Apr 4, 2011

Inspiration and Dreams: On the Potty


Yes, I know. I’m taking the I-Studio’s lofty, soulful, inspirational theme and throwing it straight into the gutter. Immense apologies, but I can’t help myself.


I have entered that the dreaded world of potty training. All my waking moments seem to be consumed with three things: wees, poos and doing laundry. As much as baby poo seemed to have a magical ability to go EVERYWHERE, it didn’t smell, nor arrive in huge quantities. As costly as nappies might be, they do deal with things quite efficiently. Changing one takes only three minutes. Two, if I’m in a hurry.


But potty training...wow! On Saturday, it took me three hours to get dressed and out the door. During that time, I wiped one small bottom about seventeen times and generated an entire load of a laundry out of miniature Hello Kitty knickers and leggings.


One would think things were finished with that. But, no! Still to go was an al fresco poo on Eton Bridge and one colossal accident in a pair of white tights right by Windsor castle’s royal stone wall. In situations like this one does what one must.


My advice, above all, is to not make eye contact with the hordes of passers-by wearing shocked expressions. Feigned ignorance is your best defence.


It is only at the end of the day that I get some relief as I put my daughter in a nappie for her sleep. For the next eleven hours, I would rely on Pampers to do the job I had been doing. I could put away the portable potty, the baby potty and the many packs of wipes. I would tidy up the multiple books scattered around my bathroom and fold the laundry into strategic stacks, ready for the next day’s onslaught. I would get some sleep.


Until last night.... At 2:30am....A small voice says, ‘Mama, wake! My wee-wee’s coming. Please help.


Oh no. It seems potty training has made it inappropriate to wee in one’s nappie. How much I wanted to ignore her call. Instead, we troop to the bathroom in the dark. My daughter’s hair is soft against my face. Her hand is small in mine. She puts her arms around me so I can lift her to the potty. Quietly, in the night, she says, ‘I love you SO much, Mama.’


A gift....of the best sort.


Ps. And no, there was no wee for the potty. It was already in her nappie.




15 comments:

Duncan. said...

Seems you're as much the wordsmith as you are the photographer.

Elle-za said...

Oh my god Denise... You made my day with this post.
I dread so impatiently to be a mommy!

Kathryn Dyche said...

I never knew a post about wee and poo could be so beautiful. Good luck getting through this stage.

kelly@thebluemuse said...

Oh dear. You will make it through and all will be well. What a sweet, adorable child.

Anna said...

Denise, your post made me smile as I strolled down memory lane! I remember the thing that really turned the corner on the p. training was fancy pants. Picture gaudy, over-the-top lacy encrusted, pink undies and you've got the answer. Seriously, who could desecrate such lovely articles of clothing - that's what our daughter thought anyway :) Cheers to the gift of little girls and their love for their moms! Awesome photos, by the way!

Kim Klassen said...

hugs and smooches for you both...
this made me cry.... so sweet and innocent.... so perfect...

xxo...kim

Jill said...

Very sweet. My last two little girls have been the HARDEST to train out of six. Loads of laundry doesn't even come close to describing it. They are now 5 and 4 are the accidents are much less, but they are still in pull ups at night. It is so hard at times but your post shows how beautifully you have it in perspective.

ELK said...

oh Denise ..this makes me smile and am sending you a virtual hug today!!

A Box of Chocolates said...

oh i love this i had twins and i can vividly remember the dreaded potty training days and yes the slip ups, but that last little bit the whispered i love you oh that warms me.
hang in there this too shall pass!!!!!
hahaha

Teri said...

you were right...the story is awesome. Hang in there because there will be a time when they won't need or seem to want you. Their hand will be larger than yours and their clothes will fill the washer 7 fold. What a sweet time for you [well...maybe NOT the potty training stuff :)]

Gretchen said...

What a precious way to start my day...Loved this post, poo and all. :)
This too shall pass and like one of the comments states the time will go by quickly and the different stages of parenting will fly by. My precious only child (a girl) is 16 and I remember those trying days of potty training.
I tried 2 different times. The first time she wasn't mentally ready, I was, but she wasn't. We went on a family vacation and I didn't want to have to deal with potty training while flying, etc., so went back to diapers. When we came back, she trained with a snap. That extra month or two from when I first started to when she accomplished it made a huge difference. She was 2 yrs.4 mos. when I tried the first time and 2 yrs. 5 1/2 mos. when she successfully completed this little rite of passing. Such fond memories as I look back on it 14 years later, but very tough while going through it.
Good luck to you both...your daughter is such a precious little girl. Love it!
Your writing and photos are wonderful as well. Thanks for going out on the limb and sharing such an endearing story.
Gretchen

Prairie Girl Studio said...

oh truly, truly ... a gift of the best sort.
warm hugs for you and your precious little girl ... it is really such a wondrous time for her learning so so much of the world around her ... xo

i have a photo of one of our twin boys sitting on one of the potties that we had strategically placed downstairs during their potty stage ~ it is the one image i love most of him and i have kept it close. he is now 18 (almost 19) and has been through a year of trials and tribulations in his youthful rebellious, 'finding himself' stage. i often think of the potty image and his innocence and remind myself of the goodness of this little soul. at one point during his wildness i remarked to him that i far preferred the poop of his potty days to the poop he was putting us through now! ; ) he laughed and i laughed and it helped make that particular day better ... : )
it is just a stage, this too shall pass, and we mustn't get too stuck there and be open to the gifts it holds as you have shared today ...

blessings to you both ...
xoxo
prairiegirl

ps. Feigned ignorance is your best defence.
my favourite line!!

blue elephant photography said...

ah what a wonderful story! and a good ending too!

paperbird said...

i love this post.
your sweet mama story makes my heart ache for these times when my babies were little. such a precious time that is so fleeting.


i love the image with the knickers hanging on the line- so colorful.

MommaCeleste said...

Ah, I found your through Kim Klassen! So happy I did, I loved this post, it actually brought tears to my eyes, a reminder of how sweet these terrible two's really can be (I have triplet terrible two toddlers boys!!!). Thanks for making me smile!