Wednesday, November 15, 2006

The elephant in the armchair ... isn't wearing diapers


Yeah ... I had thought I'd try and steer clear public airings of bathroom exploits, you know we all deserve a little privacy, but this potty training stuff is really too rich. I mean parents of small children - myself included - are obsessed with all matters fecal. It's really the elephant in the armchair.

This fascination with feces starts in the hospital, where some of us (*raises hand and waves it furiously from side to side) learn the art of diapering for the first time. We obsess about the color and consistency, not to mention the frequency, and voice with the same excitement one has for completing any difficult task ... like swishing down the slopes in Aspen.

For at least two years we become waste product connoisseurs. Merely by waving a nose in the vicinity of the nearest bottom, we can pinpoint with razor sharp accuracy the size, shape and probable color of the deposit therein.

We sing songs about it, we fill jars of colorful treats to hand out as bribes and rewards. We ask no less than forty times a day whether junior has to poo. We jump up and down, perform three-foot-tall high-fives and do the potty dance to show appreciation for a job well done.

Once the diapers are tossed aside, replaced by layers upon layers of underpants (word to the wise: Don't buy cute ones ... They'll only want to wear them ALL ... AT THE SAME TIME) we can finally get the fragrant waft of freedom.

But when they start talking about it. Taking pride in their own internal workings, you know the fun is really beginning.

When they FINALLY poop in the potty and yell for you to come and see for yourself the wondrous whale of a stink fish swimming around the porcelain throne, the time has arrived for true celebration. Because you know, around that corner is a diaper-free zone. A place where the savings in your pocket will only prove equal in stature to the savings in landfill waste.

Sure. Sure. You'll have to endure potty breaks - sometimes even two and three in a matter of minutes - at every restroom in the vicinity. The neighbors at the next table will here updates loud and clear from the happy tooter on the success or failures in the lower intestines. But it will be worth it.

"I POOPED. And it was a BIG one," she'll exclaim. Or she'll say: "Mommy, I think my butt isn't working," when things don't go as well. The luck of the draw, I suppose.

Whatever the case, it's a turning point my friends.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

This post really made me chuckle (thank you!) because it is so absolutely true!

And I don't think children ever tire of letting you know exactly what goes into the toilet, no matter how old they get (like, almost 41)!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, it seems lately all my site is about is poop.

My favorite from Gabe: My fart's stuck, Mama.

Anonymous said...

There's nothing like them asking in public (a restaurant, say) what YOU what you were doing on the potty, or, better yet, broadcasting it in high-pitch, surround sound.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, my daughter always waits until the food hits the table to announce she needs to go potty when we are out. I stand there and wait while she does her constitutional, taking her sweet old time and inevitably return to the table to find cold food...Also, can anyone share any tips for better wiping practices. My four year old has major track marks daily. ugh........It's almost like her hand can't reach, when I try to coach her...

Anonymous said...

"can anyone share any tips for better wiping practices"

Front yard
Garden hose

Anonymous said...

That's hilarious. My niece is going though this phase now too. The other day we were visiting, and she proudly told us "I went poop on the potty, and it looked like a HOT DOG!"

~KnittySara

the mad momma said...

Congratulations.. I have an 18 month old and another on the way. i dont see diaper free days in a long long time!!!!