06E042
As
a long distance Grandmother, I had managed to avoid diaper duty up until my
oldest grandsons were five (grandson #1), and two (grandson #2). Never having children of my own, I thought
this a good scheme since I have no diapering experience—but all good things…. I
decided to take the two to a movie. The
boys sat, staring at the big screen, with hands and mouths occupied by copious
amounts of popcorn, orange pop, and candy.
Movie over and gathering our belongings, I hear,
“Poopie.” It comes from Grandson #2.
Afraid I am hearing correctly, I repeat, “Poopie?”
Squinching his little face, he is pointing to the Women’s bathroom; how
could a two-year old know that? “Poopie.”
Rationalizing
that his desire for an amateur performing this job was equal to mine, I suggest
we wait until we get home so ‘Mommy’ can change his diaper; but he’s still
squinching, so I’m guessing that’s a no.
His brother taking pity on a layperson helps, “He
wants you to change his diaper.”
I’m grinning.
Gee Thanks.
With
close proximity to a stall, and claiming one wall of the restroom, I strip
him. Poopie! Well I guess so! I’m not good with bad smells, and even when
it’s your own grandson- THAT is a bad smell.
I really, really, really am trying to suppress any gagging sounds; it
feels unseemly, as his grandmother. I
turn to one side, take a single last clean breath, and hold.
Grasping
the two-year-old with one hand, and snaking a leg over into the stall, I am
reeling-in reams of toilet paper.
Grandson #1, choking down leftover candy, swinging from leg to leg is
enjoying the entire affair. Trying not
to look or breath, I am wiping blindly at areas most suspect.
Finally, job done, I triumphantly throw the final
wad of paper into the toilet, I smile at Ben.
“There!”
“Poopie.” He
seems unconvinced.
Wondering, “do you need to poop more,”
pointing to the toilet?
Running into the stall, but by no means taking a
seat, he commences pulling toilet paper—bringing it to me. “Poopie!”
Always the helper, Grandson #1 pointing, “There is more down there.”
And there was; tearing open the diaper
bag, understanding that this super-sized poopie required more than simple
toilet paper, I find a Ziploc with
wet things inside, and begin again.
Interrupting, the five-year-old is motioning downward. “Wipe down!”
Wipe down? Looking down I see nothing.
I look back at Grandson #1 once more.
Nodding. “Wipe down.”
Ok, why the heck not. I am wiping down. I can’t tell the difference, but the boys
are smiling, and the instructions have stopped. Agreeing we’re finished, and leaving the theater, I have a sense
of pride in meeting this challenge, and we all lived to tell about it;
experiencing yet another of life’s small joys of grandmother-hood, and learning
from it.
No matter how old we are, we
can learn;
yes—next time, Blockbuster—and ‘Mom’ in
the next room.