Women's and Men's

Warning . . .this post maybe a little TMI for some.

On the three trips we made in the last few months, we've noticed Luke has a little trouble with his tummy. Likely due dietary changes when we travel (more hot dogs and french fries, less fruits and vegetables). And also likely due to his unwillingness to pause a few minutes and spend a little time on the potty.

And on these last three trips, once he's seated and relaxed and in the car on the way home, nature calls about 50 miles into the trip. And we have a LENGTHY restroom stop. This happened on our way home from Destin last month. And Destin is a little drive from the interstate. A little drive through rural, south Alabama.

We luckily happened upon a clean gas station with large restrooms. I took Luke into the women's single restroom with me. And he sat and sat and sat. I told him he needed to stop talking or thinking about anything else and just use the potty. After about 10 minutes, Lamar knocks on the door and informs me a line is forming. It's possible I might have made a comment about what could I do, I was dealing with a child who hadn't pooped in 5 days. Maybe I said that.

So I tell Luke time to go. He protests he's not finished. I finally get him out of the restroom. The men's restroom is free (And there is no reason the women waiting couldn't have used the men's. It was a single restroom with a locking door.) so Lamar takes Luke with him. Moments later we have success.

Why am I blogging this lovely potty story? Because this was the beginning of Luke's bathroom obsession. In the weeks since our trip, any time we are out and about, Luke is suddenly struck with an overwhelming urge to potty. He usually bends over, kind of grabs himself, and mouths very dramatically, "I need to use the bathroom. Which one? Women's or Men's?" He always needs to go first to the women's with me. Seconds after we return from the restroom, the urge strikes again and he does the bending, grabbing, mouthing once again. This time he must go to the men's with Lamar.

The other day he HAD to go at Sonic. We told him Sonic doesn't have a potty. We didn't realize he could recognize the sign. Busted. Then he saw a fellow patron heading to the bathroom and said, "Is he going to the restroom?" When he saw him go in the restroom door he said, "I'm so excited!"

He asked Lamar last week if we could paint the bathroom door. Lamar relayed the info to me. I asked Luke what he wanted to paint. Women's and Men's. We compromised with some homemade signs.

Downstairs half-bath

Luke's bathroom

A few days later he decided the master bathroom needed a sign.

Master bath

I was a little worried we would have to adhere to the gender rules at all times, and I knew we'd certainly slip up on occasion. So far he just thinks it's hysterical when Daddy uses the women's or I use the men's. So far . . .