Today I thought I'd share a little thing I wrote for my creative writing class last semester
Enjoy!
Stickers,
Marshmallows, Erections and Other Three Year Old Boy Things.
It’s
been a long time coming. I wanted to ignore it. But it came and went. My son’s
third birthday. My son who still has his
diaper bulging through his pants, with friends who have long since
potty-trained. He was ready to ditch
that diaper and put on his Buzz Light Year undies and face this big new world.
He was ready to embark on the grand adventurous ride of the plastic dinosaur
potty we had stashed in the bathroom closet. He was ready to spend a week
sucking down CapriSuns, munching on fishy crackers, slurping down otter pops,
eyes glued on Dora the Explorer 6am-6pm, all the while that plastic dinosaur
potty looming in the peripheral. My son,
he was ready, but I was not.
Day one:
Commence crying fits and power
struggles. By the end of the day we have achieved half of a pee that actually
made it to the potty. All else soaked
the undies, creating a lot of laundry.
When it was discovered that Lightning McQueen’s face would never be legible
again, that pair went straight to the trash. The before mentioned half a pee
started a dance revolution throughout the household so energetic and excited
that my son peed his pants. How is that not a step backward?
Note
to self: encourage less jumping
during the pee-pee celebration dance.
Day two:
My son has discovered something just so
hilarious about his penis. If he flexes his muscles a certain way…
“Look, mommy! Dancing penis!”
After a few gleeful moments of this bopping dance, my son discovers something
even more wonderful than before.
“Look, mommy! Big penis!”
Reminder to self: Your
son gets erections. He is just a little kid but it happens. In fact, it’s
happened since he was 10 months old. It’s
biology, he can’t help it! Until now….
Note
to self: Try not to die of
embarrassment when your neighbor comes over to borrow an egg and your son answers
the door completely naked, erected penis spotlighted in the sun. Just try….
Day three:
Words have erupted from my
mouth that have never been strung together before.
“Yay
pee-pee! Pee-pee in the potty! Yay! Okay, go wash your hands, get a marshmallow
and put a sticker on the potty sheet!”
We continue with the
pee-pee song and dance which is portrayed as a naked march through the living
room to words sung out in a rhythmic procession “Pee-pee in the potty, Pee-pee
in the potty, Pee-pee in the potty!” Here I should note that my son is naked,
not me.
Note
to self: You can’t have an ego and be a sufficient parent. Learn to accept this fact.
Day four:
This is when I notice my son
hasn’t pooped since day one. I get
worried. I start to follow him around. I
refuse to leave him alone for one second afraid he will ruin the multiple
Wall-e’s printed across his butt.
“Diaper, mommy?”
“Nope, you have to go poo-poo
in the potty. No diapers, sorry kiddo”
My phone rings. I chance a
moment away, just a small moment...
Several days of salty snacks and sugary drinks creates a perfect urine
recipe. I have discovered this same
recipe plays with the intestines and bowels in ways I had not known previously
existed.
Note
to self: Start saving to get the carpets professionally cleaned. Also, buy more
underwear.
Day seven:
He’s graduated from the
dinosaur potty to the actual toilet. I
exhale relief as I stash that potty away.
That potty grosses me out.
Flushable pee has brought new light to my previously yellow world. And my son has honed his listening skills and
knows when his body needs the facilities.
“Diaper, mommy?”
“C’mon, love. Please, just go
poo-poo in the potty. It’s been days! You can do it. I’ll give you three
marshmallows and triple stickers.”
20 full minutes of crying and
threats later…
“Look, mommy! Poo-poo in the
potty! Poo-poo snake!”
Raucous dance celebration ensues.
Note
to self: It’s okay for fecal matter to make you happier than you ever remember
feeling… right?
End
of week one.
Stats:
# of retired pairs of undies-5
# of sticker sheets used-3
# of mini-marshmallow bags- 2
Price for carpet cleaners- $120
# of potty-trained 3 year olds in our home- 1
# of ecstatic pee-pee pleased parents- 2
Initiate celebration dance.
Um...TMI!!
