May 28, 2009

Oh, Poop!


Last year, when my daughter Tyson was pregnant with her third child, she had gestational diabetes and morning sickness that lasted all day. Having birthed four kids of my own, I was no stranger to the joys of 24/7 nausea. At the time, I lived with Tyson, her husband, and two kids: 5-year-old Miss America and 3-year-old Destructo; and while we shared the house equally, I tried to let their family life take precedence. I was there for love and support, but it made sense to me that my daughter should set the ground rules for the house, while I moved in and about autonomously.

That was cool for me because my daughter is very domestic and, well, since the kids left home, I'm not. Instead, I provide fun and educational activities, like taking the kids for ice cream before dinner (coffee flavor is especially good on a weeknight), or showing them how to do cheerleader herkies off their beds (missing the overhead fan is key, although not missing it gets you style points), and schooling them in performance art. Hey, Skippyjon Jones and Miley Cyrus never sounded better than with Nana's tutelage. Yeah-ah-ah, yeah-ah-ah, it's a party in the U.S.A.!

One evening, while her husband was away, Tyson, Miss America, and I watched our favorite show, So You Think You Can Dance. We never missed it, and after the kids had their baths, we settled on the couch with popcorn, ready to be dazzled.

During a sock-hop number, Destructo tore in front of the TV speaking gibberish so fast, I thought he'd launch himself into hyperspace. He danced around frantically while holding his behind. There's only one reason a 3-year-old in potty bootcamp does that.

Tyson's eyes rolled in my direction, her face paled, and she moaned, "Mo-o-o-m."

It's times like these that you want to say to your grown daughter, "I was only kidding when I said you could always count on me." Because let me tell you, I normally balk at the combination of kids and bodily functions. It never ends well. Still, I liked to pitch in when my daughter made me. I mean, when I was needed. And how hard could it be? It's a simple matter of letting the kid stop, drop, and let it roll, right? Besides, Destructo had that "adorable" factor dialed all the way up to 11.

"C'mon, Nah," he said, extending his tiny hand.

I sighed, unfolded myself from my comfy slump on the couch, and resigned myself to my maternal task. Destructo led me down the hallway to our half-bath. I flipped on the light for him, pulled down his pull-ups, helped him scootch onto his potty seat atop the big people toilet, and handed him the "Hello Kitty" book. Who better to inspire an indoor poopfest than a cat?

Once in position, Destructo pointed with his whole arm and barked, "Out!"

"What?" I said.

"Out, Nah!"

"Geez, I get it, you don't want an audience. Girls don't mind an audience, you know. Girls go to the bathroom in pairs."

Destructo's brows dipped into a deep V above his button nose. Hmph. I exited and closed the door, when I heard him scream like a baby banshee.

"My god!" I said, jerking the door open. "Is it hemorrhoids?"

He said something in 3-year-old twaddle that I took to mean he just wanted the door almost shut. More importantly, he wanted to see me through the crack in the doorway and know that I hadn't left his fate up to the fiendish flushing machine. I'd been down that road long ago with all four of my daughters, so I gave the kid his privacy and took the opportunity to peek at the hoopla on SYTYCD. I left one foot in place where Destructo could see it and lunged on the other, as far and low as my thighs would let me, to see the TV. But I'm vertically challenged, and as it turns out, horizontally as well. Along with the bones in my pelvis cracking, I only heard Tyson and Miss America wow-ing and laughing and clapping, and generally relishing my show in front of the big screen where I should be.

I sighed and went back to check on Destructo. "You done, buddy?"

"No, Nah!" he said. "OUT!"

I felt like I should click my heels and spout, "Ja wohl, mein führer!" But I invoked some long-dormant facility for patience and gave him a few more minutes, alternately observing him through the space in the doorway and staring at the ceiling and my feet.

"You're missing it, Mom!" Tyson shouted from the living room.

"Not like I can press the fast-forward button," I mumbled. "How ya doing there, buddy? All done?"

Apparently not. Destructo concentrated and scrunched up his face till it had that inflamed quality. I figured, a little forcing couldn't hurt. I didn't know any 3-year-olds with hernias, and hurrying things up could only bring this little adventure to its happy resolution—and by happy resolution, I mean the most important part of my job, the sole purpose for my existence on earth at that moment: the wipe.

