The Iguana in the Bathtub

by Caryn Hunt
(Owego, NY)

In recent months I have tried to transition my 8 1/2 year old from taking baths to using an adjustable, hand-held shower head. At first I thought the biggest problem would be finding the right setting so the water stream wouldn't feel so 'stingy' (as he puts it). I didn't take into consideration the fact that when the water was shut off he would feel the rush of cold air to an extreme.

Due to this feeling he would shut off the water as fast as possible in order to rush into the warm towel waiting for him. I was constantly after him to turn the water off all the way due to the continuous drip that would follow. No matter how many times I said it, I would still find myself as the one who would go back into the bathroom to shut of the water.

One evening, following his shower, I wandered into the bathroom and noticed that there was not the usual dripping sound. I made sure to tell him how proud I was that he made sure the faucet wasn't dripping. I failed to notice the mischievous grin that am I sure must have been on his face.

The next morning I went to take a shower and jumped sky high when I opened the curtain. Instead of shutting off the faucet completely, he had placed one of those grow animals over the drain. A green iguana who had grown over night due to the water dripping on his back was looking up at me and I couldn't help but laugh my head off.

Mornings are usually tough in our house, but that day started off on a funny note that carried us throughout the getting ready process.