#graceissogirldadcoded

Apparently this is common with most parents and babies, and it feels nice to be wanted, you know? But it would be nice to attend to my hygiene without my kid screaming the house down, and I am not one of those dumb parents who let their kid cry without being soothed. Call it gentle parenting if you want but it’s just not cool in my opinion.

But I really need a shower.

I gave her stomach a squeeze with the tip of my fingers, making a ‘ch, ch’ noise while doing so before I left the room. I took my shirt off the moment I got in the bathroom, and went to turn on the shower- hoping Rocky hasn’t used up any hot water (again). The water doesn’t really clean Rocky himself but washes his protection shield, but then, he can just use a sponge and soap for that right? Suppose he does need hot water- but the amount of time he spends in there is a little concerning.

As the shower warmed up I checked myself in the mirror, I actually don’t look to bad. Still toned, still got muscle in my arms though but I have a tiny pouch going on as I haven’t really worked out in a while since… Well, parenting solo.

I do go on walks though with Aria and Rocky- they’re pretty nice, peaceful as well. We live near a river so we often take a stroll and Aria just laughs at anything passing by- she seems to have an obsession with birds at the moment so we often feed the ducks.

There was an incident though when she threw the whole packet of food for the ducks in the river out of excitement and some pensioner (or boomer is what those gen z’s call them- got called that by a student one time actually) shouted at me as if it was my fault and we’re damaging the environment and Rocky ended up calling them, uh… A little b word (he told me he started listening to gangsta rap to expand his vocabulary which is ‘perfect’). Yeah, we left immediately before it escalated. Fun times.

Shower’s finally hot. Welp, time to go in cause house work is done, Aria is asleep, Rocky is doing his thing so I can get clean. I start to unbuckle my belt-

Aria is not asleep.

I sighed and turned off the shower before walking back to my room where I saw Aria in her crib which I put her in probably less than five minutes ago (clearly that was enough time to believe I was gone forever), whimpering and making that cute pouty lip when she isn’t happy about something.

Despite the fact she is emotionally blackmailing me right now, she is adorable as heck.

I put my hand on Aria’s belly. “Hey, hey, hey… Daddy’s here sweetheart, shh… He just really really really wants a shower. Cause people will judge daddy and he gets judged plently enough bug.”

I know she doesn’t understand. But it’s nice to talk to her cause it does feel like bonding in a way, and to be honest, Aria does look at me as if she is listening to everything I say, even if it’s foreign to her, cause babies sense things. They can be smart.

I highly doubt she understands what’s going on here though, cause she is still whimpering and looking at me with those big, silly, adorable eyes. Looking at me as if I'm the problem. Man, this kid.

I sigh. “… Ok, ok. Come here.” I pick her up again and she lays her chin on my bare shoulder, and I start to bounce her gently and hush her.

After five minutes Aria starts to calm down a little, so maybe I can put her down now and see if she gets comfortable now.

And so I do. I lay her down. I give her a thumbs up. I start to walk backwards slowly…

Slowly…

Slowly…

Ok… We’re off to a good start.

Nearly out the door-

Aaaand she’s crying again.

Perfect.

🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼

I strap Aria into her bouncer. I decided after the fifth attempt of trying to succesfully go to the shower, maybe it’s not so bad to be supervised by a six month old. Hey, maybe if I slipped and went unconscious she could scream the house down and alert the neighbours or something like that. She’d be a local hero.

Though maybe I shouldn’t traumatise a six month old. So, maybe I should aim to not slip in the shower.

“Ok. You comfy?”

“Huh.” Aria says to me.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Can daddy shower now?”

She tried to touch my face. My chest always melts for some reason when she does that. I gave her hand a kiss and stood back up, finally being able to go in the shower without a crisis.

I stripped everything off before stepping into the shower, and I closed the curtian before turning the hot water on which actually was hot. Rocky’s been good. I’m very glad.

I wet my hair and oh my god it felt so good. To be honest, it’s only been two days since I showered but my god it feels like a lifetime and it feels really good to have that hot water on me.

