kayb85

My daughter never really was a big fan of taking baths or showers,
and it was never much of an issue because a young child who doesn't
produce body odor CAN go days without showers and it's not a huge
deal.

But now that she's getting older (11), she smells pretty bad and has
greasy hair if she goes a few days without a shower. I've talked to
her about the importance of regular bathing. She doesn't think it's
fair that she has to take a bath regularly and I pointed out that
it's not just her, it's ALL people past a certain age who will smell
if they don't stay clean. I told her that people might think poorly
of her if she smells bad and has greasy looking hair.

I've tried getting her nice soaps and shower gels(she likes that when
they're new but the novelty wears off soon and she doesn't care
anymore), I offered to light candles for her (she says she doesn't
care about candles), I offered to take a shower with her and we could
wash each other's backs (she said no)...

So my question is, how much would you remind/try to convince an 11
year old to shower? For example, I noticed on Thursday that she
really needed a shower, so I suggested it to her. She said, "Maybe
later". So I reminded her again later in the day (like 9 pm) and she
said, "later". She never did. Friday she was REALLY smelling bad,
and I told her that. She said, "later". I reminded her again, and
she said, "First thing tomorrow morning, I promise". Saturday
morning she didn't shower. Nor did she all day Saturday. Today, I
said, "How about if you take a shower and then pick out some nail
polish and I'll paint your toenails after your shower? So she did.

Am I nagging too much? If I remind her once and she doesn't do it,
should I keep reminding her or just let it go? What about the issue
of body odor and not wanting other people to look down on her?

Sheila

Nisha

--- In [email protected], "kayb85" <sheran@p...>
wrote:
Friday she was REALLY smelling bad,
> and I told her that. She said, "later". I reminded her again, and
> she said, "First thing tomorrow morning, I promise". Saturday
> morning she didn't shower. Nor did she all day Saturday. Today, I
> said, "How about if you take a shower and then pick out some nail
> polish and I'll paint your toenails after your shower? So she
did.

IF my kids stink, I'm probably going to ask them, do you want to take
a shower or a bath? Do they want to take it in my bathroom or theirs?
Not *IF* they will take one. But then, they are 3 and 6.
nisha

Homeschool

This is my first reply on this list. So, I hope I'm doing it correctly. I
just
had to write when Sandra asked if there were any other families that
had been unschooling for a while, and didn't have a problem with
showers. We don't.

If we are going out somewhere, my two, (almost 10, and 11) just
automatically shower. And since, we are going somewhere almost
everyday, they shower daily. It's never been an issue, and I'm sitting
here
asking myself why. Maybe it's because I always gave them baths before
we went out, when they were younger. They have very thick hair, and the
only way to make it look brushed, was to condition it. So, if you're going
to wash the hair, you might as well wash the whole kid. There were
always so many toys in the tub, that they never felt they were missing
anything by being there. Perhaps the feeling of fun has lasted.

It could be because their cousins showed up at my daughter's birthday
party , two years ago, smelling. One of her older homeschooling friends
whispered that her cousins should take a shower, and it embarrassed my
daughter, (and me too). There was a very long discussion after that .

It could be because we are really into the way things feel around here. And
there is nothing like putting on warm clothes, right out of the dryer, on
a clean body, right out of the shower, after a long day. Unless, you
also have just washed sheets, but I'm only human.

They have deodorant in their upstairs bathroom, which they use. I only
explained it's purpose to them once, but they had watched me use it
for years, (I never get any privacey). They are really into conditioner now

because the chlorine in the Y's pool has been making their hair feel
stale, (my son's word). My daughter asked the lifeguard to tell her
10 minutes before the pool closed today, so she could take a shower there,
complete with conditioner, before she went home. My son automatically
took a shower before getting dressed to pick up his friend.

So, we don't have a shower problem. However, we do have a dirty towel
problem, which I'm going to stop complaining about. Okay, it
was only muttering to myself, but I'm going to stop it anyway.

Vicky










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Have a Nice Day!

We've never had shower problems here either. Not sure why. I know my friend's daughter doesn't like showers.

My daughters could hardly wait to shave their legs (and do it even though theydon't really need to), and use deoderant, etc.

My son doesn't take quite as many showers, but always makes sure he is clean.

Teeth brushing is where our issues are LOL.

Kristen

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