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Real Name: Heather Ijames Member Since: April 11, 2008 Last Signed In: November 30, 2008 Profile Views: 507 Blog Views: 1514 He's Won Half the Battle Grasping at Metaphors Get Your Fangs Out, It's Fall Ball! Mom's Night Out First Day Funny It's Not a Dare The Barcelona Chronicles - Part III The Barcelona Chronicles - Part II The Barcelona Chronicles - Part I April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 December 08 January 09 . 
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The Gender Card
I thought with the addition of the third male in the house, and me being the only female, our second bathroom needed an overhaul to make it less feminine. So, I wholeheartedly meant it when I asked the whole family to go with me to the store and help pick out colors and patterns. But then, I saw it. The shower curtain of my dreams. I couldn't contain myself. I had to make it mine. My husband tried to steer me towards shower curtains that were striped and not too different in style from most of the shirts he wears. I poo poo'd them all. I just had to have that shower curtain; almost as if my self-identity was interwoven in its majestic silky threads and Bohemic style embroidery. My husband reminded me the reason we were redecorating in the first place was to find something less frilly, not more frilly, since the boys will be primarily using the bathroom. "But our guests use that bathroom too!" I cried out with my fingers crinkling the silk curtain in a panic. "I don't want our guests to think my tastes are defined by anything other than this shower curtain." "What about the boys?" He asked. "One is too young to care and the other one just picked out a plastic curtain with dancing monkeys on it!" I replied. "What about what I want?" He asked. And though I was desperately trying to not throw out the gender card, I did. "Between all the burping and farting and wrestling and dirty clothes thrown all over the house, I feel so outnumbered! Please let me have this." He finally succumbed. Later, when I was putting up my shower curtain, my eldest was patiently watching me, cheering on my good tastes. When I thanked him for his support, he simply responded, "Yeah, because I know I want dinner." I was touched. They get it when they're young and somehow...it just disappears.
4 comments from 4 users
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posted by
twogirlsmama
on May 24, 2008 at 05:51 PM
That is funny. When my girls and I moved out of our house and my daughter had to give up her pink bedroom, I decided to give her a girly bathroom to make up for it. Our house now is older and the bathroom has a built in vanity. But pink is not my favorite. So even in an all girl household, sometimes we have to compromise. :)
posted by
Christina
on May 24, 2008 at 09:44 PM
FYI - I will be checking out this new shower curtain on Sangria night ;) posted by
Normajean
on May 25, 2008 at 10:28 PM
I am trying to decide how I will decorate the guest bathroom which is also the bathroom that my daughter and son use. My son ofcourse doesn't care, but my daughter has more of an opinion. posted by
Mom2CandC
on May 31, 2008 at 09:33 AM
I completely identify with your feelings!! I am the only female in the house as well - even when we had a dog, it was a boy! When we moved into our newer home last year, I was thrilled to have white bathroom fixtures finally! (Our previous home had a light avocado green toilet, sink, tub....built in the 1950's) Thankfully, I didn't have to worry about shower curtains, there were glass doors in both bathrooms - and I have my own garden tub to soak in....so I thought! Well, at least I have had a few nights of soaks. The boys love to take their toys in the tub and "swim inside" while they bathe. Good memories.... At least you won out on the shower curtain choice....without tears anyway! ;) I finally gave up and have agreed to paint each of the boys rooms as they wish - my youngest is a Thomas the Tank engine fan, so it is all Thomas....Oldest loves sports, so, who knows what we'll end up with! Their bathroom was my own creation - surf and beach theme. Something not too gender specific, but cool enough that their friends will enjoy coming over to check it out! My family thought I was nuts...but have decided that it was a good idea. My main complaint about boys in the bathroom....how do you convince them that it's not a contest to see who can stand furthest away from the toilet and still make it? My personal, all time favorite....pee in the trash can or the toilet? The answer? BOTH! yuck....I think that was the day I went ballistic and started threatening to force them both to sit down to pee if I ever saw that again! (Not the greatest moment in motherhood....but, I had JUST finished cleaning the bathroom and scrubbing the tile and grout with bleach....and the rugs were freshly washed too!) My mother in law suggested investing in a mini-urinal type thing that was made to help in toilet training boys....I drew the line at that. No urinals in the bathroom - I thought that was just a little too much! Although, it seems to be a great laugh when the boys are now out swimming and they think it's better to "water the plants" instead of drying off, going inside and using the toilet....it's a guy thing I guess!
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