Do you have any idea how happy these make me??!!! For the past month or so, the back of Mary Aplin’s hair has been looking…well, frizzy. I don’t know why I didn’t recognize the texture, since its MY OWN, but I just kept thinking it was some weird baby hair thing. Then, the other day we went to my sister’s Squeal Day and spent some quality time out in the rain and humidity. Suddenly, my Aunt Alice said, “Just look at those little curls!” I was ecstatic. It looks like this little cherub may be growing some slightly strawberry curls. I could just eat them!
While Mary Aplin has been growing curls, crawling all over the place, and putting any object she can get her chubby fingers on into her mouth, what, you might wonder has Pace been doing?…Asking the question, “WHY?” I’m serious, the child asks me “Why?” about everything, and I am just about to lose my mind. The whole world is a question just waiting to be asked, and while I don’t want to squash her enthusiasm for knowledge, I can’t go on like this forever. I was talking to my neighbors about it yesterday, and Joel told me that Caroline (their 5 year old) started asking constant questions about Pace’s age and still hasn’t stopped. I won’t be able to handle that y’all! I’m not playing. By the end of the day, I feel so frazzled from all the questions that I am snapping at her. I have to take lots of deep breaths and have pulled Jeremiah to the side many nights and begged him to just try and absorb some of her energy. I mean, there are so many questions that just don’t have answers like, “Why is blue your favorite color?” or “Why do I have ten toes?” or “Why do birds fly?” or (this second) “Why did I drink all this?” Just try fielding those all day and get back to me on your mental status. Anyway, all the questions are not aggravating, some are actually quite hilarious. I think I’ll share a hilarious conversation with you, but be warned that if you can’t take humor about bodily functions, stop reading now.
This conversation went down in a restaurant in Midland City called the Red Owl. It was one of those good ‘ol Southern Sunday lunch buffets, in a restaurant with white table cloths where nobody, on this particular Sunday, was talking at all. It was bizarre to be in a restaurant with several tables full and silence prevailing. Anyway, it was in this atmosphere, in which a 2-year old still feels no need to talk below their normal extremely loud pitch, that the following occurred:
“Mommy, I need to go to the potty,” Pace began, as everyone turned to see us leave for our second trip of this lunch to the bathroom (a bathroom that had only one thin plywood wall dividing it from everyone’s ears).
We get to the bathroom and Pace gets all settled in before she turns to me red faced and says, “This is going to be a BIG one!”
“Oh, good Pace,” I said as my face turned red wondering if everyone outside was snickering.
After a couple of solid, umm, releases, Pace said, “Oh, LORD that felt good!” I couldn’t help but start laughing. I really don’t know where in the world she would have heard that exclamation, especially related to potty time.
“Mommy, is it bad to say Lord?”
“Well, not if you’re really talking to him,” I answered. What else could I say?
Pace started looking around and then said, “Where is he Mom?”
“Well, he’s everywhere Pace,” I said, as I questioned if this was the appropriate time and place to discuss the omniscience of God.
“Even here?”
“I suppose that, yes, he’s even here,” I concluded. Not the time, just not the time to get into all that.
Pace looked up, to where we normally look when talking about where God is, and she saw the exhaust fan sucking away the lovely bathroom odors. “Is he in there?” she asked, and before I could even get an answer out through my laughter she said, “Well, if he is, he better get outta there, or he’s gonna get stuck!” And there we were, wrapping up a theological discussion over poo.
It was several minutes later before Pace finished her business on the potty. And I was a little embarrassed as we re-entered the restaurant–self-conscious about the time it had taken and wondering just how much everyone else had heard. Pace, however, left no room for question in anyone’s mind, because she ran straight into my Dad’s arms yelling, “I pooped Papa, and it was a BIG one!”
I love it! Don’t worry Claire is just as, um, descriptive about her bowel movements too! It really is funny. She names them after people! “Look there’s Daddy and Ford – wait I need to get a Mommy out”. Hilarious in a gross sort of a way! She is just starting the “whys” and I can see how it might drive me to the edge some days.
Gotta love it! My mental state at the end of the doesn’t even count as mental…it is rather a state. I have found a great way to help with the whys is to turn the question back to them…”Why do you think it is raining outside, Benjamin?” “Well Luke, that is an interesting thought. Why do you think so and so?” I have found that as they read it gets SO much easier. So hang in there, it does pass quickly. I bet we’ll be wishing they were asking us the why questions in about 14 years!
The perfect laugh to end the day…
I always get blessed from your blogs.
I almost fell out of my chair from laughing so hard! Great story! Brooks talks about it as “making a plop” in the water, although we haven’t been out in public yet while it has happened, but I’m sure our time is coming soon…as well as the WHY’s!
