Things I overheard or said during an enema.

I've been having more discussions with my sister Tess and we're remembering more conversations or just comments from our "golden age" in the early to late 50s.

I remember one time asking mom "how much water is in it" reply was "enough to get the job done"!

Tess told A younger sister who was complaining about her upcoming enema "it's just an enema, get it over with". Sister's reply was "That's easy for you to say, it's not going in YOUR butt"!

Our grandmother's favorite while we waited the required 5 minutes "hold your water until the bell rings".

While the enema was flowing, mom's was, "don't fight it just let the water in".

One time Tess and I were giving to each other, I asked her "do you feel it"? Her answer was "did you ever get an enema you didn't feel"?

Did you ever hear or say something back then that brings a smile to you?

I'm still LostInThe50s

My grandmother loved to give me enemas as a young boy. Anything I did wrong she told me to stop it or I was going to get an enema. She lived upstairs from us and watched me a lot when my parents went out.

I remember when she had enough of my misbehavior she went into the vanity cabinet and got the enema equipment out. She made me watch as she filled it with soapy water. Making me take my pj’s off and lay on the bed she gave me a very fast, crampy enema. I hated it and loved it at the same time.

After it all was over we would watch tv on the couch while she cuddled me on her breasts. I would do anything to relive the comfort that I felt after that enema and loving embrace.

My mom was of the type that had to put the blame on the victim. She could not accept that sometimes things just happened beyond the control of the person. I had to have done something to cause the resulting illness or state of being. This was especially so when I was being given enemas for constipation. I ate too much or not enough to make my self constipated. Not only did I have to suffer through a thorough cleaning out over her lap but I had to hear how it my fault I got constipated

When sick and the enemas were both doctor ordered and routine due to codeine cough medicine, I wasn’t lectured during the enema. Rectal temperature taking first then, “In the bathroom for your enema.”

A few of phrases stand out from years of enemas from my mother.

"Just a little more"

"I know you don't like this, but you know this is for your own good"

"I wouldn't do this if you didn't need it"

"The doctor said to keep your bowels open"

"You know you always get a rinse after the soapy enema"

"Someday, you will thank me for this"

and from me:

"I don't need an enema"

"I can't take any more"

"I can't hold it"

"The doctor said ONE enema"

There are more, but you get the idea.

Since I posted a description of things I heard or said, I've been thinking about mom saying, "don't fight it, just let it go in". How am I able to fight it? No matter what I do IT'S GOING IN! And usually, she says "take the whole enema or you'll get another one". Then there's the inevitable 5 minute hold, with instructions "hold it until the bell rings or you'll get another enema"! Tess and I would at times not wait the full 5 minutes, or stop before it emptied just to get another enema, I doubt that mom ever caught on as we always put up a token resistance.

I do remember mom saying to Diane or Robin, our two younger sisters, "I don't understand why you two give me such a hard time when you need an enema. Tess and your brother take their enemas without that much fussing". This must have been when I was 7 or 8. Robin was three years younger and Diane 1.5 years younger than I was at the time.

My favorite remembrance from mom was one day she was fixing an enema for me and I asked "how much water is in it"? Without missing a beat she said "enough to get the job done"! I never forgot that day! The enema was the same as most that mom gave me, no nonsense, once it's fixed and hung on the hook next to the window, me naked from the waist down, towel on mom's lap, me across her lap, watching everything in the mirror on the back of the bathroom door, she lubed the nozzle, squirt a little water in the sing, insertion, CLICK, well you know the rest.

BTW, I've posted a lot of memories in other groups of our growing up on our grandparent's farm in West Virginia before we moved to Philadelphia when I was about 11 or 12.

That's why I'm LostInThe50s

@LostInThe50s It's always good to remember those days and fun to read other memories in part because they trigger more memories for me.

I read this, "I remember one time asking mom "how much water is in it" reply was "enough to get the job done"!" and I remember watching mom fill the bag and soaping it up and I'd protest it was 'too much, not so much, pleeeease mom!" and she'd calmly say "I'm going to give you the right amount you need. Not a drop more, not a drop less. " Sometimes an enema was prelude to a spanking in which case she might add, "Don't forget after this I'm going to spank you. Don't make it worse." This last was quite effective, lol

@LindaB said,

Sometimes an enema was prelude to a spanking in which case she might add, "Don't forget after this I'm going to spank you. Don't make it worse."

Growing up my siblings and I got enemas from mom, grandma, and our two young aunts. If grandma gave us a spanking, she always asked us if we’d like an enema to help calm down afterwards. As a rule, we accepted, but occasionally declined the offer. The best I recall, grandma started the routine and was picked up by mom and her two younger sisters. However, there was an exception with mom and our two aunts. After spanking us, we didn’t get a choice, wanted or not we got an enema.

When we got called to the bathroom for various reasons by mom or our aunts. It was easy to tell if we were in trouble or not. If we saw an enema bag hanging up, we knew what was coming. A spanking then an enema laying naked across their lap. With grandma, on the other hand, we never knew what to expect. She didn’t fix an enema until after she’d spanked us, then asked, if we’d like an enema to help calm down.

How many things are similar...

Everything I read in these few posts reminds me of my childhood; I hear my mom, I hear myself, I smell the bathroom with the rubber and the soap...

"I don't need an enema"

"I can decide better. Of course you need one now."

"It's enough, it's enough..."

"two or three more balls..."

"I think I'm going to burst..."

"Then we'll take a short break; ..."

"Why so much..."

"So that the enema is successful..."

"I think I'm having cramps..."

"Then the enema does a good job..."

Mom never said much; she simply gave me the enemas she deemed necessary.

At some point I just let it get the better of me, whimpering quietly to myself.

The only comment: "Don't act like that, it'll be over soon..."