There are certain times when we just want to be home. Although I can think of quite a few of those times, the one that probably leads the list is when we are having intestinal problems. I know you understand. You are out in public and suddenly, you get that little feeling in your gut. Before long, you break out in a sweat and you know that you better be finding a bathroom quickly. It isn’t ideal, but it does happen.
That is what happened to Clint Edwards, a father of 3 and an author that needed to take a necessary break in the wrong place. He was on a 12-hour road trip and after only 2 hours on the road, he needed to pull over. When he went in with his 4-year-old daughter, Aspen, it could have been a rather embarrassing situation. In the end, it turned out to be an amusing story.
Can you believe that? A heartwarming diarrhea story? Apparently, it does happen.
Edwards posted this experience on his parenting blog and the story is going viral. The family was on their way to a funeral and ended up making a pit-stop for a snack at a gas station. When he and his dauther, Aspen went inside, the rest of the family was out in the car. As Edwards was searching for Cornflakes, he felt that feeling and knew he was in trouble.
“We b-lined into the restroom, making it just in time. I had no choice but to take my 4yo into the stall with me,” writes Edwards in his post.
Gross, yeah I know but keep reading.
“Aspen watched as I struggled, Moana light-up crocs on the wrong feet, blue eyes wide and supportive, hands clapping. ‘Good job, Daddy! Good job! You make two poops! Now three poops! I’m four!'”
Edwards writes:
I’m not sure what happened exactly, if I’d eaten something wrong, or if it was the stress of traveling with kids, but what I do know is that my 4yo daughter is the Richard Simmons of pooping. I’ve never felt so supported in anything in my whole life. She commented on the size, smell, and sound. “Wow!” She said. She commented on my work ethic. “You’re trying so hard!” At one point I had to actually push her face away from the business end of things as she clapped and cried “You’re doing it, Daddy! You’re doing it!”
She’s potty trained, sure. But she’s also easily distracted, and prone to potty accidents. I suppose she’s gotten used to the positive reinforcement Mel and I give her each time she goes. And when I’m cheering her on in our family restroom, it seems normal, even appropriate. But when the roles are reversed, it’s just, well, awkward. Particularly in a public restroom where the man in the stall next to me was obviously holding back tears of laughter. Laughter that busted loose when she called me a “pooping-farting robot.”
Aspen then proceed to tell the rest of the family what had happened, clapping the entire time.
It can be rough when you have to make 2 in a public rest room. Fortunately, Aspen made it a little more bearable.
Read more from Clint’s blog No Idea What I’m Doing: A Daddy Blog and buy his book I’m Sorry…Love, Your Husband.
