Earlier in the week, J took the girls to Chick-Fil-A for dinner. The girls are always beyond excited when we take them to any greasy food place restaurant with a play area, which baffles me since 1) they could care less about french fries and other fried foods, and 2) we have a decent playground in our neighborhood and we go there quite frequently. But hey, you all are probably all familiar with the inconsistency of children. They're a mystery wrapped in an enigma, covered in ketchup and streaks of permanent marker.
The ever-vigilant J herded Mimi and Rosie into the rest room for a quick potty break after "dinner" (a few token nibbles to satisfy Dad) and before entering the playground area. Mimi obliged, but Rosie refused to go, as she's been doing lately. We vacillate between hounding the crap out of her about it and just leaving her alone. Neither approach seems to work very well at this point, unfortunately. J gave it the old college try -- encouraging her repeatedly to go ahead and use the potty -- but Rosie insisted that she did not have to go. (Actually, I'm sure it was more like screaming.)
Duly refreshed, my peeps headed out to the soundproof torture chamber climbing area and prepared for serious playtime.
"OK, girls, take off your shoes!" J commanded. Mimi complied.
Rosie, undoubtedly quite familiar with commands to remove various clothing items, took a different approach. She dropped trou AND her Pull-Up, right there in the play area.
But hey, at least she didn't whiz.
OMG. Thanks for the laugh. You crack my stuff up, girl!
Posted by: Kate Mefford from Juxtapose Photography | December 08, 2007 at 10:49 PM
Best lines I read today:
1. "mystery wrapped in an enigma, covered in ketchup and streaks of permanent marker": amen, sister
2. "hounding the crap out of her" big snort! potty training is so fun!
Posted by: mamasutra | December 09, 2007 at 12:02 AM
Whew! As long as she didn't proceed with the next step after the Pull-up came off... My daughter had an accident in a place like that once, and we had no backup clothing at the ready. Fortunately, another parent (a stranger, no less) had an extra pair of toddler-size pants with her that she GAVE us.
Posted by: Suzanne | December 09, 2007 at 09:04 AM
Isn't potty training the worst?
Posted by: Karen | December 09, 2007 at 09:30 AM
She's just showing J who's boss, isn't she?
Miss A is 33 months old and can't even be bothered with bribery via candy treats and giant gummy dinosaurs lately. She really could care less about pooping in something besides her Pull Up.
I feel your pain.
Posted by: Jamie | December 09, 2007 at 09:44 AM
What mamasutra said.
Posted by: Suebob | December 09, 2007 at 10:34 AM
Yeah, it takes awhile. Her resistance is normal by the way. And may last a long while. Our girl is way beyond potty training and she resists like nobody's business.
She learned a lot faster after we got rid of the pull ups. Wasn't fun, had to be done.
Well unfortunately there is no potty at the park so we did have to run to the bushes once.
Next time we went she said excitedly "I'm going to PEE IN THE WOOD CHIPS!"
Oh, potty training. Good times.
Posted by: ozma | December 09, 2007 at 08:57 PM
LOL - nice move, kid!
Posted by: maggie | December 09, 2007 at 09:28 PM
It's probably the only time in a girl's life when going pants-less and still wearing shoes looks good. Thanks for my first laugh of the day.
Posted by: AB | December 10, 2007 at 10:21 AM
Someday the kids will all be potty trained. Right?
Posted by: Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah | December 10, 2007 at 05:47 PM
best. story. ever.
you totally just made my day!
Posted by: ali | December 10, 2007 at 10:46 PM
"They're a mystery wrapped in an enigma, covered in ketchup and streaks of permanent marker." Now THAT is the best description of children I've ever HEARD. LOVE that.
I worried I'd have to tell my son, "NO DATING UNTIL YOU CAN POTTY IN THE TOILET LIKE A BIG BOY." Eventually, he got there. (The potty stuff, not the dating, THANK GOD!) But I can totally understand what you're going through. They sure are their OWN little people, aren't they? heehee.
Cute story.
Posted by: motherofbun | December 11, 2007 at 03:44 AM
I think if we all dropped trou more often than not the world would be a more peaceful (and highly amusing) place. Go girl. ;) Little beans ROCK!
Posted by: Claudia | December 11, 2007 at 08:38 AM
My daughter, now 10, is the model of compliance, responsibility, maturity, smart thinking, and finely tuned social skills.
She was a nightmare to potty train.
Chin up, Nancy!
Posted by: V-Grrrl | December 11, 2007 at 09:06 AM