There's a gnome in the bath!

My stomach contracts and my eyes stream as I kneel on the bathroom floor. Eyeliner stings as it runs, and my cheeks ache. Wet hands make it difficult to wipe the black smears from my eyes and laughter echoes and overlaps behind me.

Long gone are the days of being bent over the porcelain throne, as the here and now is a different kind of overwhelming moment of just how my son can make me forget adult worries that can cloud the mind.

It's BATH TIME! And any parent will know that a bath is not JUST a bath.

At 12-months-old, my son doesn't just wash off the day before bedtime. OH NO. He stands, climbs and soaks his mum by creating waves that a whale would be proud of. One of his latest tricks is dunking his head into the foam and standing to show off his gnome-like beard and tache. Repeatedly. THIS is entertainment! His appreciation echoes the room, along with lots of poses - tongue out, a tilted head, tensing like The Hulk...  to the amusement of myself, his nanny and auntie (who are drawn towards the splashing commotion).

After the 20-something time, the hilarity turns to wondrous appreciation. As my mum snaps various headshots of my little gnome, I cannot help but start to mentally thank my son. So innocent, and yet such a genius, as well as a comedic angel. How can a person be so perfect?

As adults we may feel frustrated when our child cries and we don't have the answer. Or feel so god damn tired when we've had interrupted sleep, been sterilising bottles/dummies and still have the washing, cooking, shopping and a dozen other things on the to-do list.


As a single parent I've had so much to take on since splitting with my husband at the end of November, 2011. I worry when the house phone rings, the post arrives and upon checking my bank balance. I also have to take a deep breath when I find out each week that I'm no closer to getting maintenance, when cooking a batch of food for the freezer and Harry is bored and clutching my legs.

How will I provide us a lovely home? Where will he go to school? How will I fund us for the next few weeks?

However, I've learnt to keep these worries locked away, until I can find time to voice a small part of those on this blog. Or get the laptop out at night to try and find answers. My mum once told me: "He can sense when you're stressed." I understand that.

However, my little performer entertains me in many ways. His gnome-like face at bath time is just one of those that brings on an almighty belly-laugh and temporarily drowns the adult woe.

I no longer sing a strained song into the white china like many moons ago after a Leo Sayer. But in the bathroom I share laughter with my loving son before putting him to bed.

I have many thoughts to deal with, but his night-time routine helps me put them to bed... until another day at least.