It's always RIGHT after a shower or bath, so they're nice and clean, which makes all the other stuff that much easier (like cleaning ears, right?). They both used to want to be FIRST, but now they're catching on and they want to be last, so they can go straight to bed after I finish.
Another reason I started it with the girls was so that I'd somehow urge my girls to NOT to be too tied up about their bodies and just realize bodies are bodies and girls are girls and it's all no big deal. When I was little, I was wacky about that stuff and had a really strange body image and didn't feel comfortable in my own skin - and when I realized that, I vowed I'd take a step toward making them less wacky than I am. We'll see how that turns out.
But as for right now, I love it - I explain muscles and bones to them while they're getting their massage, and they love it.
Of course since Jack's been about two years old he's been in on it, and we call his version the "superhero massage." He makes all sorts of manly caveman grunts and noises when I massage his arms, where he says his biggest muscles are. Its adorable.
So this has gone on for a few years and I really do love that time with my kids because it's usually one on one time, which I treasure. I honestly feel that when I give them a little mini massage, I can FEEL their little bodies relaxing. Sure, I have to get them over the ticklish phase each time, but sooner or later they do relax, and I promise not to tickle them anymore (because don't you hate it when you're in the middle of the most relaxing massage ever, and then the masseuse tickles you? Hate that!). I LOVE to feel how relaxed they can get, and it just feels so good to make them lay there, completely still, quiet, and actually chillin' out. I wish I knew what they were thinking of when they are that completely peaceful.
They enjoy it so much, they actually like to return the favor to ME! I'm always begging one of them to scratch my back or play with my hair, and they do, for a split second, and even that is wonderful. Usually, if my middle child finds me on the computer, and she wants something from me, she climbs up into the computer chair behind me and either plays with my hair or chop-sueys my back for a moment to butter me up. It works. I won't lie.
But tonight, for some sweetheart reason, my younger two decided they wanted to give me a princess massage...minus the Qtips ( please, I need my brain!) and clippers (duh). One massaged my calf muscles with his hands and feet (ew, I know, but he just took a bath, so I was momentarily okay with it) while the other massaged my back with her tiny hands, which are strangely strong for her age. Where was my older one? She could have been braiding my hair or something, but no - she was reading in bed. Still, it was heavenly. I was in pure relaxation mode. I even pulled out a book - and I read 24 pages! That is how long they stuck with it! Oh it was so lovely....until suddenly my middle child had the brainiac idea that mommy didn't want her back "shiny" anymore, so she got a towel SOAKING wet and returned to my bed and began wringing the towel out on my back to get the last remnants of lotion off! ICE COLD WATER dripped all over my back and my bed, and my inner peace shifted to outer chaos. Such a sad way for a massage to end. She felt bad, I couldn't contain my shock, so she knew it was no longer a princesslike massage..it was like a prisoner of war torture (okay, not that bad).
I'm so glad I began the princess massage nights long ago - without that tradition, I wouldn't have received some of the most relaxing moments tonight. But oh, something so lovely, taken from me so quickly. I hope they try again tomorrow night. :)
And, if you have kids - start giving them massages now and then. Once they know how great it feels, hopefully they'll turn around and give you one, too!
No comments:
Post a Comment