This post has been in development since Grandma’s first weekend with us … which also marked my first experience helping her bathe. With each shower, I’ve honed my skills and perfected our process. We have achieved a level of efficiency to the degree of being willing to document. Today, in the spirit of the Olympics, I had DH time our performance.
We are fortunate to have put in a five foot walk in shower a couple years ago. With a rubber bath mat and a plastic shower bench put in place… the stage is set and the clock starts. I turn the water on as Grandma removes her clothing, glasses and lifeline necklace. I help her into the shower and give her a nylon mesh wash cloth. For the next few minutes, Grandma scrubs herself while I stand outside the shower holding the bath gel. Every few minutes she wants more “soap” and this is my cue to open the door a crack and squeeze more bath gel onto her wash cloth. Squirt, wash, rinse, repeat…. By the time she is squeaky clean… it’s time to wash her hair and this is when I become a major participant in the event.
My uniform for shower duty is whatever I’ve worn to bed the night before. I’ve managed to stay fairly dry in spite of the fact I’m standing in a full blast shower… who’d have ever guessed? Grandma sits on her little bench and I suds her up… rinse, condition, rinse and turn off the water. Just like that! I exit out of the shower and grab the towels (we utilize a two-towel method… one for her and one for me) and back in the shower I go. Grandma towel dries her front side (still seated) and I dry her hair and back. She stands to finish drying and I get out (again) and get her robe. I help her out of the shower, into the gown… and as she snaps up, I take the little shower bench and place it over in the sink area, which has now become NanaMama’s Glamourama. Grandma takes her seat and I morph into her personal hair stylist.
My earliest recollection of playing beauty operator involved cutting my dolls’ hair with round edged scissors. Mom was none too happy with me, for that at the time … but she has obviously forgotten the incident by now. I barely remember it myself except for the memories of stubby headed baby dolls. Now, armed with a 1875 watt hair dryer and an electric curling brush… I transform Grandma into a silver haired version of herself from 20 years ago (the only style I can manage with my limited creativity and skill). She looks in the mirror and gives her approval.
Grandma dresses herself while I finish picking up the bathroom. As we open the door and thus, cross the finish line, I call down to DH.
“We’re done! What’s our time?”
“Twenty-five minutes!”
Seriously? Oh yeah… A new personal best and I’m confident that if there was a “Grandma Bath and Coiffing” event in the Olympics (please note I resisted any reference to Curling…) Grandma and I would have taken the Gold.
So ends Episode 7.
No comments:
Post a Comment