Adventures in the Bathroom

Did you know, it is quite possible the bathroom is the most entertaining room in your house???

Don't believe me?  Let's examine some evidence from a toddler's point of view (okay, Mom of a toddler's point of view).

1- Bathrooms have toilets.  Toilets are a pretty essential aspect of the bathroom, but its normal function for adults is just the beginning of the adventures to potty-training toddlers.  And let's face it, the adventures with toilets begin long before the potty-training.  In addition to being a place to potty, you can also read on the toilet (Sheep in Jeep is a great one), you can clean a toilet (which probably means you'll need to mop the floor---but Mom might freak out if you use the readily available water from the toilet).  You can climb on toilets (made easier if you put the lid down first).  Perhaps most importantly, you can flush the toilet, and what toddler doesn't enjoy that?

2- The bathroom houses the toilet paper.  Toilet paper has some obvious uses, but to a toddler the possibilities are endless.  For example, most adults only use a small amount of toilet paper per visit.  Toddlers on the other hand find joy in putting square after square after square into the toilet.  If you're lucky, your parents will be distracted just long enough to enjoy putting the whole roll into the toilet!  (Not to mention the fact that putting toilet paper in the toilet means you'll need to flush it!)

3- Toilet paper is long.  If you have a semi-straight shot at it, you can get the toilet paper from the bathroom on the north end of the house to the wall on the south end of the house in about 3 seconds.  (It only takes a little longer if you have corners to maneuver).  But the best part is, if Mom is busy with the baby, you can probably make two or three runs and get the whole roll out before she can stop you.

4- Bathrooms have showers.  Most toddlers don't actually like showers because the water sprays on their heads.....however, shower-heads make spreading water all over the bathroom  really fast!  Additionally, Moms and Dads typically do like showers which provides adequate time to explore EVERYTHING they have told you not to touch in the past week.

5- Bathrooms have bathtubs.  Unlike showers, many toddlers LOVE baths.This is a great time to play with the tub toys provided by Mom and Dad.  Once you have become bored with the designed functions of the tub toys, most of them make great splashing tools for soaking Mom and Dad.  Most likely, you'll have to suffer through Mom or Dad using a cup to dump water on your head.  DO NOT BE DISMAYED, most likely, they will forget to take the cup with them when they go to check on your baby sister.  You can then use the cup to relocate the water from the tub to the floor!

6- Bathrooms have sinks.  Sinks are like mini bathtubs, but you don't have to take your clothes off to use them (and soggy clothes are great for carrying water all over the house!).


7- Bathrooms have mirrors. Mirrors are awesome.  They show a reflection of the MOST ADORABLE person in the world!  They also make a great surface for artwork (soap is usually a readily available paint substitute).  Not only will you be able to enjoy your reflection and artwork at the same time, you'll probably also get to hear Mom's screams of delight when she discovers your master piece.

8- Bathrooms have soap.  Not only is soap a great paint substitute (see above), it is great for making bubbles!  The more the better.  Pump soap has become quite  popular in recent years and is of course the best for bubble-making.  These bubbles can be used to enhance your artwork, add embellishments to your face, put on your hair like a hat, eaten, or just spread all over.

9-Bathrooms have makeup.  Makeup is great.  Most Mom's put makeup on and you can barely tell.  That is SO BORING!  Makeup was designed to be seen.  Mascara is the best because you can make war faces with it.

10- Last, but certainly not least: Bathrooms have toothbrushes and toothpaste.  Many parents will buy you your own wonderfully tasting toothpaste and attempt to brush your teeth with it.   Don't let them!  That is such a waste of toothpaste!  Toothpaste should be generously applied to the toothbrush and used to enhance the artwork on the mirror.  Once the master piece is completed you can use it to detail the toilet (Mom will be so grateful!).

Picture of the bathroom that prompted the blog post....please note the foggy mirror covered in soap and lotion and the gathered up toilet paper on the back of the toilet.

Little Helper

OR Only  half twice as long

Tonight, Jake and I were folding laundry.  Since I don't really like to do laundry, let alone fold it when it is dry......  There was quite the pile to take care of.  Typically, we fold laundry on the bed.  Which causes some minor problems since jumping on the bed is one of Little Man's favorite activities.  Today was no exception, though he is getting better about not destroying the folded piles we have scattered all over the bed.

Rather than just lock the Little Man out of the room, Jake and I try to let him stay as long as the work of folding the laundry isn't hindered TOOOOO much.  Usually he has several warnings that jumping on the laundry or pulling it off the bed will result in being evicted from the room (a punishment almost unbearable to the little guy).  Usually, by the time we have finished folding all the laundry, Little Man has been locked out at least once--a difficult punishment to enforce since he is constantly telling us "Help" "Help".

You see, Little Man loves to ""help" mommy and daddy.  Even the most tedious of chores to me seems to entertain him.  It seems that no matter what chores I feel I "have to do,"  Little Man is there eager to help out.  Lots of times I have even discovered him doing the chores for me  while I have been busy with something else (like showering--where discovery of his acts of service will surely not be discovered until later).

I try to remind myself that he really does need to learn these skills, and that even though it takes me twice as long to accomplish my chores now (or to clean up after one of his attempts at service), one day it will pay off because he will have learned to do these things for himself.  I am constantly reminded of some counsel I read once that said something along the lines of "Children should be allowed to help when they are little, encouraged to help when they grow up a little, and perhaps forced to help when they are teenagers." 

Still as discouraging as it may be to discover that mopping the bathroom floor has just been moved to the top of the priority list......I love my Little Man!!!!  And, hopefully, allowing the chores to take twice as long now, will mean I can "share" some of them with him later so it really will mean only half the work for me later.

Here are some pictures of some of Little Man's favorite chores.

Scrubbing the toilet....usually this is one of those "acts of service" done while Mommy is in the shower.---Did you know that if you angle it just right, you can actually store the scrub brush IN the toilet?  Now you you do :)

Helping Daddy!  No matter what tool Daddy has, Little Man wants to learn how to use it!

Doing Laundry!  "Got it all out Mommy!

Sweeping the kitchen floor...no crumbs in this kitchen ;)

Washing the dishes.......and sharing the bubbles with the plants near the sink.

Gardening???  "I know this gets rid of unwanted crap, Mom"

Cooking....I don't think the beaters worked well enough, I'll put some elbow grease to it Mom.

And of course, we can't leave dirty dishes laying around ;)  I think this is going to be a great batch!