Abby, Just adore, and love these moments! They will slip through your fingers. What wonderful memories for all of you! My five yr. old grandson has autism and trust me those “WHY” questions are truly a gift from God! They sure can drive you crazy, but just think of all she is wanting to know! And, you are her best teacher! Pray about your answers. God will always help you. I so enjoy reading your thoughts. Your soul is so sweet, and honest. Hang in there! A true Fan…Gail
I miss being home to hear these funny stories straight from your mouth. I laughed out loud and I will enjoy the retelling just as much when I get back to the ‘Ham. Miss you guys.
-Ash
Abby, that’s hysterical! Ella is beginning with “Why” and “What’s this for?” I wasn’t prepared for this time in her life and I know it’s only going to get more intense. I feel for you, but I think the aggravation is normal…you’re still a wonderful mom! Just hang in there.
I LOVE IT! Those curls are beautiful I must say! (Too bad God didn’t save any curls for me! :))
I don’t even have children and the why questions drive me up the wall when I’m babysitting! But I must say that the simplicity of small minds like Pace’s are absolutely beautiful! I miss the days of thinking that God got stuck in the “Poop Sniffer” as I use to call it!
Abby- That is CLASSIC.
I don’t have any experience just yet with the questioning extravaganza, BUT I have heard a technique that may work for you. When you get asked a question, respond with “Because God made me/you/that/etc. that way.” I am sure this response will be followed by a question regarding why God made something some way. So, then you say “You will have to ask God that.” Hopefully, you may get a break and she may actually just have to go ask God about it. Not sure how this will work, but it’s worth a try!
Oh my goodness, I am laughing so hard that I am crying!
~Aron Nicholls Hinderliter
Abby!!! hahaha I laughed outloud and then just read it outloud to Stephen and he cracked up too. What a precocious little girl you have 🙂
Abby, I’m one of Mallory Wilson’s friends. I’ve commented before, but usually just “lurk” on your blog. 🙂 I thought I’d comment on this one because I have a little boy the same age as Pace, 2.5 right? He asks why ALL the time. I, too, get frazzled, but sometimes I ask “Why?” back to his questions and that stumps him. It gets pretty ridiculous sometimes. He’ll ask why about the why question you just answered! I just need some peace sometimes, so asking a question to his question will work most of the time. 🙂 Hope this makes sense, and hope it helps some.
The poo poo story is fantastic! I love how toddlers have no filter between brain and mouth. What they’re thinking just comes right out. It’s caused me to meet so many people I otherwise wouldn’t have ever talked to…because I’m explaining to them what Caden has just said to them, etc.
Abby…that was officially HILARIOUS!!
I’m just glad you’re able to document all this funny stuff for Pace to read on her own in a few years – she will be laughing histerically at herself – one day (when she has children of her own) she may even come back and apologize!!?? We’ve all been there and I am there with you now – I’ve got 2 more about to go through this stage (my luck they’ll all 3 still be in it at the same time) – 3 sets of why’s firing at me!!! Oh my! Keep them coming Abby – you make me laugh – even on a RAINY Monday morning!
rolling on the floor laughing abby! hysterical!
You are so right, they do ask so many questions. I get them all day at school from my 6 year olds even, but all they want is an answer. It does not have to be the best one or the the exact correct one. Just one to satisfy them for that moment.
I love the b-room story!
Hope you are doing well!
Lauren Jernigan
Thanks for the laugh. My husband and I both laughed hysterically through this. Very funny and oh so real. Although we don’t yet have children, I so much enjoy these sorts of stories. Thank you for always being so real. I truly enjoy your blog. With love.
Shannon
(I’m not sure if you remember me, but I my maiden name is Korey)
I love it! I can just picture it all happening: ). Children make for the best stories! I love M’apples curls, they are so cute.
I would have paid good money to see Ken Clark’s face when Pace came busting out of the potty with that report! Priceless…
Dana McCain
Reading your blog with tears streaming down my cheeks in laughter thinking of my own 3 year old and our discussions over poop in the bathroom!
Definitely laughing out loud! Oh, the conversations, questions, and exclamations I have to look forward to! 🙂
I am so laughing, Abby! Brings back wonderful memories now that my two are grown!
Thanks for sharing and giving me a chuckle.
Love your blog…..you are a delight!
Best Regards,
MIMILEE <><
That is Halarious!! I think all of us moms have some sort of story to put a few smiles on faces for the people in the restrooms with us.
My daughter learned how to “poo” by me helping her to push/grunt. She needed a little extra moral support of the grunting and so I would play along and help her in her efforts. Well that help was not allowed to stop in public restrooms. I would often be asked to “help her push” and the large bathrooms would of course always be filled with one or 2 others. I would oblige knowing that we helped them to forget their problems for a moment and put a little smile on each or their faces. I would just make sure it took longer for Naudia to be done and they would be long gone.