Potty in the Park….

If you are a mom of a boy or several boys you might be able to relate…  I myself do not have any brothers so having three boys has been a learning experience to say the least…  I guess one of my first lessons as a mom of boys relates to the potty… Potty training boys is a bit of a different experience than I expected, but it is one I have survived (at least for two of the three).  Lets jump ahead a couple years post potty training…  Lets jump ahead to today, May 16, 2011.  I have my three boys; 5, 4 and 6 months at my oldest son’s t-ball game.  My husband is not with me because he is at his own baseball game.  The process of bringing my 5 year old to t-ball should not be a hard one, right?  It’s an hour long game, there is a playground right next to the field, and the weather is perfect, what more could a mom ask for????  I’ve set up shop with our stroller, blanket, snacks and water!  We are ready for the next two innings (t-ball is a two inning game, love that).  Did I mention I’m at this game alone, meaning no husband?  Well I am and I’m pretty sure I’m the only “single” mom in the bunch.  To be perfectly honest, I’m pretty sure I’m the only one without a grandparent, aunt, cousin or even neighbor  with me and for sure the only one without “THE DAD”.  I quickly get over the loneliness and am enjoying my son’s game.  I do feel a little bit like “that mom”, however…  You know the one….The one with the three kids, sitting in the back, baby fussing, 4 year old whining for a snack, and trying her best to cheer on her eldest son!  BUT, I also feel a sense of power, a sense of  hey I can do this, a sense of pride…  But then it happens, that one thing they always ask you about at job interviews…  My t-ball player pulls down his pants to go potty… Potty in the park, why not?… I mean why wouldn’t you just go right there?  When you’ve gotta go you’ve gotta go… I pee in my grandpa’s yard, I pee on the side of the road on long trips, I pee in the woods…  Why wouldn’t I pee at the ballpark?  It makes perfect sense!  Unfortunately, the poor boy didn’t actually get to “go” because the 40 plus fans who were watching the game all started laughing and of course I’m yelling “no buddy, there is a potty here”…  In all of the hubbub he got embarrassed and started running away.  So now here I am running with a baby in my arms and a 4 year old chasing after me all to try and catch up to my runaway streaker.    To top it off “that Dad” starts chasing us… You know the one, the dad who is all buff and in shape, the one that’s wife is adorable, the one who has the cutest kids… Yep that Dad… He catches up to my son and says to him “stop crying and start running with me”.  The two of them high tail it over to the potty and take care of business.  In the mean time I’ve “dumped” my baby in the lap of some mom I’ve never met, my 4 year old is crying because he’s not sure what just happened and I’m pretty sure the other Mom’s are thankful this didn’t just happen to them.  I thank “That Dad” for his help and jog back to the field….I got my ball player back in position just in time for the last batter! He smiles at me, gives me a little wave and is back in his ready position!  I gather up my belongings (meaning my other two children) and act like this is no big deal, but  I’m pretty sure this is a day I will never forget.  As for my slugger….  I’m pretty sure the cookies and juice he got after the game have erased all memories of any embarrassment he felt.  Someday I’ll tell you about what happened after the cookies and juice…….  but maybe only if you’re interviewing me for a job!