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Monday, August 18, 2008

Footprints

Milestones don't always come at the most convenient time. For example, the most convenient time for potty training is during a week when you have nothing requiring you to leave the house, rather than during a weekend when your college friends are getting together in a house they rented somewhere, like say New Hampshire. Unfortunately my younger son (YS) either didn't know or didn't care that we had planned to head up to New Hampshire yesterday for just such an event when he decided he was ready to be potty trained. We didn't want to miss out on the trip because of the potty training, but we knew the trip would take a couple of hours particularly with road construction and stops.

The good news is that there weren't any accidents in the car. Unfortunately, the Big Giraffe got to experience what seemed like every gas station bathroom on the way to the house. As a native New Yorker he rarely has kind words for the New Englanders amongst whom we live during baseball season, but he expressed particularly...articulate views about the barbarism of a people whom he claimed had not flushed a toilet in any public bathroom off of I-495, I-93, or I-89. The boys were less concerned and were quite excited to eat lunch, play, and swim when we got to the house.

We were all surprised to hear one of the little girls at the house announce "The baby is peeing!" Our older son (OS) elaborated by saying, "OS is making footprints!" That's right, YS not only peed on the floor, but he became upset and walked right through the puddle. Before any adult could intervene, the attentive little girl accidentally dropped her brand new, electronic barking black lab stuffed animal in the middle of the puddle. All of the kids except OS were crying. What did OS do? He jumped into the puddle to make a splash!

Fortunately, not only did the stuffed animal clean up nicely after going through the wash and dryer, but it still barked perfectly. The boys also cleaned up well, and there weren't anymore accidents. I think I forgot how important it is to keep reminding a potty training child to go. When OS was first in underwear, I kept setting a timer. Of course I no longer remember how much time I scheduled between each potty visit. It's funny how something that was such a big deal at the time, is a very distant memory just a couple years later.

Big Giraffe's Lesson Learned: The toughest part of learning to use the toilet is apparently learning to flush.

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posted by Alex Elliot @ 4:47 PM   4 comments
4 Comments:

  • At 8/18/2008 9:21 PM, Blogger Heather said…

    I am fairly certain my son will be 20 before he potty trains.

     

  • At 8/19/2008 6:14 AM, Blogger Goofball said…

    oh gosh, a teddy in the puddle, a kid jumping in the puddle, another one crying....

    that is a story to remember!

     

  • At 8/19/2008 12:28 PM, Blogger Jen of A2eatwrite said…

    Tell Big G, not to disillusion him, but I'm not sure NY State thruways would be any better. ;-)

    YS is doing a GOOD job! Good for him!

     

  • At 8/19/2008 9:53 PM, Blogger Suzanne said…

    I read this to Husband, and he could not stop laughing about OS jumping in the puddle. And Jen, I agree that the NY thruway would not be better. Nor would the Jersey Turnpike.

     
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Name:Alex Elliot
Home:MA, United States
About Me:Professional Mom of two cats, a dog, an ant farm, and oh yeah...two boys: a 6 year old and a 3 year old. Also found in my house is my husband who is known on this blog as The Big Giraffe.
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