Do Supermodels Clean Their Own Toilets? |
Of course not, silly. But they are missing out. Oh, yes -- there is an upside to bathroom cleaning.
I was scrubbing the toilet the other day and, of course, hating every minute. Every minute. I had ignored it for a few days because I rarely have time to do an adequate job. Distractions from the kids, the dog, phone calls, and, of course, someone always comes to the door. I could clean when everyone is out of the house (but that's an ideal time for a nap). And if I do the toilet, I have to clean the sink, and the tub, and the floor, etc. I just don't have the desire to fish minute toy parts out of a tub drain when I finally get quiet time to myself. But it was late at night, and everyone was in bed and out of my hair for a few minutes. And our bathroom was screaming for a good cleaning.
In mid-scrub and in an uncharitable frame of mind, I thought of all the women who don't have to do this. Grrrr. I hate cleaning toilets. I was even starting to hate wealthy, non-toilet-scrubbing women -- even though I can't wait to become one. Realistically, there isn't a woman alive who's totally happy being a domestic technician (the unpaid kind). I've never heard of a nurse jumping for joy about bedpans. But I'm envious of the supermodel who doesn't have to ruin her manicure. Ah, the unfairness of it all! So I scrub a little more and get steamed a lot more. The tub is looking very shiny. It's never the work, my dad used to say -- it's how well you do it. Be the best at whatever you do. Hooray, I'm a super tub scrubber.
Then I stop and ponder. What is a bathroom for? It is a necessary place where we wash and primp and eliminate. I am unaware of anyone who doesn't have need of the facilities. Even supermodels use the loo. But as a wife and a mother, I go beyond my domestic duties and play medical detective. I notice my family's bathroom habits. My observations through cleaning and scrubbing can help me to diagnose and treat a tummyache from too many cookies. Low on tampons? Someone else has her period. I make a mental note to go get chocolate. And an influx of face wash may just indicate a big date on Friday night. I add extra washcloths to the linen closet.
I could ascertain this information through thorough questioning of the users of the bathroom. But how forthcoming will a two-year-old be about stolen cookies or a teenager about a big date? And I'm not sure I want to inquire about my daughter's monthly cycle status. (YES, MOTHER! I HAVE MY PERIOD -- OKAY?!)
My single sister cleans her own bathroom and also does the quiet observations for her close friends. She always has extra Midol in the medicine cabinet, acne gel, a few extra sanitary napkins, and the fluffiest toilet tissue (I am not kidding -- her brand of TP is like cashmere). She loves her friends and knows that a clean, well-stocked bathroom goes beyond typical hostess duties.
You could reason that wealthy women are missing out on this arduous method of tuning into and taking care of those they love. I think they could be at risk for falling out of touch or becoming distanced from friends and family. Unaware of those little pangs and pains of being human. Let's face it, the intimacy with another person that the facilities provide is irreplaceable.
I'm sorry we gotta scrub the tub. I'm sorry we have to do other menial tasks. We change diapers, clean litter boxes, and scoop poop from our front sidewalks. But maybe, just maybe, scrubbing a toilet can become one way (albeit a yucky one) of caring for each other.
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Bernadette Sukley |
| About the author: |
| Bernadette Sukley has written, edited, fact checked for nearly 20 years. Her topics range from health to sports and lifestyle, from human interest to hard news. Her work has appeared in Men’s Health, Sports Illustrated for Women, and ABROAD magazines. Currently polishing up 3 novels for publication, she welcomes discussions on women and literature.
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