Port-a-Potty Experience

Yesterday Jill, Peter, and I met a bunch of friends at the playground. The playground was great. On top of all the usual stuff, it had a sandbox and basketball courts. Jill loved playing basketball with me and laughed her head off whenever one of us missed our shots which was pretty often. We've got to get her a basketball hoop because she really loves to play. And FYI, Jim, now's the time for a HORSE rematch. I stink!

The playground also had a port-a-potty which was of great interest to Jill. She said she needed to go so we trudged over to it to check it out. This is typical of Jill. Whenever we go someplace new, she claims to need the potty, I bring her to it and then she says, "I don't want to use that potty!" and scurries away. I think it gives her confidence to know that I can get her to the bathroom almost anywhere we go. So she peeks in the port-a-potty, says, "I don't want to use that potty!" and scurries away.

An hour later Jill said she had to go again. It was time to leave and Peter was wiped out so I said, "OK, let's go home and use the potty." Pointing at the port-a-potty, Jill said, "No, I want to use that dirty little potty and then come back and play." We talked a little about leaving the playground as nicely as we came, etc., etc., but Jill was not having it. Trust me, she didn't need to go, she was using the potty as a stall tactic and really digging in her heels. I had friends all over the park playing a zone defense with the kids so I locked Peter in the car and came back to get Jill.

She had run across a field to the port-a-potty. I jogged over to her and gave her the choice of walking or being carried to the car. She wriggled away from me so I picked her up and started walking to the car. Jill started screaming a LOUD, dramatic, high pitched scream repeating, "Nooooooo! I want to use that dirty little potty! Nooooooo!"

We had the attention of everyone in the park. I can't stop laughing about it even now. Later that afternoon Jill was talking about how much fun she had at the park. I said, "I had fun, too! With Ingrid, and Ben, and Calvin. But I didn't like the way we left. Next time you need to leave with me nicely." Jill said calmly and sweetly, "I wanted to use that dirty little potty." I said, "I know you did." (The whole Merrimack Valley knew she did.) She said, "I'm sorry," and gave me a hug.

She is so so cute and funny. We are over whining (Thank you, God!), and the high pitched scream is the latest thing she is using to test me. I can take it.