There were 4 of us, mom tried to get as many into the bath at one time as she possibly could. And yes, my kids do bathe together usually. They prefer a play mate in the tub. Every so often we try transitioning to bathing alone or to showering alone, but the kids make it clear they prefer being together in the bath.

So much about raising kids is fraught with this weird ideological baggage, but really it's just parents trying to manage.

eta in response to Nora, of course:

And I quote - "That's the best meal we've had out since we got back to America" (from living in Germany).

I never really suggested to the boys that they stop sleeping with us or bathing together. It happened without us noticing at some point in time. They had their room and at some point they preferred it. I suppose they bathed together until they were old enough to bathe without company.

That reminds me that I need to pull out the bubbles covered pictures of them in the tub together to threaten Facebook exposure. It could get them to clean their rooms. Yes, I use bribery and threats without guilt.

Ginger, more good days. Yes. I want there to be nothing but these for you.

Thanks all. It's just the head cold that will not die, I think. It's a little weird, though, because it doesn't seem to get better or worse--it's the same thing for days and days. Swollen glands/sore throat, clogged ears, pnd, and fatigue. No chest congestion and barely any coughing or sneezing; no fever (I don't think anyway). The fact that one gland is bigger than the other also freaks me out and makes me neurotic. Blah. I just want to see some improvement so I can be confident it's slowly getting better.

so, i broke my arm.

Jebus Erin. Are you okay? I mean, mostly.

Oh, no, Erin! What happened? The rest of you is all right?

so, i broke my arm.

I hope you were punching somebody from the Westboro church.

Oh, Erin! I hope it was doing something heroic!

I hope it's a story better than "I fell down trying to curl", which was my broken-arm story!