Most boys go through a phase where they avoid showers and bathing. For us this occurred the summer the boys were 11 and 13. Every single night it was a battle. YES you need a shower you are DIRTY! In they would go, and out they would come…just as grungy as when they went in. BACK you go…and this time touch the soap to your body and rub it around. Grrr. I was getting very frustrated with smelly boys. Jamie on the other hand was the exact opposite at the time. She would live in the bath if you let her, and jumped at the chance to have more than one a day. Now I bet you are dying to know how I remedied this situation. My weapon of choice was a fine point Sharpe marker. Jamie is an extremely sound sleeper. While she was sleeping I slipped into her room and drew a smiley face on the bottom of her foot. Then I left the marker on the dresser in the boy’s bedroom. The next morning we are sitting around watching something inane on TV, when Jamie notices her foot and lets out a squeal of delight! “I have a smiley on my foot!” You sure do I said. The boys immediately start asking questions, who did that, why did they do that, how did they do that? “Oh, I did. I thought it would be a laugh, so I put a smiley on each of you last night.” The guys frantically start looking on the bottoms of their feet, “You did Not.” Why sure I did, but you didn’t expect me to make yours as easy to find did you? Now I can tell if you are using SOAP! You better make sure you get those smileys washed off before they become permanent.” They start to check each other over like two monkeys at the zoo. Looking behind ears, back of elbows, knee pits…it was a hoot. They had almost convinced themselves that I was pulling one over on them when Stevie found the marker I had left n the bedroom. “JOHNNY! Johnny! Come HERE! Look at that.” I can only imagine him pointing at the marker and the look of horror on Johnny’s face as he said…” I get FIRST shower!”