We decided to cleanse the children before the big trip.
Mom bathed Charles, so it was my turn to deal with Corwin. Corwin decides (contra his usual) that he wants the “quick bath”. This consists of an assembly line operation where the goal is minimal time in the tub. Even Mom is impressed at how fast I get Corwin naked, washed, shampooed and out. While I’m washing Corwin I point out that he’s probably old enough to wash himself. Corwin is unimpressed with my assertion. After he’s out and dry, I send him off to his room to get clean underwear and a night shirt. He shows up a few minutes later, nightshirt wrapped around his waist as a makeshift loin cloth that he has to hold in place, complaining that he can’t get to his underwear. I go in to get him a pair and say “why don’t you put on your nightshirt while I get the underwear?”. Corwin replies that he doesn’t want me to see his butt. This from the child who not 5 minutes ago, while naked and being attacked by Dad with a wash cloth, evinced not the slightest interest in taking a bath by himself. Pointing this out simply yields the silent frown that indicates that Dad is being difficult again. Clearly I have far too simplistic a view of these complex matters.