Motherhood Series
Volume 04.
Chi-San Wan

BAINA's Motherhood Series is an exploration of bathing rituals, capturing the essence of motherhood in the bathing space. Encompassing moments of peaceful solitude and shared joy with a child.

Mother of two, and author, Chi-San, opens up on the cherished ritual of bathing, and the challenges of finding space as a Mother.

Above: Chi San with The Josephine (Hand) Towel in Sage & Chalk

"Making space for bathing changed since becoming a mother. When the opportunity arises, I take a bath with the lights off, candles lit, Epsom Salts, whatever oil I’m into at the moment and a juicy podcast I’ve been meaning to listen to (this ensures I stay in the bath for more than 20mins!)."

"Before motherhood, as a freelancer, I’d like to have a bath in the day, it was the ultimate pause when everything revolves around productivity."

- Chi-San Wan

"Bathing the way I would like to is hard to fit in — between unschooling the girls, work and much needed sleep, it’s an internal battle of what should be prioritised. I definitely feel guilty for making time for bathing the way I need to. Before motherhood, as a freelancer I’d like to have a bath in the day, it was the ultimate pause when everything revolves around productivity.

Nowadays, my bathing ritual tends to look like jumping in the shower for 5mins once the kids have been fed breakfast. On days where I feel like I can, I dry brush my whole body and make sure I oil myself up once out of the shower. Long solo baths only ever happens once they’re asleep, and sometimes I opt for sleep myself over the bath in all honesty."

Above: Chi-San with her daughters bathing at home

"Bathing can be incredibly meditative and anchoring, using texture (a brush, a loofah, a scrub, a sponge, a towel) and smell (oils, washes, candles), the sound of water is so healing for me. There’s that old saying, ‘just add water’ — taking a moment for a drink, a cry, a bath, to see the sea. It’s all a ritual of self care."

"Marloe used to bathe with me when I was pregnant with Maggie, it was a lovely way to reconnect after a day apart when she was at kita (kindergarten in Berlin) and she would observe the growing belly and talk to it. Now they will both join me after I’ve had a hot bath (much too hot for them). Once it’s cooled down, they will both come in but Maggie usually gets far too distracted by breastfeeding — such a novelty in the bath!"

Bathing with my child feels; like slippery limbs, strands of wet hair and the occasional claustrophobia. Smells; like their Weleda Bath Wash. Tastes; like slight saltiness from them getting sweaty messing around in the hot bath. Sounds; like lots of splashing, blowing bubbles, and shouting to get off one another — “I need space!" Looks; like a tangled mess of loveliness that I’ll miss when they get too big for us all fit in one bath.