Reflections on Kinka Beach, Yeppoon

Our first week of camping was a steep learning curve. One of the challenges was getting Grace to have a bath. Who would have thought it would have been so difficult?

The baby bath at Island View Caravan Park, Kinka Beach is designed with child safety in mind. It is small - only big enough for babies under about two years of age. Even then, it would be a cosy bath and not much room for toys. The tap is fitted with some kind of spray device which, I assume, is to stop you from burning the child. You could sit your child under that spray and give them some kind of luke warm shower, but I know that Grace, for one, was scared of it. I'd
hate to try and poke her head or her legs under it. Instead, I had to wait at least 15 minutes while this incredibly slow and cool water eventually filled the tub. Meanwhile, I had to chase Grace around the counter and the womens amenities which is exhausting. When it was
finally full enough for a small bath, she refused to get in so I just wiped her down with a washer.

The next day I decided to take buckets of warm water to give me a head start. I needn't have bothered as she refused to hop in any way. I was frustrated and didn't know what to do about it.

I obviously expected every caravan park to have a different type of bath for babies and children. I didn't expect Grace to refuse to hop into any bath that wasn't the one she'd been in all her life,... including those at her Nanna's and Aunty Laurel's houses. After trying several methods: - standing beside the bath and having a splash, standing in the bath and having a splash, and chucking such a tanty that I gave her a sponge bath in the van, I eventually decided it would be easiest for all involved if I took her into the shower with me.

It's been a learning process. Even the way I dry myself and keep a naked sopping wet toddler within the confines of a shower cubicle has been a new challenge. I have decided to buy a hooded poncho-style towel to throw over her when she comes out of the shower and a toweling robe for me. I wash her while holding her on my hip, then we both return to the van to get dried and dressed. I don't actually get a chance to wash myself when I'm in the shower with her. I still have to go back later and have my own shower. [sigh] I know it sounds like an ordeal, but it is less of an ordeal than trying to get her to sit in strange baths when she really doesn't want to.

Sometimes it's hard to keep my chin up about this trip, sometimes it's easy. All I know is that if God wants us to do this, He'll contend with all the challenges on our behalf.

Amen.