Caution: The following post is about potty-training and the word “poop” will be mentioned. You have been warned.
I am in the belly of the beast, my friends. My 2-year old has entered the terrible phase that resides between a baby being blissfully unaware of what’s going on in her pants and a toddler being ready to begin the potty-training process. She has developed a keen interest in her bodily functions, including an unholy fascination with poop. While she likes to follow me into the bathroom and conduct her very scientific observations about the whole process, she is not really exhibiting a desire to conduct her own personal business in there. She is also, unfortunately, very hands-on about her observations. My 5-year old is fully trained so it’s not like I’m some kind of amateur at this potty-training business. He did his share of pooping on the floor and occasionally hosing the place down, but this kid makes him look like a piker.
She does NOT like the feel of poop in her pants so she takes them off, wherever she happens to be. Unfortunately she doesn’t always do so when on a hard-surface floor, in fact carpeting is her favorite place to leave her gruesome little deposits. By the way, I cannot recommend Resolve Triple Action(tm) spray highly enough, the stuff is amazing! Anyway, her favorite time to, ick, play with poop is right before we have to go someplace. Pick Hubby up from work, take Mama to school, pick brother up at his school-all perfect times to completely mess oneself with one’s own poo, according to the Pumpkin anyway. Last Tuesday, I had to give that child two baths! And the very next day, right before Nana was set to arrive so Mama could go to class, not only did I have to bath her again, I had to strip and clean the inside of her bed. I have heard that some monkeys smear the insides of their cages with their own feces; and I am here to tell you that some toddlers do the very same thing. What started as an attempt at a much-needed nap turned into a disgusting, smelly mess that Mama had to race the clock to clean before Night School.
Luckily I got most of the mess cleaned before class and left instructions for Hubby to finish laundering her bedding while I was gone. Five hours later when I got home, I finished inspecting, and cleaning, her room for random poop pieces. The good news-she has not played with poop since; the bad news-one, it’s only a matter of time and two, now I’m afraid to put her down for a nap.
Good Luck with the training!
It’s a good thing I only have to deal with a dog. I have a gag reflex like no other when it comes to smells of feces and vomit. I hope there are no more nap incidents!
Good luck. Potty training is a beast.
And, you know how I know I’m an experienced parent?
I was reading your post, all the while eating dinner and it didn’t even occur to me until after I had finished.
Oh, that’s funny and awful at the same time – now I don’t feel so bad about my 2 1/2 yo daughter. She is not interested in potty training yet, but thankfully she doesn’t drop poopy pants etc about the house = now I feel lucky! Still, I hope she potty trains before going away to college (yeah, I know she won’t wear diapers forever but there are days when it sure seems tha tway….)