Shower Power

Rachel Hollis might be all "Girl, Wash Your Face". I'm all, "Mama, take a shower". There. I said it. Outrageous, I know. I can't tell you how often I see GIFs or other social posts from moms saying "it's been 3 days since I showered and I'm walking around with puke on my sweatshirt" as if that's like, the mark of a stay at home mom or a badge of honor. Nah girl, nah. Go.Take.A.Shower. I'm going to tell you why I think it's important and how, even if you have a newborn, you can accomplish it.

I reach the end of so many days and want to collapse into oblivion. I dread the time it will take to shower and the resulting wet mass of tangled hair I'll have to comb out. I stress that the sound of water running through the pipes between my bathroom and the nursery will wake the child I so delicately laid down for the night (oh, it's happened Mama). But here's the secret, come close, I'll tell you. A hot shower is a gift from God. When you've been wiping noses, getting spit-up on, playing cars in the dirt, or just working up a sweat chasing around your newly walking & climbing toddler, a shower is a chance for a fresh start and is not to be underestimated.

A shower is an opportunity to let the day wash away. It might have been a gloriously fun day (it has been known to happen!) and your shower can be an opportunity to reflect and tuck away those memories as you prepare for the next day. Or your day may have been an epic disaster. Turn your face to the water and let it wash your tears down and away. Physically and metaphorically scrub away all signs of baby food, dirt, and blood that may have been wiped on you. Make yourself new again.

Here are some practical tips to get that shower in.

Find your best time.

Whether you like to shower in the morning, evening, or the middle of the day, just find a time that works for you. If your baby wakes up at 5am every day, don't count on showering in the morning. Do it at night when your hubs is home and you don't have to stress or rush. I'm sure he wants you to shower as much as you want to shower. Just make a plan to shower and get.it.done.

Forget your hair

Promise me you'll stop worrying about what your hair looks like. Getting it washed and brushed is an accomplishment in and of itself. This is not the time to worry about blow drying it or trying out the "Easiest At Home Beach Waves" tutorial you saw at 2am while you were nursing your babe and browsing Instagram. Pull that bad boy up into a bun and call it a day, or night. If washing isn't your thing, another beautiful gift we've been given is dry shampoo. It really does work, at least to give it a fresh scent so you can get the feeling of being clean.

And Mama, there's something else you must promise me. Do not go to the salon and think If I cut my hair short it will just be SO much easier to style. No girl, no. Cutting your hair short means you HAVE to style it. So unless you naturally have the easiest beach wave hair, just don't do it. Keep it long so you can put it in a pony, braid, bun, or turban for all I care. Just don't make the mistake I did of getting your first "Bob" when you have a 3 month old.

Make it work

For Mamas with newborns, I know this is an especially difficult promise you're making me. But I've reserved some special tips for you on a getting a shower in:

When your friend comes over to hold your baby, take a shower.

When your husband is home and can listen for baby to wake on the monitor, take a shower.

When your baby is sleeping in the next room and you have a monitor with you, take a shower.

Even if your little blessing wakes up while you're in the shower, I promise she will survive a little crying. I'm not saying shave your legs, do a conditioning treatment and clay mask, but just get in there and wash it off and get out. You will feel refreshed and more ready to handle the next thing baby throws at you.

The Rock N' Play was one of our favorite baby devices.

Something I found particularly useful when I had my first was the Fisher-Price Auto Rock 'n Play Sleeper. They're not super expensive and they can usually be found at second hand baby stores as well. This little darling folds up and can be moved from room to room, even with one hand. So if you're really worried about baby while you're in the shower, buckle that little bundle up in the Rock N' Play and put her right outside of your shower so you can lather and stare at her all at once. And Mama, I've been there. Trust me, I'm not judging you. My firstborn and I made more than enough eye contact while I showered during his first year. Paranoia comes with the new mom territory. It'll pass. Usually.

I know it can be hard to make yourself a priority when it seems like everything is in fast forward and there are 1,000 things to do. But there is nothing outrageous or selfish about getting a shower a day. If nothing else, I promise that you've earned it and your whole family will be better for it.

Clean. Refresh. Renew

A side note on bathing little ones. My experience with toddlers has been that the above concept applies to them as well. After a long day the bath is always a place for play and laughter and a calming renewal to send them into bedtime. For a long time I had a begrudging attitude toward bath time. But I, all too recently, came to realize that if you're not killing 20-30 minutes of witching hour by sticking your kids in the bath, what are you even doing with your life? Let's be honest, sometimes I bathe them at 2 in the afternoon just for a few minutes of peace. Bathe those babes, even if they don't need it, and you'll all come out renewed.