I remember bringing Gabriel to the doctor for his 6-month check-up more vividly than I remember any of his othercheck-ups. This may be, in part, because it was my first experience with explaining quietly but firmly to a physician why I don't like certain immunizations. (I was unduly nervous about it, since my doctor was really not unpleasant about the whole thing.)

But it's also because after logically and intelligently discussing immunizations-- what they are for, what ages they are potentially harmful, etc.-- I mentioned Gabriel's very dry skin to the doctor. And it was right then that we once again went back to the familiar role of him knowing a whole lot more about babies and children than I did.

Not unkindly, but somewhat condescendingly, he said, "To this day I can't figure out why moms bathe their infants daily. They cause more trouble than harm. You know it totally dries his skin out, don't you? Just stop bathing him so often."

In spite of feeling a bit like a fool (but not really, because books and websites on parenting would make any mother think that all the good moms bathe their children daily), I remember mostly feeling a flood of relief.

Gabriel didn't like taking baths. I didn't like giving them. And suddenly I'd been given permission-- even encouragement!-- to stop going through the tormenting procedure of bathtime every single day.

I stopped bathing Gabriel daily right then. I haven't bathed a child two days in a row-- except when absolutely necessary-- since then. I will confess that I haven't been able to go down to fewer than 3 baths/week. (My kids are either slobs or I just like them smelling nice a little too much.) But without daily baths, we don't have skin issues.

I just wish all parenting challenges could be dealt with so swiftly and simply.