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What constitutes too long of a shower?

gladtheyrenotmine's picture

I know, it probably seems a bit irrelevant, but I just want to know some other experiences on how long your SD or DD in the early teen years are showering for. In my mind, I can't understand how a small, 70 lb little girl needs almost 30 minutes in the shower. Thoughts?

PeanutandSons's picture

If I don't call to/ yell to/ scream at SD 9, her shower are over 40 minutes long. Even with me hurrying her as much as I can, its still a 20 minute ordeal.

I can't imagine what takes so long, other than.just standing there under the water. She doesn't shave, no special face soap or anything. It's just wash body, wash hair, get out.

I think a realistic shower is ten minutes, with 15 minutes being a long shower.

Jsmom's picture

If you figure it out let me know...My DH takes a minimum 30 minute shower and always has. I have accused him of doing things in there, which he denies, but something has to be going on....He even just got a tankless heater so he can't run out of hot water...Absolutely nuts.

Disneyfan's picture

DS20 also takes 30 minute showers. SS20 and SD15 are in and out in under 10 minutes.

PeanutandSons's picture

Lol, I've been know to turn on the dishwasher or washer, so bye bye hot water and water pressure.

After half an hour ill call her and shell say.....I'm almost done I just have to do the soap and my hair.....?!?..... Then when the hell have you been doing!! That's the whole shower!

And it really sux, as we only have one bathroom.

gladtheyrenotmine's picture

This would actually be pretty fun....especially when neither DW or SD13 knew I was doing it.

duct_tape's picture

SS easy take forty minutes. And that was not including the ten or fifteen that he just let the shower run full blast while he walked back and forth to get his shit from his room. He would hog the bathroom in the morning for at least an hour.

gladtheyrenotmine's picture

So on one hand, I'm right in assuming that her 30 min showers are toooooo long. But it sounds like this is pretty normal. I guess it's really just a matter of whether or not this battle is worth fighting over....although when you're paying the water bill it makes it easier to want to fight!

Elizabeth's picture

Ha! SD used to do the 40-minute marathon showers and it would drive me up a wall because she'd get in right before I was bathing baby BD and we'd have no hot water for the bath. And no matter how many times I complained to DH, he wouldn't do anything about it. My brother used to go to the basement after a certain period of time and turn off the hot water. That hurries a shower up! What's funny is my BD8 literally takes 5 minutes at most in the shower. Shampoo hair, condition hair, wash body, out. It CAN be done.

gladtheyrenotmine's picture

It's funny because her brother, SS11, is that way. 5 minutes, maybe 10 at most, and he's done. In fact DW had to tell him to take a longer shower because he wasn't getting all the soap/conditioner out of his hair! Wish we had that problem with SD13!

Jsmom's picture

I think it would be wrong to do this to my husband, considering I made him pay for the Tankless if he wanted it. I have run dishwasher and washer and it has no effect with the tankless. I think he falls asleep in there.

PrincessFiona's picture

Are you happy with your tankless system? We have been considering it because I am a huge hot water hog myself. And you will never get me to appologize for taking those precious 30 minutes of quiet and peace to myself.

Did you do a whole house system? or just for the shower?

Jsmom's picture

Whole house system. 3K. Worth it since now we never run out of hot water. But, it does take a while for the hot water to get all the way up to our bathroom. We used to have a water regulator in the master bath that stopped that, but you can't have it with a tankless system.

We will never get the money out of it with the cost savings or rebate, but it was well worth it that the dishwasher and washer and other showers can all run at the same time and never run out of hot water.

PrincessFiona's picture

Thanks ! I agree, often the cost savings is not the only reason to go with a system like that. You can't put a dollar value on convience and less stress.

doll faced sm's picture

I dunno, I guess. I remember my pre-army days when I would take an hour long shower daily. For the life of me, I cannot remember what I was doing that took so long since now 10 min is pretty well the standard . . . about 15 if I need to shave everything. My DD got in the habit of taking long showers with me when she was young, but has not been through boot camp (pity), so has not changed. Her standard is about 45 min to an hour. If I emphasize to her that we are running late or really need to get on the road and so she needs to take a quick shower, she can be whittled down to 30 min.

gladtheyrenotmine's picture

I too enjoy a nice looooong, hot shower as sometimes it's the ONLY place in my OWN house I can escape to for some peace. But that said, I pay for EVERY bill in my house. I've earned the right to take a long shower.

I'm not at home most mornings she takes a shower, but I've certainly been noticing an increasing water bill. I'll have to start shutting water off on the rare chances I get when I'm home and she's showering. I can see this becoming a sort of game for me now!

imthewife's picture

They will take as long of a shower as they care too since they don't pay the water bill.

SD19 was home for a month over Christmas break...my water bill was extremely high.

I agree with the above poster...turn off the hot water!

unsure99's picture

MY FSD13 has always in the 3 years I have known her taken at least 30 minutes in the shower, apparently she sits in the tub and lets the water hit her. I have been known to turn the water on the kitchen, put clothes on to wash, turn the dishwasher on, yeah I can be a bitch!! Smile

Auteur's picture

This is a classic skid technique. Prince Hygiene (stbxSS9) at almost 7 would take his patented 30 minute soapless showers in which he would simply squat down in the shower and play with the drain. I kid you not.

I figure if you pay the bills in the house you're entitled to a long hot shower!!! But not a parasite skid.

GoodbyeNormaJean's picture

Too long of a shower is any time above and beyond the limit that an adult has set for the shower in that adult's home.

My limits? We are a family of 9. We'll be a family of 10 later this month. The boys take 3 minute showers. The girls take 5 minute showers. If you need to shave or anything like that, turn the water off, get er done, and finish up. Or take a bath. Unfortunately we just can't accomodate longer showers around here.

didntask4this's picture

SS13 used to take 45 minute showers when he was 10…DH spoke with him so he then took 30 minute showers and thought that was cutting the time down…then I said 10 minute showers from now on...so for the past two years it’s been in & out of the shower in 10 minutes, water off…if he can’t get himself clean in 10 minutes there’s a problem

GizmoBarnOwl's picture

Hmm I always take AGES in the shower.. not sure exactly how long i take, but apparently it is ages lol I have been known to spend up to 3 hours in the bath too!!! I just find it is the only peace I seem to get! Plus its really relaxing just to be in a nice warm bath. My SO is litterally only 3 mins max in the shower so make what you will of that! ... not really helpful I guess, but just a contrast for you.

LPS's picture

SD takes long showers too. Sometimes 45 minutes. It gets so hot in there that I am able to smell her shampoo and then I get asthma attacks. I have asked her numerous times to use the fan in there but SD "forgets". After 3 years of her forgetting maybe she needs to see a neurologist, her brain apparently isn't working. It has gotten to the point that I have to tell DH not to let her in there if I have to shower or my Bkids need a shower. Sometimes, on the weekends, I take a quick shower in the morning and purposely let the hot water run out so when she gets in the water is freezing.....that makes me smile with delight!

jumanji's picture

LOL Do you all not realize what MOST adolescents (especially boys) are doing in the shower?

jumanji's picture

I don't see you asking ridingthestorm or youngcanuck that question. Who both posted BEFORE me yesterday, on this year and a half old thread. And I see a LOT of old threads brought back to life. So, really? WTF?

P,S. The question I asked is legit. Young men jack off in the shower. For a long time.