The Joy of Being a Mother (a series)

Posted on March 17, 2007
Filed Under Fun, Parenting and Family | Viewed 981 times

Annamanila, you inspired me with your Magnificent Mommy Moments, so I have opened my treasure chest of mommy moments memories, to share with our dear readers.

When Dolls Are Given a Bath, It Rains!

My 2 girls were then 8 and 6 years old (they are now 16 and 14).

“Mom, may we give our dolls a bath?” Those were Angela (8) and Pauline (6), talking excitedly on the phone. Earlier, they wanted to know if they could give new names to their dolls. I said, “Why, yes, you may give them new names. And oh, don’t forget to apply conditioner after shampooing their hair!”.

I later realized that soon, the charming dolls would loose their original glamour and their hair would be in a mess. Give the girls a break, I told myself – after all, walking dolls deserve a bath, and not just to walk around with.

When I reached home, I found the kids behaved, doing their home work. In the room, I found a make-believe clothesline, with two pairs of doll’s clothes dripping wet, stockings, shoes, et al, and a towel, arranged in a curtain-like fashion. I was very amused to find two dolls hidden behind a towel, in a state of undress, also dripping wet, hair disheveled, smiling (but of course, they can’t change their appearance and feign feeling cold).

I called the girls, telling them, “Pity the babies, let’s dress them up and brush their hair”. “But their clothes are wet”, they said, and that their Ate Caren, their elder brother’s girlfriend, has promised to buy them doll clothes only next Christmas. I unpacked some bags of old clothes, which were to go to relatives as hand-me-downs. We found some of their favorite clothes, small enough for the dolls to wear. The girls were mesmerized with the idea, glad perhaps to keep these clothes. They asked if they could give the dolls another bath the next day, and do the laundry for the dolls’ clothes themselves. This time I said, “Better not give the dolls a bath tomorrow, otherwise, it will rain. As it is, anytime now, it will rain hard because you gave the dolls a bath”.

It was for me a walk to memory lane, believing everything my mother and grandmother told me, like if dolls were given a bath, it would rain, just like believing in Santa Claus or the tooth fairy.

And so it rained, and rained and rained! “See, I was right all the time?”, I told the girls. Again, they found the idea tantalizing, as it was new to them. The novelty of bathing the dolls, dressing them up, and washing their clothes, would give them a high for the next few days. Am I glad to keep them entertained, knowing fully well that they would cherish these memories as I do cherish similar memories.

But, the boys, who have been listening to our small talk and watching us, made an intriguing remark, “Why don’t you just give your dolls a bath everyday, so that we can have a long holiday from school?” Oh, well, boys are boys, they have their own world! And this all the more adds to the joys of being a mother!

treasure chest from www.biblepicturegallery.com

Comments

16 Responses to “The Joy of Being a Mother (a series)”

Kyels on March 17th, 2007 11:16 am

I guess I would not know the joy of being a mother until I become one myself … Hehe. But seeing so many kids around (mommy deals with them) ... I do not have the plans to have any.

;D
ann on March 17th, 2007 12:32 pm

I didn’t know about that dolls and rain thing. Kahit ilang beses paliguan ni tin2 yung mga dolls nya wala pa ring ulan dito…hahaha!
analyse on March 17th, 2007 5:41 pm

i didnt know that rain thing either.. but yes, my sisters and i used those tiny little clothes to dress up our dolls, cute.

im just wondering how you’re grown ups react to your blog about them.. just to have an idea on how my Louna react in the future
KK on March 17th, 2007 10:18 pm

I loved bathing my dolls and gave them a batya for their swimming pool. Thanks for reminding me Ms. Dine that I should let my daughter bath her doll too.
annamanila on March 17th, 2007 11:25 pm

Did the dolls get back their original form? Or were they forever spoiled? But your girls had fun. And learned lessons in caring. And you proved that Moms are always right when they say it will rain. Haha. What a funny episode. I am sure you got some more in your treasure trove.
Shari on March 18th, 2007 1:45 am

I didn’t know about the rain thingie. I never really had dolls. I mean, I think I did, because there’s a whole case of them glamorous stuff in a cabinet, but I don’t think I played with them. I once asked my mother about it, just last year, while watching some kids playing with dolls.

Me: Nanay, bakit parang hindi ata ako dumaan sa stage na naglalaro ako ng mga manika?
Nanay: Eh kasi naman, hinaharass mo. Sinasabunutan mo, ginugupit mo yung buhok, tinatanggal mo yung mga paa at kamay.

Geesh. I never knew I was that brutal. LOL!
chase on March 18th, 2007 4:28 am

My cousins also bath their dolls and god the dolls look like wet chicks. hehehehe
Flori on March 18th, 2007 7:47 am

I didn’t just give my dolls baths, I also trimmed their hair. In the end, I ended up with G.I. Janes
pining on March 18th, 2007 7:56 am

I never heard that one before either
Anyway, I had “issues” with dolls—the first one I had for christmas was stolen, the second one from my grandmother was the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen! then I never played with dolls again (and maybe that’s why I don’t have girls)... I was a bit of a tomboy really
Lazarus on March 18th, 2007 7:19 pm

I heard about the rain thing when it comes to cats and dolls.

I wasn’t exactly observing my 3 younger sisters when they played their dolls. But one of my sis do bathe her cat many times.
kathy on March 18th, 2007 10:41 pm

I didn’t know about raining and bathing dolls, but I did hear about the one with bathing cats.

This post also reminded me of the years when I was also enamored with dolls – it’s true that these events in one’s life will be long remembered.
Loving Annie on March 19th, 2007 12:56 am

Hope you are having a good Sunday with your girls and their dolls, Sexy Mom !
carlotta on March 20th, 2007 1:39 pm

if i had known about that thing with dolls and rain whe i was a kid, i would have given my doll a bath all the time lol =)
Sexy Mom on March 23rd, 2007 1:26 pm

@Kyels – having nieces in the home is hands on parenting, even if you are only their tita

@ann – i got that from my grandmother. tin2 should be enjoying giving her dolls baths.

@analyse – actually, it was my kids who started blogging in 2000. your Louna would appreciate how you documented her growing up through blogging, as i now go back to my kids’ blogs to see how they grew up outside home. partly helps in understanding them better.

@KK – it’s really fun!
Sexy Mom on March 23rd, 2007 1:31 pm

@Annamanila – the dolls were tattered and forgotten, but the memories remain. and thanks to you for your magnificent mommy moments, i now have opened my treasure chest of mommy moments memories

@shari – pakiramdam ko pati mga mata tinanggal mo. pinatawa mo naman ako.

@chase – your cousins must have a good time then.

@Flori – that’s a lesson in transformation!
Sexy Mom on March 23rd, 2007 1:36 pm

@pining – hwag mo palaruin ng dolls mga boys mo, ha? GI joe na lang.

@Lazarus – the cat must have meowed and meowed when it was given baths

@kathy – they’re pleasant memories, isn’t it?

@Loving Annie – they have outgrown dolls now, they’re 23, 16 and 14. now they have different interests….

@carlotta – i always did at that time, because i loved the rain! it so happened maybe that it was really rainy season