He grunted. I peeked. He gestured. I sighed. He decreed "Nana be gone," and I suggested prunes. This went on for another 15 minutes, during which time I missed the poignant moments of my show. I heard Nigel Lithgow give critique of a Bollywood number and Mary Murphy shrieked that the couple "earned a seat on the Hot Tamale Train!" Their voices taunted me while I stood sentry over a toddler version of The Thinker. By then, Destructo had been at it for so long, I had to go to the bathroom.

"Be right back," I promised. "Nana will be really quick, okay? Uh, don't go anywhere." Like that kid was ever getting off the pot.

Sixty seconds I was gone. Sixty. Seconds.

On my way back, I got a whiff of the boy's poo-pourri. Fabulous! Congratulations were in order, along with a quick swipe between the cheeks, and I was back on the couch. Hallelujah!

That is, until I noticed Destructo had taken matters into his own hands. Telltale smears of his effort had somehow gotten onto his night-shirt. And his thighs. And the walls. He had completely unfurled the toilet paper until there wasn't any left on the roll, and the puddle of tissue on the floor was not recyclable.

"No-o-o-o-o!" I wailed. Why me? I already graduated Mommy School. I let other people cook for me now. I get out of the house in two seconds instead of two hours, with just my purse. I get drunk without worrying about toddlers. I have sex without birth control! I've . . . matured!

Tyson yelled from the other room. "Everything okay? You got it, Mom?"

Got it? I got it alright—if it meant a direct message from the fecal gods.

Destructo clutched a spitwad of soiled toilet paper. To be honest, it would take a trowel to get that stuff out from under his fingernails. Where was Mike Rowe and his industrial-strength disinfectant for an epic taping of Dirty Jobs?

"Sorry, Nah," my grandson muttered.

I had to remind myself I was helping my sick daughter while she incubated an unborn child—a child who was likely to require my rusty butt-wiping skills at some point in the future. My eyes rolled back into my head, and I felt faint. But something snapped inside me: a little thing called motherhood. Tyson's, and my own.

I worried about my daughter overdoing when she felt so tired and sick. Nobody had been around to help me when I had morning sickness or the complicated migraines that dominated my third trimester with my 4th daughter. I became a single mother long before my husband and I split up. I didn't want Tyson to feel that way, like she carried the load alone.

Destructo stood very still, staring up at me.

"It's okay, buddy," I said. "Not that I don't love what you've done with the place, but let's get you out of here."

Right then, I channeled the attentive, competent, no-nonsense mommy I was in my twenties and thirties. I told him to wait right there while I sprinted into the laundry room and grabbed a towel. In one swift move, I pulled Destructo's shirt over his head and tossed it, wrapped his sticky little hands and arms under the towel, and pinned him inside it, strait-jacket style. I scooped him up and shuffled past the couch potatoes reveling in TV-land, and I dropped him into my shower where I lathered and quarantined him until he was properly sanitized.

Then I stood back. "Stick your fingernails in the soap," I suggested. "Like, you know, claw the soap."

He glared at me through the shower glass and raised his arm, pointing toward the bathroom door. "Out, Nah!"

I smiled. "Sorry, dude, not this time. Nana's in charge now."

He sank in the stall and rolled around under the spray, then pressed his nose against the glass and grinned at me. "I luh you, Nah."

Oh, poop. There he goes again, dialing up "adorable"—all the way up to 11.
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40 comments:

Reinvent Dad said...

Oh wonderful memories of messy poopy diapers! My kids are older now, so we mostly play the "Six Degrees of Poop" at the dinner table.

Unknown said...

Love this story! Being the Nana too, with a daughter carrying yet another pooping machine (um,er...I mean grandchild,)I do understand! How these little ones capture our hearts... so completely!!!!
And you are not kidding; the kicking it back to being a young mom on demand....only a grandbaby can do it!
~AM

Unknown said...

I am SO lucky I never had that particular experience with my children or my grands! Or maybe I did and I've just repressed the unwanted memory!!

But oh, what a face on Destructo; how could any Nana turn that down?

Nancy said...

Such a cute little boy!
The poop factor, ugh, I smell it now!

jewelrybyrebecca said...

Is that what I'm in for with a boy? I've potty trained 2 girls but little man is a good 2 years from the potty.

I loved the Mike Rowe reference. Too funny!

Tom Erdman said...

So, what is your plan for payback for this kid?

Unknown said...

Left you something at my place; please come by to pick up.
Jane

AiringMyLaundry said...

Yuck, poop. I'm still working on potty training my daughter.

