Sometimes the long days of summer stretch out and are too long. During one of those long summer afternoons, I agreed to let Emmy give me a facial. One of her favorite books is Fancy Nancy: Ooh La La! It’s Beauty Day! In the book, Nancy gives her not-so-fancy mom a spa day for her birthday. Included in the book is a recipe for a banana honey facial.
So we mashed up the banana and mixed in some honey, and Voila! We had a facial! Nancy’s mom reclined on a lounge chair outside, but I chose to lie down on the kitchen floor with a towel under my head. Lily placed two cucumber slices on my eyes, and then the girls gooped the banana mask on my face a little too eagerly. Gobs of banana dripped down my cheeks toward my ears. I was supposed to leave the mask on for ten minutes.
I held out for six loooong minutes.
When I got up, I had banana in my hair and in my ears. Fortunately, I had already planned on taking a shower after my facial. Unfortunately, the shower did not rinse the banana out of my right ear.
Then I did a very bad thing.
I used a Q-tip.
As I was twirling the Q-tip in my ear, I felt the banana go further into my ear. And then, I couldn’t hear very well. My ear was so completely clogged that I was like Ernie from Sesame Street when he had an actual banana in his ear. Unlike Ernie, my clogged ear was driving me completely batty!
I tried putting a little rubbing alcohol in my ear, which helps to get water out after swimming. No luck.
I tried a little hydrogen peroxide, and could hear the fizzing behind the banana for at least half an hour. It did nothing.
I bought an ear syringe to try to wash the banana out. Nope. Wasn’t gonna budge the banana.
The next day, I finally caved in and made an appointment at a Walgreen’s clinic. And when I got there, I told the truth.
My daughters gave me a facial and I think I have some banana in my ear.
Boy, did I feel silly.
The nurse practitioner had the right tool, however, and she pumped and pumped and pumped water into my ear until I felt dizzy. Out fell a blob (which did not look like banana, but I knew it was) and the relief was so immediate I just about cried. The nurse suggested that next time I should put some cotton in my ears.
Ha. There won’t be a next time.
P.S. Wait! Don’t stop reading yet! I know you’re wondering about how the banana face mask worked. It actually made my skin feel very soft, and I may use it again…without my assistants’ help.
Ok, I nearly fell over reading this and you know my girls love Fancy Nancy. I totally would have let them do this to me too and now you got me thinking otherwise, because I don’t think I could deal with having banana stuck in my ear and not being able to hear. The year before I had Emma, I was so sick and my ears got clogged. I remember for about a week it being torture that I couldn’t hear. So, I admit I hope to never go through that again, but still I love how you let Emmy give you a facial. Very cute story and thank you for the warning here š
Janine Huldie recently posted…Emma’s Frozen 5th Birthday Party Celebration
I knew you would enjoy my Fancy Nancy story, Janine! If only I had thought about using cotton sooner. Oh, well, being a mother is definitely a learn-as-you-go job!
Ginny Marie recently posted…Parks and Recreation {Spin Cycle}
This post was funny and also heartwarming. You are a sweet mom and your girls must cherish you very much. I can imagine having banana stuck in your ear was terribly annoying. I had water in my ear for over week and it drove me crazy!
This Busy Life recently posted…Wanderlust
Having a clogged ear is awful! I didn’t realize how annoying it was until it was unclogged. I’m glad it didn’t last for a week like your ear!
Ginny Marie recently posted…Parks and Recreation {Spin Cycle}
Funny!!! I wanna try this with my girls too…but with cotton balls in my ears! š
Yes, I definitely recommend using cotton balls! I won’t forget them next time around…if there is a next time! š
Ginny Marie recently posted…Parks and Recreation {Spin Cycle}
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Bless your heart!!! This is just such a great story Ginny!! I’m sure this one will go down in the record book of parenting, for SURE!!
SO glad you got the banana glump out of your ear! How scary! And down right hilarious!!
Chris Carter recently posted…What Teenagers Do With Their Pain: TToT: Finding the Good
It is a pretty good story, Chris! It even makes me laugh when I think about getting banana in my ear!
Ginny Marie recently posted…Parks and Recreation {Spin Cycle}
Really sorry about the banana in your ear but your story did make me laugh……
Deborah Pucci recently posted…WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE
It all turned out okay in the end! I’m just glad I didn’t wait longer to go to the clinic!
Ginny Marie recently posted…Parks and Recreation {Spin Cycle}
I can’t help but giggle! So much for facials at home. š
another jennifer recently posted…Wordless Wednesday: Ladies Toilet
And I thought it would be relaxing to get a facial…little did I know how it would end up!
Ginny Marie recently posted…Parks and Recreation {Spin Cycle}
Love Fancy Nancy books — and your experience sounds like it came out of a book itself!
That is definitely a story to tell to the grandkids one day!
Theres Just One Mommy recently posted…Activities for the Letter Y
Ha! Yes, I’m sure the grandkids will hear about this one!
Ginny Marie recently posted…Parks and Recreation {Spin Cycle}
haha!! I am cringing because I have a bit of an ear phobia. I cannot stand to think too much about it.
When I was five, I got a pussywillow stuck up my nose. They found it MONTHS later. I had to have it removed by a doctor.
Good times, right?
Tamara recently posted…How This Situationally Anxious Girl Finds Relaxation.
Oh, no! I can just imagine how a five year old would get a pussywillow stuck in her nose, however. Hopefully Scarlet will never put you through that experience! I seem to remember my sister going through something similar….
Ginny Marie recently posted…Parks and Recreation {Spin Cycle}
Did you have alligators in your kitchen? Because if not, the banana sure helped!
I remember a guy from work who used q-tips to clean his ears and left most of the cotton wool in! The first time he was mortified, the second time he didn’t believe us for an hour!
Mara recently posted…Summer
You’re right…it does work! There are no alligators in my kitchen! š
Ginny Marie recently posted…Parks and Recreation {Spin Cycle}
This is a funny story because of the happy ending. I have done a few face masks before and never even thought about what would happen if some got into my ear!
Becca recently posted…Restaurant Review: New Chicken Bowl Teriyaki in Oxnard
My girls love Fancy Nancy. My girls have not tried the facial recipe, but love to twirl my curls like the main character’s hair. I usually end up with lots of knots and hubby cutting out hair ties.
Glad to “hear” your ear is better. Sorry had to stick in that pun.
Sharon, The Mayor recently posted…Summer Bucket List Item
Ginny, I’m sorry, but I just laughed hysterically at this!! You are so sweet to endure that for your kiddos. Now I have another book to add to my banned list at home!
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