Unprofessional Parenting

Here’s something to think about. Every time I put my two year old in the bathtub he becomes obsessed with the water coming out of the faucet. He sticks his face up to it, drinks from it, and holds almost-empty shampoo bottles under the running water (that makes a great sound if you’ve never tried it).

That’s all pretty normal (I guess) but what I always think is weird it that he tries to stick his tiny fingers into the faucet. He tries when the water is running and then when the water is off he tries again. I guess he’s looking for the water but what’s even stranger is that this totally grosses me out.

I suppose it’s the thought of slimy who-knows-what kind of stuff growing in that thing but when you think about it that doesn’t really make sense. I take baths in that tub and I shower in the shower so why am I grossed out by the thought of whatever is in that faucet that I can’t see?

I’ve tried to get over it but I can’t. I still tell him no every time. It’s a gut response -  or maybe an obsessive compulsive behavior driven by irrational anxiety. I’m not sure which.