I don't know if my Mom could have cleaned that up. She'd have probably shouted, "Amber! Amber? THERE IS POOP ALL OVER THE PLACE!" in a panic.

Jennifer said...

I am soooooooo glad my kids are in the teenage years.....I'll take acne and angst over poop ANY DAY!!!

Michel said...

haahahha! thirty. seconds. Naturally! That was hilarious

blognut said...

LOL!

At least he didn't eat any.

He didn't eat any, did he?

Blech.

diane said...

I love the part where you pull his shirt over his head, wrap his sticky little hands in it, and shuffle him naked past the couch potatoes. Oh man, what an adorable story. xo

Anonymous said...

Awesome ....loved how each sentence came with a great visual...yuk! Glad to be done with those days...until I am a g-ma I suppose. (Which better be waaaaaay in the future unlike Ms. Bristol Palin!)

foxy said...

Such a funny story... and so well told (of course). You've got the cutest nanababies EVER!

The Wife O Riley said...

I don't know, even covered in poop, that kid is adorable!

Ann Imig said...

Let's just breeeethe together. NO! Not through your mouth--germs. NO! Not through your nose--the stench!

We're screwed.

Anonymous said...

Baby poop makes me gag.. Sort of get that throw uppy feeling in my throat, even when I breathe through my mouth...

Some tasks just take them sooo long to do for themselves. UGH.

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal
(me no like poopy butt)

Elaine at Lipstickdaily said...

He's totally an 11 - - poop and all!

Unknown said...

Having recently graduated from the wiping class, I'm looking forward to a 25 year break.

Then someone will be wiping my butt.

http://t-shirts.cafepress.com/item/poop-happens-organic-baby-tshirt/369491867

Roshni said...

that's what I do...hit the showers!! And mine is only one...boohoo!!

Justine said...

Ewwwwwwwwwww... the shit (pun intended) a grandmother has to do! Blechhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Justine :o )

Bookworm said...

ROFL OMG that is so funny. And he is just so damn adorable. He's gonna be trouble; you know that don't you?? LOL

Anonymous said...

TiVos and DVRs are a necessity for parents with young kids. You know qualify since you are "helping when you can..."

Life on the Edge said...

And you didn't get a picture of it? Damn.

Kady

betty said...

Oh that's beautiful! You're too good, when my mother came to help she complained that I was making her do too much. Hey I my water broke and I needed her to watch my kid while my husband drove me to the hospital! Wanna be my mom?

shrink on the couch said...

You are a saint!

Midlife Roadtripper said...

As the mother of three boys, save your energy. Wait until he's three. (What is it about poop that always provides a great story.)

lisahgolden said...

You are one cool grandma and one seriously caring mom to do all that.

Vic said...

That boy set you up! (They do that you know...)
I saw gyrating white pants man, and he frightened me. You were better off hanging with the cutie, even if he was a little ripe. :)


I love you more than the second refreshing shower of the day!

The Dental Maven said...

Looks like you definitely took one for the team, Girl. Kudos.

travel girl said...

I had a similar experience with my daughter, but the TP was spared.

Smart Mouth Broad said...

Rule # 1: If you have to deal with poop, you have to have adorable to go with it. Dealbreaker!
Good luck, Nana! Sounds like you may have to change the blog name back for a few months. LOL

The Jules said...

Lovely post.

Following a bout of constipation, I was so chuffed when my little boy did a huge poo I didn't mind the fact that most of it ended up in my lap.

Rebel Mother said...

I've got an Award for you over at mine - hope you like it RM x

Stephanie said...

LOL You are a good Mama! That kids adorable factor is way past 11!
I can safely say I don't miss the days of potty training and mysterious brown streaks on the bathroom walls. Hang in there :)

nikkicrumpet said...

Even if the cute factor hit 15....I'd still have gotten the garden hose!!!

Jocelyn said...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooo...not under the fingernails!

I already, in my mind, thought of you as Hawt Grandma. Now you are Saint Hawt Grandma.

Julie D said...

OMG, that is hilarious. Bless his heart. I'm here getting caught up on my blog reading...finally. Happy Sunday!

Fragrant Liar said...

If I'd been in my right mind, I'd have called on the services of Miss America, aka, Poop Scoop, and let her act out on her nickname. Her OTHER nickname. But I was insane with a gag reflex gone amok.

creative kerfuffle said...

rofl--great story and omg cutest grandbaby ever! i love how he kept telling you to get out! lol.