My father told me to take cold showers, always saying, “You smell horrible, go take a cold shower and use the soap I gave you.” And I did, like five times a day — it was driving me mad. My mom stayed silent, which was strange since we were usually close.
One day, my boyfriend came over, and I asked, “Do I smell bad?”
He laughed, thinking I was joking, and headed to the bathroom. A moment later, he came back with a pale look on his face, holding the soap I used to shower.
“Who gave you this?! Are you taking cold showers with this?!?” My blood froze. “Yeah, why?!” He started crying, “They didn’t tell you, did they?! Baby, this isn’t soap! It’s used to treat and repel pests. It’s industrial-grade and not meant for human use!”
My mind swirled with confusion. The world seemed upside down. “What do you mean?” I stammered, barely able to process his words. “Why would my dad give me this?”
“Look,” he said gently, pointing to the fine print on the back of the soap bar. “It clearly says it’s a pesticide treatment. No wonder you’ve been feeling off.”
As his words sank in, a mix of emotions overwhelmed me. Anger, betrayal, confusion. Why would my dad do this? Why was my mom silent? Was this some sort of twisted joke?
I sat down on the edge of the bathtub, the cold tiles grounding me as I tried to make sense of the situation. My boyfriend sat beside me, wrapping his arms around me in a comforting embrace. “It’s okay,” he whispered, “we’ll figure this out together.”
Over the next few days, I confronted my parents. My dad, surprisingly, was unapologetic. He claimed he thought it was a harmless joke, a way to teach me a lesson about hygiene. My mom, on the other hand, was distraught. She admitted she had felt uneasy but didn’t know how to speak up without causing a rift in the family.
I realized then that this was more than just about soap. It was about trust, communication, and understanding the dynamics within my family. My dad’s actions were misguided, yes, but it also highlighted a lack of open communication between us.
With my boyfriend’s support, I sat down with my parents to have an honest conversation. I expressed my feelings of betrayal and confusion, while also trying to understand their perspective. It wasn’t easy, but slowly, we began to unravel the layers of misunderstanding that had built up over the years.
My dad eventually apologized, acknowledging that his joke was in poor taste and that he hadn’t considered the impact it would have on me. My mom promised to be more vocal in the future, ensuring we maintain an open line of communication.
As for me, I learned the importance of questioning things, even when they come from those we love. Blindly following advice without understanding it can lead to unintended consequences. My relationship with my parents slowly began to heal, built on a newfound foundation of open dialogue and mutual respect.
And as for cold showers? I’ve returned to regular, warm ones, using soap that’s actually meant for humans. My boyfriend occasionally teases me about it, but we both know it’s a reminder of how far we’ve come and the lessons learned along the way.
