I posted a survey on my Facebook status looking for volunteers to offer up their shower times. "When do you shower, morning or night?"
The answers I received were pretty even for both dawn and dusk, even a few votes were tallied for the select few who liked feeling Zestfully clean in the morning AND at night. (Not much on water conservation though..)
Why is this so interesting to me? Because the answers weren't unanimous.
When I was younger, baths were taken at night, to discard the dirt and grime I had picked up during my day. When I graduated to showers, I still kept it to a nighttime ritual using the simple logic that I didn't want to soil the sheets of my bed with whatever had accumulated throughout my waking schedule. Also, my parents took their showers at nighttime as well. This was what I knew as fact, When I would find out that others took their showers in the mornings, I would react with, "You go to bed DIRTY?"
Is either way the right way?
Luckily, John's shower routine is the same as mine, so our bedtime ritual is pretty harmonious, but I do know some couples that wage a bathroom battle every so often over someone trying to gain access to the john while the other is practicing their aquatic auria in the key of C.
I have taken some showers first thing in the morning, but I'm so trained to use these times of sodden solitude to wind down from my day that the "best way to wake up and start my day" scenario is completely lost on me.
When do you brush your teeth in the morning? Before you eat breakfast or after?
Growing up, I was taught that teeth needed to be brushed after meals, so the first meal was eaten and then any traces were swiped away by Colgate before going on about my day. Once John and I started cohabitating, I noticed that he brushed his teeth first BEFORE breakfast. When I asked him why, he gave me a funny look and said, "because that's the way it's done."
His parents had taught him this pattern of life, therefore he accepted it as such, and adapted it into his own routine. But which way is the right way?
I really hope The Dental Maven weighs in with her expert opinion today as I would love to get to the bottom of it. (I wouldn't try to change John's routine. Just knowing I'm right would be good enough.)
I've read many Spins this week that focus on routines and what makes our lives run. I love this look into everyone's persona, the batteries behind their ticking clocks, but as I read, I'm often drawn into why things are done a certain way. Why do you only read a book when you have a cup of coffee nearby? Why do you drive a certain route to work? Why do you eat at a certain time of day? Why is your bedtime the way it is? What got you there? (Can you tell I was the big question asker in my Sociology class?)
Some people can call these routines quirks, and the only reason they are classified as such is that the person interpreting someone else's life does not subscribe to these routines, therefore finding them "odd".
I find them fascinating.
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Take a look at these Spinners who are routinely playing!
Kendra over at Life in the Slow Lane
Lisleman over at A Few Clowns Short
Arwen over at Spors in the Desert
bessie.viola over at Bessie Viola
Middle Aged Woman over at Unmitigated
Pseudo over at Pseudonymous High School Teacher
Krystal over at Mommy's Escape 6.0
Meli over at Meli's Rambling Randomness
Gigi over at Incrementum -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Mama Badger over at Out of the Boondocks and Into the Burbs... -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Shangrila over at My Bella Figlia -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Casey over at Half As Good As You -Updated Saturday! Vacation Spin!
Isn't this what you want to see every Friday? A big thanks to all who submitted!
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Next week's assignment: VACATION!!!!
That's right, your Spin Cycle assignment is to take a week off! I'm going to be headed to Chicago next week to learn how to play nicely with others (my issues with sharing may be a focus) and I have some wonderful guest stars to entertain you while I'm away. (And hopefully clean up a little. The categories need a bit of weeding.)
I can't believe the Spin Cycle has been going for almost a year! And we'll be back in similar fashion the week of July 27th, no worries there, but this next week? Take a breather, go for a walk, write a chapter of the Great American Novel (or Canadian one..), or simply find some Zen. (And then try to bottle it. I hear it's difficult to hold onto sometimes.)
Have a great Friday!
Hah! That was a great point, that the difference between a routine and a quirk is that the doer finds the quirk odd, and the routine perfectly normal. It may be that its the crack of dawn right now, but I find that exceptionally brilliant and feel that statement should be plastered on a few coffee mugs and bumper stickers or at the very least some Facebook Flair!
Posted by: Rachel | July 17, 2009 at 04:46 AM
Okay Jen - you know I have to offer up the expert opinion: Whereas dentists applaud all brushing efforts, research tells us that brushing after meals is most effective. When you eat, little bits of food get left behind for the germs in your mouth to feed on. When the germs eat, they produce acid which can break down your teeth (causing cavities).
Sorry John!
Posted by: The Dental Maven | July 17, 2009 at 05:46 AM
My hubby and I adapted our routines to each other. Don't ask me when. We just sort of flowed into it.
Posted by: Michele | July 17, 2009 at 06:11 AM
Dear John-
Ha! I was right!
Thanks, Maven!
Love,
Jen
Posted by: Sprite's Keeper | July 17, 2009 at 07:23 AM
I think you're right.... we hold on to the a lot of the patterns by which we are raised. Creatures of habit, I suppose!
As for me, I brush first thing when I get out of bed. Morning breath... yuk!!!
Posted by: Robin | July 17, 2009 at 07:38 AM
Morning shower, usually. I'll admitt, I sweat at night, making a morning shower much more comfortable.
and I did finally spin: http://outoftheboondocks.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Mama Badger | July 17, 2009 at 08:15 AM
This is a great post. I too find it facinating.
I was always a shower in the am kind of girl who brushes her teeth after she eats.
But when I married the hubby he's a shower 2x or more guy. So now I shower in the am and pm. I can't stomach the thought now of going to bed dirty.
We're not doing the environment a service when it comes to water but I think we make up for it in other ways.
