Mark bought me Confessions of a Slacker Wife at the weekend. What? You think I should be insulted? Don’t even go there. He bought me this on Valentines Day….
But anyway enough of my philandering fiancee (joke) and his bizarre sense of humour.
I haven’t had much chance to read Confessions but what I have read is funny and true and I am ashamed to say I recognised myself on page after page…
But something struck me as odd. Dear little Muffy Mead-Ferro is proud to announce that she hasn’t showered today. Or yesterday by the sounds of it:
"I would like to just go ahead and start this chapter with my first confession. A real bombshell, probably: I didn’t take a shower today.
Whether or not I showered yesterday is probably not even worth mentioning, since I know I’ve already crossed a line that might have excluded me from the neighbour hood dinner parties, or even my own book club."
Hmm. Now, I want you to understand that I don’t care if she never takes a shower again, because like she goes on to say, cleanliness is a relative term, shaped entirely by your own standards of hygiene. No, what struck me most about this confession was that it wasn’t the first time I have read such a statement recently.
"I shower every other morning. I think showering every day is bad for your skin and hair. In winter I even go three days. My Italian grandmother and her sisters all have beautiful skin. The secret is not to overwash.
The same goes for my children. Unless it’s Summer and they’re sweaty or have chlorine or sunscreen on them and need a bath, I bathe them every three days…"
You see? This isn’t just one slacker housewife watching morning tv instead of jumping in the shower- it’s a mini revolution!
You know what I love about this? The fact that these women are so utterly honest about what is really quite a major taboo. Strong independant women happy to affiliate themselves to the great unwashed because what they are saying is true: washing too often does dry your skin. We are lining the pockets of industry through over zealous hygiene standards and indeed we are wasting our earths natural resources taking baths and showers when a quick rub down with a flannel would probably do…
Personally I am not a clean fanatic. But I take showers and baths everyday because they afford me the time to concentrate on me. To spend blissful time alone focused on nothing other than my own well being. Perhaps it’s time to take up yoga.
** This is a very old post I am re-issuing because so many of my housekeepers are having trouble finding it…** It is late and HouseKeepers, I am exhausted. Some mornings I open my eyes and I just can’t wait till bedtime so I can crawl back into bed. Then other days I am so…
I used to be a Winter person. I used to laugh at my Mum longing for sunny days and try to convince her that the best days of our lives didn’t arrive until the nights drew in and we could close our curtains on the rest of the world and hibernate through the coldest months…
Oh you lucky American people! You get to have a Shabby Christmas courtesy of this gorgeous new video from Rachel Ashwell. If they only created a version of this DVD suitable for UK format DVD players I would book myself an afternoon in my living room, pretty jotter and lilac inked fountain pen on hand,…
Fiddlesticks. It would appear that to all intents and purposes, things are a bit on the crazy side around here. I feel fine but I’ve got no voice and I keep finding friends and relatives sitting on my cushion-strewn sofa, drinking herbal tea and urging me to “be strong” in the face of what must…
Goodness, tis all very well filling your Christmas Planner with all manner of scrumptious ideas, delicious recipes and inspired gift ideas, but if you find yourself in a demented rush to buy seven types of Christmas Pudding and every roll of Baroque style wrapping paper you come across before your pumpkin has even gone moldy,…
17 Comments
Nahhh … couldn't go to bed all dirty!!! But then we have a climate that makes us a little more sweaty and stinky … maybe if I lived somewhere where it was bitterly cold for a few months of the year ??? I still think I'd shower thought because I like the feeling of getting into fresh sheets all clean and smelling sweetly.
There are days when I don't have a shower – more in winter than summer I admit. Like Kerry says, it get's awfully hot and sweaty here! But we are also on water restrictions, and so I sometimes get in really quickly – don't wash the hair, just a quick blast to wash away the day.
There are days when I don't have a shower – more in winter than summer I admit. Like Kerry says, it get's awfully hot and sweaty here! But we are also on water restrictions, and so I sometimes get in really quickly – don't wash the hair, just a quick blast to wash away the day.
