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Tuesday, June 24, 2008

what would you do?

recently, the boys & i were out and about. we were just about to cross our final "to-do" off the list as we entered joanne fabrics to pick up a few things. about half-way through the shopping adventure gavin proudly announces that he has to go potty (we've been working on this potty-training thing, & i think we finally have it down). usually when he makes a big announcement like this, it means it's coming & it's coming fast. so i quickly scuttled about, trying to find the restroom. unfortunately, i soon learned that the restrooms were out of order. so we packed up & headed to the cashier. as we started walking out to the car, gavin says "mom, i really gotta go, now." i glance around, & realize there's no other options in sight... not even a gas station or fast food restaurant. so what's a mom to do? one newly potty trained child practically about to burst, & no relief in sight! what would you do?

32 comments:

Leslie said...

i keep a little potty seat in my car for just this reason (and because i hate public restrooms!) i just found a really cute, really small one at ikea the other day for about $3. miles will train later this year, it's ready to go.

and, this may be tmi, but a few times, an empty water bottle has come in handy for parker's potty needs. eek! this only works for boys. ok i'm done with the potty talk, but you asked!! :)

April said...

He's a boy, so he's lucky and he needs to go, I would totally just let him go somewhere outside. He doesn't understand and know how to hold it. Poor guy.

just jen said...

find a tree or a bush. really. EVERY mom of a boy had allowed it...and i promise you, he won't grow up peeing on every tree, bush or weed in the great outdoors. it really is one of the awesome advantages to having boys. their plumming makes for easy pit-stops & bathroom emergencies.anxious to hear what YOU did! no judgement over here...whatever you did.

Alison Wills said...

ya...so what did you do??

Unknown said...

Block him and let him go behind a bush! Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do! But let him know it's not okay do do it all the time! It's better then having him pee in the car!

Casey said...

aww poor guy! I'd totally let him go outside

kara jayne said...

Nature meets nature...it's all about the trees and bushes!! Any other Mom will understand!!

{amy k.} said...

Poor guy, you don't want him to have an accident, especially while he's new to all of this. So I agree- a boy's gotta do what a boy's gotta do. (and thank goodness boys are lucky that way)

What'd you do?

{amy k.} said...

Poor guy, you don't want him to have an accident, especially while he's new to all of this. So I agree- a boy's gotta do what a boy's gotta do. (and thank goodness boys are lucky that way)

What'd you do?

kelly said...

i obviously wasn't nearly as prepared as leslie. so i did the only thing i could, found a bush & told him to aim & shoot. i'm glad to hear i'm not the only one who would handle it in this manner!

Becky said...

I've been there! I'm glad I'm not alone in saying that I would just tell him to go in a bush hidden out of sight. In fact, I have told my son to do that, but he refused and ended up just wetting his pants. Much better! I really like the idea of keeping a potty seat in your car!

Heather said...

find a bush! or pee on a wall and tell anyone that walks by and glares that the toilets are not working and that the only other option was for him to go in his pants- don't judge me! Besides, most people going to JoAnnes are parents- I hope they would understand the dilemma.

Shelly G said...

I agree... I would have found a bush... When my oldest daughter was little she "always" had to go... part of the problem was she was curious and wanted to see what the bathrooms looked like... so I I put a coffee can in the back of the car with a roll of toilet paper inside... so I could just pull out the T.P. and have her go in the coffee can... it took the stress out of emergencies... plus it cut down on her "need" to go... Now there are wonderful plastic coffee cans with sealing lids... imagine the possibilities :)~

Marla said...

My friend has a fabulous potty "kit" for her car...a bag with extra clothes, underwear, plastic bags, carpet cleaner, everything you can think of. And she found the best travel potty....it is tiny, it correctly angled, anyone can use it, and you line it with a diaper, then throw it out. When I am ready to train the little guy, I will try to be so prepared.
But, hey, it is just a little guy...find the nearest bush!

Shannon said...