Posted by: Kingsmom | July 17, 2009 at 08:24 AM
I don't really care when I take a shower at morning, in the middle of the day, or at night. But my husband has to take a shower in the morning to wake up. It doesn't matter if he took a shower right before bed he will still take another one in the morning.
Posted by: Kendra | July 17, 2009 at 08:33 AM
What???? No Spin Cycle post on Wednesday? WHAT THE BLUE BLAZES AM I SUPPOSED TO POST ON WEDNESDAY NEXT WEEK?????
Ahem. I think you have just had a glimpse into what passes for a routine in my world.
Posted by: Jan | July 17, 2009 at 08:37 AM
I can't wake up properly without a shower. Though with a toddler, usually I only shower every other day.
I brush my teeth a lot, though.
Posted by: Keely | July 17, 2009 at 09:30 AM
"The routines that make people run" Sooo right. Many people short circuit of their routines get messed up. I for one NEED to have my TV on TNT when I wake up. I know what shows start at what time (from 6am to 1pm so I always know what to expect no matter when I wake up) I dont necessarily watch the show but they HAVE to be on while I'm getting dressed and doing all that stuff.
They changed the time to one of the 11am shows about a years or so ago and it still messes me up once in a while.
Ridiculous. I know.
Posted by: GiGi @ Incrementum | July 17, 2009 at 09:48 AM
I brush my teeth when I wake up (that is if Princess hasn't taken the toothpaste and I haven't had to chase a leaky diaper down the hall) So for the most part, before breakfast and then after it. I hope that helps!!! And enjoy your time off as best you can - Sprite will be all grown when you come back. You'll see - the perspective changes when you've been away for a few days. L
Posted by: Krystal | July 17, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Aww, the one week I might actually have some time in my ROUTINE for spin cycling and there isn't one. Boo! Just kidding, have a good trip!
Posted by: Maureen | July 17, 2009 at 01:12 PM
It's mandatory to brush your teeth within minutes of leaving your bed. Teeth get gross at night!!! Why would you want to eat and gather that grossness into your yummy breakfast?? Ew.
I like to shower at night so the sheets stay clean, but I used to be a shower in the morning to wake up kinda girl. I stopped when I realized how long it was taking me to blowdry my hair before work every day, and then I never went back...and now it's the right way to do it!
Posted by: Kaylen | July 17, 2009 at 02:46 PM
I'm definitely a 'shower in the morning' kinda gal...it takes me SO LONG to dry my hair because there's SO MUCH of it, that it's pointless to do it at night or I'll wake up and have terminal bad hair days. Besides, showers have a tendency to wake me up, so I find it counter productive to do before bed...now a nice relaxing bubble bath before bed is awesome...too bad I can't do that very often because of Hovering Hubby and Princess Nagger interference! :)
Posted by: Stacy (the Random Cool Chick) | July 17, 2009 at 03:23 PM
Have fun at Blogher. I'll try not to hate you for getting to go. Too much.
I was reading my BabyCenter Newletter just now, and it had a link to this, and I thought some of the comments on it might be useful to you. Or not. Or maybe you've already seen it. But here it is:
http://www.babycenter.com/404_should-we-use-laxatives-to-help-our-preschooler-whos-constip_70563.bc?scid=mbtw_post3y_7m_2w:442&pe=cCJoUV
Posted by: Arwen | July 17, 2009 at 04:49 PM
LOL-I shower at night (because for the life of me I can't get up early enough to shower before my kids're up) and because as a kid we bathed at night, too. I brush teeth after breakfast, sometimes before AND after if they feel super-icky in the morning. Now you've got ME wondering about your Sociology questions! Crap. :p
Here's my contribution this week: http://mybellafiglia.blogspot.com/2009/07/spin-cycle-day-in-life.html
Posted by: Shangrila | July 17, 2009 at 06:02 PM
Sign me up. http://halfasgoodasyou.com/?p=5310
I'm still loopy but I'll be around later today to catch up on the posts I missed. :)
Posted by: Casey | July 18, 2009 at 11:00 AM
It's really hot and humid over here. I admit to taking two showers a day, occasionally three.
Morning. After exercising. Night. But I keep it quick so the water thing is not as bad.
Teeth? After I wake up AND after breakfast.
Posted by: Pseudo | July 18, 2009 at 04:20 PM
So my routine was so screwed up this week that I didn't even have the heart (or time) to spin about it. It's hard work getting your house and kids and their food and your stuff ready to leave it for four days but I pulled it off.
I used to be a morning showerer with the exception of after work on the nights I worked fast food. These days, I seriously usually get to shower every other day. I wish I was kidding but both showers border the walls that Graham sleeps on and his sleep has been terrible lately. Ugh, I smell.
Posted by: Casey | July 19, 2009 at 07:05 AM
I kept meaning to participate in this spin but all our routines have come to an abrupt and tragic end this summer. I miss my morning routine, ushering the kids off to school, having some midday peace, collecting them all at day's end and being (mostly) grateful to see them. Sigh.
For the record my shower times are unpredictable. Whenever I can squeeze in some alone time, I pencil in a shower. Or a meal. Whatever.
Posted by: mrsbear | July 19, 2009 at 12:08 PM
I have a very hard time sticking to any routine. I brush after breakfast. My shower time depends on my workout time which changes with my whims.
Posted by: Smart Mouth Broad | July 19, 2009 at 08:10 PM
Here's my vacation spin!
http://joanies-random-rambling.blogspot.com/2009/07/spin-cycle-vacation.html
Posted by: Joanie M | July 21, 2009 at 01:49 AM