“I’m supposed to be giving you a bath, but instead you’re giving me one!” she told the child with mock sternness. Shoshana crowed with happiness, her little hands flapping furiously as she churned up the bathwater. “Okay now, Shoshana Goodman! Enough! Soon it will be Shabbos. Ima has to finish preparing.” “No, Ima. Stay!” she demanded. Daniella shook her head. Just yesterday she was a baby, and now she was nearly two. She could argue and she had opinions. Daniella smiled, reaching down and pulling out the plug. From her experience, once the water went down the drain, so did the child’s resistance to getting dried off. She heard the front door open and close. She held up a towel. “Your aba’s home. Come, quick, get dried off.” She wrapped the fluffy, thick towel around the little girl’s naked, warm body, hugging her close. They were like puppies at this age, she marveled. All joy and motion. Baruch Hashem! Such a blessing to have healthy children. Such a gift from God!
