
Thanks. 🙂 I’ve missed sharing them! You’d be surprised how many times over the last few months I’ve thought: “I need to write about this on my…. oh. Yeah, I’m not blogging right now.”