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Full Moons and Safety Glass
Full Moons and Safety Glass
Balancing money, time, self, and family
Member Since: April 14, 2008 Last Signed In: March 05, 2010 Blog Views: 4061 Send To A Friend Sign Guestbook Add as a Friend
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Save a Tree...Squat
About a week ago, I took the girls to a Rivercats game. This was brave of me, indeed, as Paul was out of town so I was flying solo. I was quite impressed with myself, especially while navigating two wild kids, a handful of snacks, and…well…a beer for myself. All of this was accomplished without spilling anything or losing my patients and/or temper. The girls had a good time, mostly waving their foam fingers, eating junk food, and playing in the bounce house. I’m not sure they understood there was actually a baseball game going on, which was fine by me, as I don’t even like baseball that much. Wait…I don’t like baseball at all. Anyway, we left after the fourth inning, avoiding meltdowns and tantrums. We made it home in time for a bath and everyone was asleep by 10, including me.
One of the most hilariously chaotic things to try and do while out alone with the girls it to try and navigate a trip to the restroom. The event usually starts with a loud announcement wherever we are in public that Ava needs a trip to the potty. If I am really lucky, she yells “Mommy, I need to go poo poo!” Yelling this is apparently important so that everyone within in a quarter mile vicinity can hear. Once in the bathroom, one or both girls will state loudly that the bathroom is stinky. Finally, we squeeze into the tiny stall (no easy task with three of us). Ava and I take turns going. Usually, at this point, she makes another proclamation that she can see my butt. Nice. If I am really lucky, while all of this is going on, Carmen is peaking under the stall looking at the person next to us. If I am extra, extra lucky, she does this on all fours while kneeling in a puddle of, well, you know. Once the stall situation is over, we make our way to the sink and engage in a totally fruitless effort to wash our hands without spreading contamination all over the place. Sorry about that, guys. During one of our trips to the restroom, I had a conversation with Ava that left me wondering. It had to do with the paper toilet seat covers. We engaged in a back and forth about the purpose of the seat covers that went something like this: Ava: Mommy, why do we need to put paper on the toilet? Me: Well, honey, its to keep from getting dirty with germs when you go potty. Ava: What kind of germs, Mommy? Me: The kind that come out when you go potty. Ava: Germs from my poo poo? Me: Yes. Ava: But the poo goes in the potty, not on the potty! She had a point. So, I started to contemplate the true utilitarian purpose of paper toilet seat covers. I knew it seemed gross to sit where so many had sat before. But, I really had no idea if it made a stick of difference hygienically. I should clarify that I am not the variety of mother that buys into the hysteria of a totally germ-free world for my kids. I don’t usually load them up with anti-bacterial lotions and I try and avoid antibiotics if at all possible. I honestly feel that the obsession with a germ-free world is actually a little reactionary. I do, however, embrace frequently hand washing, especially after sneezing and trips to the bathroom. So, I decided to check out the real deal about paper seat covers. I turned to the magic box. Otherwise known as the computer and Google. Turns out the only thing paper toilet seat covers actually do is create more paper waste. We’re better off just washing our hands really well. Leave it to my four-year-old to outsmart me again. 4 comments from 4 users
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posted by
hmoeckli
on Sep 8, 2008 at 08:55 PM
That girl of yours is smart! Remind me to never go in a bathroom with both Carmen and Em...mine has the same peeper tendencies. Wonderful.
posted by
creatress
on Sep 8, 2008 at 10:22 PM
I don't know about that. I've seen too many episodes of "How Clean Is Your House" and seen the ferocity with which those public toilets flush to not imagine poo germs being flung for miles. That said, yeah... I actually usually do just squat, save a tree and work my quads. Win-win! Smart girls you have there! And yeah, you're not making me miss outings at that age. posted by
wifemotherdaughtersister
on Sep 9, 2008 at 06:33 AM
hilarious! i had a very clear visual the entire time- including you exposed bum...i actually never use the paper covers. i never saw them until i moved to california and i thought "what the heck?" ps i'm with you on baseball, i'm impressed that you actually went! posted by
kellimwheeler
on Sep 9, 2008 at 07:28 PM
I've probably saved the Amazon by now. Forget hygiene, it's the "ew" factor. I just don't want to sit where a thousand butts have been.
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