Teach him how to pee standing (if he doesn't already know) and find a place outside! What did you do?

kathryn said...

find a bush or tree... i've even had to do that with maggie a couple of times (not as easy, i'm sure). or i'll quickly stick one of Cash's diapers on her... but then she kind of gets confused because i'm pretty much telling her to wet her pants.

isn't motherhood exciting?

Tamra said...

I'm like Leslie and keep a little potty seat in the car. With three little girls it works better. We've tried the pee on the side of the road thing once or twice and my girls just can't get the hang of it.

Emily said...

If it is #1 only and noone was around, I'd let him go in the nearest plants! : ) Yeah, I can't believe I'm actually typing this. ha ha. I did carry a portapotty in my car w/ Sydney...never did w/ Gavin. I would put a diaper on him or let him go in a cup as another option. What did you do?? : )

Val said...

You wouldn't believe how many times I have let my youngest, 5 years old, go on the grass in the parking lot, or where ever, just because he still does the I have to go potty at the last minute all the time.

Traci said...

Let him go in nature! My friend is currently potty-training her almost 3 year old girl and when that girl says I gotta go and they are outside, like we were at a park the other day, my friend just whipped down her girls pants held her and had her pee on the grass. What are you suppose to do sometimes! I am with you! Keep up the good work!

Marilee said...

It seems the Joann store in NP had a bathroom that was always out of order too. What's with that?

Did Gavin go in the bushes. THAt is one great thing about living in the country, lots of bushes for the boys!

allie said...

I know this will happen to me in the days to come with my little potty trainer. I'm glad that the majority say to go for it outside, what else can you do?

Anonymous said...

find a tree.

Or open the car door (to hide the child), and have him pee in a green spot somewhere).

It's the barbarian European in me ;)

acte gratuit said...

Let him pee under the car. I've done it before. I'll do it again. Sometimes it's more discreet then hudling around a tree. Sometimes there are no trees. Just teach your kids not to pick things up that they drop in parking lots.

Wendi said...

Find the closest bush!
Or you could use the "diaper urinal".
My friend McMommy over at "The MCMommy Chronicles" came up with the concept and the name.
(I simply must give her the credit)
You just keep a diaper handy at all times.
When the bathrooms are out-of-order or when the bathrooms are just not clean enough, or when there is just no time to waste... you just hold the diaper over them and say, "pee".
Very portable.
Durable.
And you can throw it away when you are finished.
"Diaper Urinal".
Laugh now.
You will thank me later.

Ashlee said...

The beauty of having boys is that they don't need a toilet. I know that's gross...but if you've ever been stuck on the freeway with the next rest area 100 miles away and the wee one is dying from having to go potty...the only thing you can do is pull over and let them wizz on the side of the road. {Am I sounding really redneck here?}

KJ said...

a discreet corner outside...

the mama monster said...

i would let him so outside. but watch out, once they know they can do that they will start pulling their pants down at every chance they get! just don't let him do it standing in line at disneyland because you don't want to lose your place... ( we really saw that once!)

Sara said...

I'm not proud of it...but my son has peed in many a parking lot in his short 2 potty trained years. Often on the wheels of our own car. Because you know what? The kid needs to go!

Unknown said...

take my son outside and let him pee in the street...yes i have done it...open your two car doors put him in the middle facing the car and you stand behind him...no one can see...

mama jo said...

well, when it was you...you just went on the floor of the store...it was really embarassing...have fun.

Tiffany said...

This may be a little late - but I thought I'd add my two cents in. My mother-in-law was a God-send when we were potty training my son - and she always kept an empty water/coke bottle under the seat of her car. I do it now, too. And I tell you what - it has saved the day more than once. My son is almost 8 and we still have to use it occassionally - you know, when you're on the road and there is NO WHERE in sight that you could go or the public restroom is so disgusting it would need a bomb to clean it first.

Don't get me wrong - we've used nature's potty many times - boys are definitely lucky that way!