It’s so interesting how your priorities of personal care change when you become a mom.

You can no longer just hop in the shower at will. Daily showers have gone the way of uninterrupted movie watching and leisurely book reading. ;-) It’s easy to start thinking of them as an obligation rather than a treat.

When my babies were newborns, I would strap them in a bouncy seat on the floor of the bathroom with me. I also found that I needed to have a clear shower curtain so I could see them and they could see me.

As they got older and wouldn’t sit in the bouncy chair, I turned to Baby Einsten. I would put them in their little chair or exesaucer, pop in the video and then shower with the bathroom door open – quickly. With my first, I would run dripping to their room to dry off and dress. With my youngest, I at least took the time to dry myself and put lotion on before getting dressed in his room.

When dad is home, I can close the bathroom door, but then I have often must endure the “mama! mama! mama!” at the door for the duration of the shower.

Even if the shower is brief, I do what I can to enjoy it just a little bit more. I like to use scented body wash. One day a week, I use my favorite scented salt scrub. It leaves my skin soft and smooth. You can buy these at Wal-Mart or dollar stores in a variety of fragrances. The Healthy Mom offers affordable, custom-designed soy-based bath & body products. You choose the scent (they offer over 100 scents) and the color. They even sell candles in matching scents and colors.

As a new mom, it’s easy to forget about yourself. If you have to take a short shower, at least you can immerse yourself in your favorite smell while you do it. You can even hold on to it a little longer with a matching lotion. But sometimes the little things go a long way in doing a little something for yourself.