Soap and the Scholastic Book Fair

I love Bath and Body Works Soap. Every time that they have a sale, I rush into the store or order on-line because a girl could never have too much soap. I love the smell of the foaming soap and I like the gentleness of the bubbles as I massage the soap in between my fingers. Pure heaven.

I love books too. I told you that I’m an avid reader. So does munch. The book fair was at Munch’s school the first week in June. Munch handed me his orange sheet with his book picks. He apparently wanted $56.94 worth of books. What? Nope. I will give you $21.00. Make it work. You have books on your shelf you’ve never read.

I set aside the money for munch’s book selections. He was excited. He likes books and he loves the book fair. He couldn’t wait.

Now, this is where the story gets interesting. Apparently, I’m not the only one who adores the smell and feel of Bath and Body Works soap. Munch does too. A couple of weeks ago, I reached into the linen closet to open a new bottle of foaming soap. I smiled as I pushed the top down and washed my hands.

Later that day I caught munch using the hand soap after I told him to wash his hands after scratching that ringworm on his face. Munch was acting like the soap grows on trees and I don’t catch it on sale because the money fairy brings me more soap when I ask. I said, “Munch, that’s too much soap. Please use a little. It will go a long way.” He replied, “Okay, mommy.”

Fast forward two days later and I catch that little boy playing with a whole lot of bubbles in the bathroom sink and an empty bottle of hand soap. I was mad. “Munch, why are you using all the hand soap?” He starts to cry. “Those tears aren’t going to work” I yell. “Answer me.” He stutters, “I like the bubbles. I like playing in the bubbles.” He really starts to cry now.

I told him, “Look, I told you to not use that much soap so I am going to take your $21.00 for the book fair and use it to buy more soap since you like it so much.” Overboard? Probably, but I was hot. I like my soap and I was down to my last 3 bottles. I could literally go 2 more months with 3.5 bottles. Not with munch though. He started to cry uncontrollably now. “No, book fair?” he questioned. “Nope, I need more soap.”

I sent him to bed that night early still peeved about the soap fiasco. A couple of hours later I was laying in bed when I realized that I was overreacting. It was only soap. Was I really that upset over it? Yes. Could I buy more? Yes. Did I really have to choose between hand soap and books? No. Isn’t that sort of an oppressive form of parenting? Probably.

The next morning when he woke up, I kissed him good morning and apologized for overreacting. I explained that I liked the soap like him, but that it was expensive and we didn’t need to use so much. I told him that I’m still giving him money for the book fair and he can get whatever he wants with his $21.00. He smiled and said, “I’m sorry mommy. I won’t use so much soap.” He leaned in and hugged me tight smiling. “I’m getting new books” he said. And he did.

Ah, the joys of parenting!