Where Is the Soap?

Yesterday I went into what we call the “boys’ bathroom”. The shower door was open so I could see there was no soap in the soap dish—bottles of shampoo, one for each, but no soap. I would get to the bottom of this I determined. “Clark, when you take a shower each morning, what do you use to wash yourself with?” “Water.” “Water? How long has this been going on?” my mind yelled, not in anger but in disbelief. I distinctly remember teaching them to bathe with soap. “Philip, when you take a shower, what do you use to wash yourself with?” “Shampoo.” Well, at least that was soap. I couldn’t believe it. When did they stop using hand soap? I felt like a negligent mother who hadn’t noticed something so simple and basic like not using soap when they showered. Of course I haven’t personally supervised showering since they got old enough to start shaving but Paul has. Where else have I failed and when will I notice? This morning a smiling Clark came to me with his hand extended and in his palm was a bar of soap. It is a good thing that it is not too late to make a change. I just need to remember to check the soap dish in the “boys’ bathroom” periodically.