As I put the shampoo on the palm of my hand, I can hear Aria getting anxious. But it was fine cause once I put the shampoo in my hair I leaned out of the shower curtian so she could see my face.

“I’m still here, bug.” I called out softly. Aria’s face instantly brightened when she saw me, definitely looked more content. If only other people looked at me that way. I must be the coolest person to her.

I smiled at her before I put my head under the water again. Then, ten seconds later Aria made very concerned noises. I huffed, rinsed my hair, and leaned back out.

“Hey, hey. I’m right here, bug. I’m not disapearing, I promise.”

Aria smiled again and started kicking her feet.

I grin to myself. “Crisis averted.”

It quickly becomes a pattern. I shower. I lean out. I reassure Aria. She smiles at me. I smile back cause she’s got a very cute smile which I unapologetically brag about. Then back to shower. Repeat.

It was actually quite fun to do. Makes shower time less boring.

I lean out again.

"Why is Grace wet, question?” Rocky asks. Appearing out of nowhere.

I let out a high pitch shriek before I frantically cover myself with the shower curtain before Rocky sees more of me than he usually does.

When did Rocky get in here?!

“Why are you here?!” I ask, nearly shrieking again.

“I am observing the infant child.”

“I’m showering!”

“Grace said if Grace is out of sight I must observe.”

“Rocky you can clearly see my silhouette behind this curtian!”

Aria is now laughing, glad someone finds this funny.

Rocky just gestured vaguely. “The infant becomes distress when you are not in visual distance.”

“Cause she’s a baby and attached to me!” I yell, starting to feel flustered as I’m the only naked one in here. Aria quickly confirmed my statement by giggling and reaching out to me

Of course, Rocky continues, completely unfazed at the fact that I am completely naked behind the shower curtain.

"Observation: you repeatedly make sure offspring can see Grace. Offspring checks for Grace, finds Grace, stops worrying."

I just stare at him.

"...What?"

"You repeatedly emerge from shower to reassure infant."

I pause, continuing to stare at him.

Is he analysing my parenting?

"...Please do not analyse my parenting."

"I am not judging. I am documenting."

"That's worse."

"Correction: documenting successful parenting behavior."

"Rocky."

"Yes, Grace?"

"Stop."

"Stopping."

Aria made an impatient noise and kicked her legs again.

I softend. “I’m still here, bug! Daddy’s here!”

Rocky looked at Aria.

Then at me.

“The infant is very dependent on you.”

… Is he serious right now? How does parenting work with Eridians cause Rocky judges human babies a lot I notice- especially mine.

I gestured to Aria. “Yeah- cause she’s a baby!”

“Rocky sees that.”

“And it is very normal for a human baby to be attached to their caregiver Rocky.”

“… Understood. Rocky may understand one day."

I sighed loudly, my patience is thin as hell and I really want to smell like I actually care about taking care of my hygeine.

“Ok. Rocky- out.”

“Rocky is supervising infant.”

“I’m supervising her.”

“Grace is behind a curtian, hence that does not count as supervising because Grace can't see-”

“GET OUT OF THE BATHROOM!”

I threw a nearby towel at Rocky without thinking. Extreme reaction, I know, but I hit my limit with showertime interruptions.

After a few moments of tense silence (besides the shower running, probably wasting a lot of water right now), Rocky simply came out with a “Understood.”

And just as I was about to return to shampooing my hair…

“… Why is the infant allowed to observe you unclothed? This is unfa-"

“OUT.”

And thank god- he finally left. I heard the door close, and the only noise now was the shower running.

I had to look at Aria to completely calm down, and I did actually. She just smiled at me and started to giggle which always made my chest feel fuzzy on the inside.

“There she is.” I smile soflty. I was finally able to complete my shower and felt like a new- and clean, person.

Parenting isn’t easy. Especially when it comes to being a single dad to a young infant (though feels like I have two kids at this point).

But, would I change this life? Aria? Even Rocky?

Heck no.

🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