Sunday, May 01, 2022

Soothing Bathing Hour, With Chickens

When you are a caregiver, sometimes you have to get creative with your care. This is doubly so when both of you are coming off of a week plus of being sick (first James, then myself). For example, after clearing some dishes and laundry this morning, I focused the day on showering. This means almost two hours of psyching up and prep (clean bathroom, wait for clean PJs from the dryers, towels out, wipes and bag ready). The actual showering planned to take place during the warmest part of the day, when washer and dryer will be free to deal with his bedding. 

Then comes the bathing campaign, letting James know it's eminent, and literally catching him in a bedroom-bathroom loop that's lately been so find of, and sweeping him down the hall and stocking the bathroom with towels and choices of shirts and PJ bottoms for after.

While he preps for the shower I sweep the bedding into the washer (so glad it's a huge one and can take it all), add extra soap and turn it on. 

I am sitting in the armchair, encouraging the process - literally calling the plays, clapping, and giving out encouragement. I found something new to distract him from complaining and stalling: an online chicken timer, set to piano music: 


This helps us both not go down the meltdown hole and keep a our sense of humour.

Then, while he's working on shampooing his hair, I will get temporary clean bedding on his bed.

When shower sessions are over, the day is still warm and it's time for a milkshake reward.