Recently, we took a pest control measure in our home. Before then, we had to turn off our central heater to shut off the gas supply per instructions due to fire hazards. After the exercise, I lit up the heater again but at a lower temperature than the previous one because the weather has warmed up. Therefore, we don’t need as much hot water.

This morning I heard Ofu fusing in the bathroom, so I checked on him.

Me: “What’s going on?”

Ofu: “The shower is not warm enough, but the faucet is, and I don’t want to use the bucket.”

Although I knew what he complained about, I still compared the water temperatures from the shower and faucet. The shower water was still as tepid as it’s been since I reduced the heating temperature.

Me: “I know why. Remember that I had to turn off the water heater before we used the fogger recently. I turned down the temperature after I lit the heater because it is getting very hot as we are entering summer, and we wouldn’t be needing so much hot water so we can save energy.”

Ofu: “Ok, but I don’t want to use the bucket.”

Me: “I get it that you don’t want to use the bucket, but you don’t have another option right now. I am going to turn up the heater now, but it will take a while before the water heats up more, and we don’t have the time to wait.”

He insisted on not wanting to use the bucket.

Me: “This is a good time to use your flexibility skills to take your bath.”

Ofu: “What does that mean?”

Me: “It means using your problem-solving skills to figure out another way of taking your bath since the shower is not warm enough. It is filling up the bucket with warm water from the faucet, using the small plastic bowl to fetch the water, and pouring it on your body.”

He began to grumble then I told of how some kids in other parts of the world do not have many of his privileges, yet they make things work. Then I left. At that point, I figured that engaging him further would not be fruitful. The next thing, I heard the water running in the bathroom, then I smiled to myself as I went to turn up the water heater. I returned from the garage only for Agbenu to make the same complaint about the water temperature, and I assured her that I had just fixed it.

Next, I dashed to pick up John from his football training camp, a few minutes away. As we drove home, John said:

“Dad, the water from the shower hasn’t been warm enough of late.”

Me: “Yeah, I’m aware. Ofu just complained about it too. I took care of it already.” Then I explained what happened, as I mentioned earlier. The complaint had reached a complete cycle for all three of my children to voice it independently within the same time frame. Interestingly, their tones reflected their personalities.

Well, the plan for the day was for my kids and their cousins to spend the day together in their home, after John’s training. As John and I returned home, Joy, my sister-in-law, sent me a text to tell my kids to bring along their swim clothes so they can go to the pool. After I told them, Ofu dropped what he was doing and searched for his swim clothes. He found them still wet in the washer; they hadn’t been washed after using them the previous evening.

Me: “Let’s throw them in the dryer for a few minutes, and they’ll be ready since they are not really dirty.”

Ofu: “Oh yeah!”

After he got them out of the dryer, I said:

“Did you see how you were flexible to work around your wet swim clothes and have them quickly ready for you to use again?”

Ofu: “Wait. Was that flexible? I thought flexible means bending your body so that you can touch other parts of your body where you can’t reach normally.”

Me: “Yes! High-five! Being flexible is also another way to solve problems. Do you remember how I told you earlier to use your flexibility skills to take your bath?”

Ofu: “Yeah.”

Me: “Good. Flexibility and flexible almost mean the same thing. You can say ‘use your flexibility skills’ or ‘be flexible’ to mean, use your problem-solving skills like you did today. Got it?”

Ofu: “Yeah!”

Me: “So, can you show me how flexible your body is?”

Ofu: “Sure!” (He assumes a flexible posture).

Me: “Can I take a picture of you in this position real quick?”

Ofu: “Yeah. Are you going to write a story with it?” He asked after I showed it to him.

Me: “I’d like to!”

Ofu: “Ok.”

• 6/7/22