Every Potty has a Pooper..

"Poopy?"

I look up from my place of repose on Sprite's bedroom floor and focus on her. "Did you go poopy?"

Sprite is standing next to her Tickle Me Elmo, which is face down on the floor twitching as it tries to right itself. She is grabbing at her tushy as she watches me. "Poopy."

I move over to her and take a sniff for the tell-tale whiff. Nothing. "Do you need to go potty?"

She nods.

Could it be? Could she finally baptize the potty? "Well, let's go," I say, getting to my feet and leading the way to her potty and possibly the way to a diaper free child. (Long way to go, I know, but let me dream.)

We walk into the guest bathroom where her potty chair has been sitting, a little neglected for a couple of months. She has had a passing interest in it if only to activate the sounds by sitting on it and then running off.

I get down onto the floor and Sprite stands next to me as she stares at the potty.

"Potty," she comments, pointing to the little throne.

"Potty," I affirm, as I pull at the tabs on her diaper and take the absorbent barrier away.

Sprite is now naked from the waist down. She stands, facing the potty chair. She looks almost as if she's psyching herself up to do it. To be a big girl. To sit on the potty and get a sticker.

Then, before I can do anything, she pees on the bathroom rug. As she's facing the potty. A foot away from the potty.

My only reaction? I laugh. I laugh hard.

Sprite continues to stand there watching me lose it and John walks in and assesses the situation.

"Come on, sweetie," he croons, picking up the wet toddler. "Let's take a bath while Mommy pulls herself together." He looks over at me. "How can you laugh at her? You're not teaching her self confidence by laughing at her attempts to learn."

I keep laughing, way beyond redemption. "I'm sorry," I gasp.

He walks off with Sprite, leaving me and the wet rug behind.

He's right. How am I going to be a positive role model when I find humor in everything she does?

I need to clean up my act. But first, I need to clean up the rug.

(Next time, I'll make sure to seat her as soon as the air hits her tushy.)

Comments

[Becca]

Sorry...I was laughing the minute I read "she pees on the bathroom rug." Sometimes that is all you can do!

[Undomestic Diva]

See. That's the difference between you and I. I would have cried.

(Not sure if this has anything to do with the fact that my 3 yr old is anti-underwear and potty training.)

[Alison]

I would have done the same as you! How hilarious.

[Alison]

I would have done the same as you! How hilarious.