Hmmm, to be honest I am one of "the great unwashed" myself! I shower every other day and wash my hair every other day as well. I live in a very cold climate so I don't think I smell (hopefully one of my dearest would tell me!) I find my skin and hair do stay much softer this way. Though to be honest, in the summer I will shower up to 3 times a day (I feel awful admitting THAT waste of resources) but I can't stand being hot and sweaty and I feel that since we don't have a pool, it somehow balances out my indulgence…
Hmmm, to be honest I am one of "the great unwashed" myself! I shower every other day and wash my hair every other day as well. I live in a very cold climate so I don't think I smell (hopefully one of my dearest would tell me!) I find my skin and hair do stay much softer this way. Though to be honest, in the summer I will shower up to 3 times a day (I feel awful admitting THAT waste of resources) but I can't stand being hot and sweaty and I feel that since we don't have a pool, it somehow balances out my indulgence…
Hi Alison, I read that in Darla Shine's book too and thought it rather interesting. I think I am probably over the top, but I have to wash my hair every day. Just do not feel the same if it is not washed and I just do not feel ready to face the day if I do not have a shower. Also pretty hot down here too, so might make a difference. Nothing wrong with not having a shower or bath. I think my Dad said they used to have a shower in the country once a week and the four kids would all use the same water and because he was the oldest, he was last! Yuck! Goes with being poor I suppose. Everybody has their little luxury I suppose and that is mine.
In summer a shower a day is essential here, but honestly I will often go a day (in extreme cases two!) without a shower in winter. Even my summer showers are rather quick and my hair can wait a day or two to be washed. I think there are lots of women who do this – sometimes having a shower takes effort and if we aren't really that dirty what's the point? Hehe. Although I'll never admit this to my friends. =)
In summer a shower a day is essential here, but honestly I will often go a day (in extreme cases two!) without a shower in winter. Even my summer showers are rather quick and my hair can wait a day or two to be washed. I think there are lots of women who do this – sometimes having a shower takes effort and if we aren't really that dirty what's the point? Hehe. Although I'll never admit this to my friends. =)
How do all you mothers MANAGE to shower regularly? My greatest luxury at the moment is finding the time for a shower – normally I have to trap the Minx in her cot and shower quickly to the accompaniment of shouting – not very conducive to relaxation and peaceful thoughts.
How do all you mothers MANAGE to shower regularly? My greatest luxury at the moment is finding the time for a shower – normally I have to trap the Minx in her cot and shower quickly to the accompaniment of shouting – not very conducive to relaxation and peaceful thoughts.
sorry, but I shower everyday. I,like most australians,like to go to bed clean after a stinking hot day. Nothing like getting out of the shower and straight into bed.
Hi Paola, When I had my first child I read that having a shower would be the only time of luxury you would have to yourself. I thought how ridiculous, but soon realised that was so true!
Hi Paola, When I had my first child I read that having a shower would be the only time of luxury you would have to yourself. I thought how ridiculous, but soon realised that was so true!
Yes Paola … that's what my showers are like each and every day … and the reason I no longer even try to have a long luxuriating bath … It's bound to be interrupted! I can't even go to the toilet without prying eyes or a mini Spanish inquisition. I said I shower every day … I didn't say it is luxurious or relaxing *_* Just servicing a need to feel clean and somewhat refreshed.
Yes Paola … that's what my showers are like each and every day … and the reason I no longer even try to have a long luxuriating bath … It's bound to be interrupted! I can't even go to the toilet without prying eyes or a mini Spanish inquisition. I said I shower every day … I didn't say it is luxurious or relaxing *_* Just servicing a need to feel clean and somewhat refreshed.
I too am one of the great unwashed masses. I shower typically every-other day though in the winter I've been known to skip two days. Maybe it is a climate thing, but I have incredibly dry skin, so if I were to shower everyday I would turn into sandpaper. And that's in a city that regularly hits 90% humidity. When I lived in Colorado, the arid environment was so hard on me I would have a bloody nose at least once a week. I can't imagine showering/bathing everyday just for that reason. Which reminds me to go lotion my hands again – they are starting to hurt from being too dry.
I too am one of the great unwashed masses. I shower typically every-other day though in the winter I've been known to skip two days. Maybe it is a climate thing, but I have incredibly dry skin, so if I were to shower everyday I would turn into sandpaper. And that's in a city that regularly hits 90% humidity. When I lived in Colorado, the arid environment was so hard on me I would have a bloody nose at least once a week. I can't imagine showering/bathing everyday just for that reason. Which reminds me to go lotion my hands again – they are starting to hurt from being too dry.
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Nahhh … couldn't go to bed all dirty!!! But then we have a climate that makes us a little more sweaty and stinky … maybe if I lived somewhere where it was bitterly cold for a few months of the year ??? I still think I'd shower thought because I like the feeling of getting into fresh sheets all clean and smelling sweetly.
There are days when I don't have a shower – more in winter than summer I admit. Like Kerry says, it get's awfully hot and sweaty here! But we are also on water restrictions, and so I sometimes get in really quickly – don't wash the hair, just a quick blast to wash away the day.
There are days when I don't have a shower – more in winter than summer I admit. Like Kerry says, it get's awfully hot and sweaty here! But we are also on water restrictions, and so I sometimes get in really quickly – don't wash the hair, just a quick blast to wash away the day.
