The Last Straw (or poop)

I know some words just should not be said out loud. If you hear an adult say, “hey, I need to take a poop”, you may consider that they are mentally challenged. As mothers these words come out of our mouth all the time. If you are a single woman in a public restroom you might be frightened as to how many times you hear the word poop.

“Do you need to poop?”
“What color is your poop?”
“Do you need help wiping your poop?”
“Did you poop on the floor?”
“How does your poop look?”
“How did you get poop on/in your _______? (clothes, hair, shoes, face, etc.)”
“Is your poop coming out?”
“Your poop is all over me.”
Then the words I never wanted to say, “Is that poop in your hand?”

What? Poop in their hand! That could never happen. But, it does, and it did. That was the last straw. We were not out in a public restroom, thank god, but none the less, that is just what he did.

I decided I was done and fed up with changing diapers. I decided to try the naked method of potty training, but I was not totally committed to it, obviously.
It was a Saturday afternoon, Will was poking at his lunch, the rest of the family were all done and sitting in the living room. I hear some questionable noises coming from the kitchen, here comes the uncommitted part, I don’t get up. Will comes in shortly after with a prize in his hand. He actually picked it up, poop! Child standing right in front of me with a giant poop wad in his hand. He has such a proud look on his face. He totally thought I was going to be happy. His thoughts, “look mommy, look what I did, I did it, and here is the poop to prove it.” I was floored. He held it in his hand like he would hold a crescent roll. After being yelled at and disciplined I think he got the idea that pooping in the kitchen is not appropriate, and picking it up is less than to be desired.

I became committed!

Come hail or high water I am going to get this boy potty trained by the end of the week. My mom took Luke for three days and we had potty training boot camp. I did not for the life of me understand why this child would not poop in the potty. I know you are not supposed to compare your children, but Luke was potty trained at 18 months (I know that’s early). This led me to believe that I was a professional potty trainer. I would see those kids on the changing table in the restroom that had to be three sometimes four with their butts in the air waiting for a refreshing wipe from their mommy. I wondered, what was wrong with their child? Why were they not potty trained? Was there something wrong with them? Were their mother’s lazy? Were the kids just spoiled? I had always looked at these mother’s like they were missing something or there was something wrong with them. Then they gave me the look, wait until you have your own kids before you judge me. I had one though, and he was not up there with his legs in the air waiting for me to cream his hiney.

Then I had Will.

There I was the mother with the three year old on the changing table. He was only three for one week before I decided that enough was enough and I had the last straw. My son was going to do this weather he likes it or not. If you have been reading long enough then you know I have tried everything to potty train this kid. I am all in, totally committed, 100%. And guess what it worked, it finally worked. No more diaper washing, butt wiping, or cream spreading. What am I going to do with my time?

Reading back on some of my posts, I say this a lot, and I seem to find some way to fill it up. At the time summer was in full swing, and let me tell you I always am able to get myself in over my head.


This was one of Will's treats for becoming a big boy! A day out with the family at the Aquarium!