Hmmm, to be honest I am one of "the great unwashed" myself! I shower every other day and wash my hair every other day as well. I live in a very cold climate so I don't think I smell (hopefully one of my dearest would tell me!) I find my skin and hair do stay much softer this way. Though to be honest, in the summer I will shower up to 3 times a day (I feel awful admitting THAT waste of resources) but I can't stand being hot and sweaty and I feel that since we don't have a pool, it somehow balances out my indulgence…
Hmmm, to be honest I am one of "the great unwashed" myself! I shower every other day and wash my hair every other day as well. I live in a very cold climate so I don't think I smell (hopefully one of my dearest would tell me!) I find my skin and hair do stay much softer this way. Though to be honest, in the summer I will shower up to 3 times a day (I feel awful admitting THAT waste of resources) but I can't stand being hot and sweaty and I feel that since we don't have a pool, it somehow balances out my indulgence…
Hi Alison, I read that in Darla Shine's book too and thought it rather interesting. I think I am probably over the top, but I have to wash my hair every day. Just do not feel the same if it is not washed and I just do not feel ready to face the day if I do not have a shower. Also pretty hot down here too, so might make a difference. Nothing wrong with not having a shower or bath. I think my Dad said they used to have a shower in the country once a week and the four kids would all use the same water and because he was the oldest, he was last! Yuck! Goes with being poor I suppose. Everybody has their little luxury I suppose and that is mine.
In summer a shower a day is essential here, but honestly I will often go a day (in extreme cases two!) without a shower in winter. Even my summer showers are rather quick and my hair can wait a day or two to be washed. I think there are lots of women who do this – sometimes having a shower takes effort and if we aren't really that dirty what's the point? Hehe. Although I'll never admit this to my friends. =)
In summer a shower a day is essential here, but honestly I will often go a day (in extreme cases two!) without a shower in winter. Even my summer showers are rather quick and my hair can wait a day or two to be washed. I think there are lots of women who do this – sometimes having a shower takes effort and if we aren't really that dirty what's the point? Hehe. Although I'll never admit this to my friends. =)
How do all you mothers MANAGE to shower regularly? My greatest luxury at the moment is finding the time for a shower – normally I have to trap the Minx in her cot and shower quickly to the accompaniment of shouting – not very conducive to relaxation and peaceful thoughts.
How do all you mothers MANAGE to shower regularly? My greatest luxury at the moment is finding the time for a shower – normally I have to trap the Minx in her cot and shower quickly to the accompaniment of shouting – not very conducive to relaxation and peaceful thoughts.
sorry, but I shower everyday. I,like most australians,like to go to bed clean after a stinking hot day. Nothing like getting out of the shower and straight into bed.
Hi Paola, When I had my first child I read that having a shower would be the only time of luxury you would have to yourself. I thought how ridiculous, but soon realised that was so true!
Hi Paola, When I had my first child I read that having a shower would be the only time of luxury you would have to yourself. I thought how ridiculous, but soon realised that was so true!
Yes Paola … that's what my showers are like each and every day … and the reason I no longer even try to have a long luxuriating bath … It's bound to be interrupted! I can't even go to the toilet without prying eyes or a mini Spanish inquisition. I said I shower every day … I didn't say it is luxurious or relaxing *_* Just servicing a need to feel clean and somewhat refreshed.
Yes Paola … that's what my showers are like each and every day … and the reason I no longer even try to have a long luxuriating bath … It's bound to be interrupted! I can't even go to the toilet without prying eyes or a mini Spanish inquisition. I said I shower every day … I didn't say it is luxurious or relaxing *_* Just servicing a need to feel clean and somewhat refreshed.
I too am one of the great unwashed masses. I shower typically every-other day though in the winter I've been known to skip two days. Maybe it is a climate thing, but I have incredibly dry skin, so if I were to shower everyday I would turn into sandpaper. And that's in a city that regularly hits 90% humidity.
When I lived in Colorado, the arid environment was so hard on me I would have a bloody nose at least once a week.
I can't imagine showering/bathing everyday just for that reason. Which reminds me to go lotion my hands again – they are starting to hurt from being too dry.
I too am one of the great unwashed masses. I shower typically every-other day though in the winter I've been known to skip two days. Maybe it is a climate thing, but I have incredibly dry skin, so if I were to shower everyday I would turn into sandpaper. And that's in a city that regularly hits 90% humidity.
When I lived in Colorado, the arid environment was so hard on me I would have a bloody nose at least once a week.
I can't imagine showering/bathing everyday just for that reason. Which reminds me to go lotion my hands again – they are starting to hurt from being too dry.