Look, I know all about leading by example.
I live and breathe it everyday. Even in my most tired and lazy state I will never skip tooth brushing or forget to put my seatbelt on. I try never to loose my manners or swear. And no matter how tiny the paper, I recycle it. No matter how bad the rain, I take waste to the compost. I even treat everyone the way I would want to be treated. Yes, even the staff at the coffee shop drive thru that get my order wrong EVERY SINGLE TIME. But more on that subject some other day.
Last night my son was eating an apple. He has his own little strange system. He meticulously peals off little bits of skin at the time and then bites into it. Yes, I offered to peel it for him. Yes, I tried reasoning. But you know what, he is eating an apple and that is what matters.
Except he joined me in the bathroom and handed me the tiniest apple skin flake. Because I guess same as my husband is convinced I should be the middleman between him and the dishwasher my son decided I should be his assistant in garbage disposal. I stood right next to the toilet, so I dropped it in. I was busy with something, my hands were full and it is what it is. Honestly, the fragment in question was smaller then the tip of your nail.
Next thing I know I ask my son if he is finished with it so we can start getting ready for bed. He informs me that he was done with it and flushed it down the toilet. WHAT ?!@#@!?
Fast forward to this morning and Little J telling me he cannot flush his potty. I will spare you all the details. Let’s just say I now know how to remove the toilet and that my wrists are not as delicate as they once were. Also toilet bowls are insanely heavy and I wish I had an elephant handy to lift this exquisite piece of porcelain.
Never one to miss the opportunity to educate I made my son watch. I hope he will never follow my example in such manner again.
So to recap, do not under any circumstances throw anything in the loo in front of your child. They will multiply the item times 713, use your moment of weakness as an excuse, repeat your slip up and make you regret it for eternity.
Also as much as I am great at DIY plumbing I will stick to photography as my main trade. So remember to pass by tomorrow for a chance to win one of my art prints.
Come on, tell me:
Did I bring this upon myself?
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33 Comments
Twitter: MamaWantsThis
I’m sitting here imagining you dealing with a blocked toilet. Yes, I think better stick to photography or time to teach Big M to help lift porcelain loos.
Thank you for the wisdom, I will remember that!
Alison@Mama Wants This recently posted..The Loves of His Life
What can I say, I bare it all for the benefit of my readers.
I must ask what kind of a board game is Axis and Allies. Is it fun to play? I think my husband and I should upgrade from scrabble and monopoly (mostly because he always wins).
Twitter: amountainmomma
Yikes. Um, yes, you might have brought that on yourself a little. One never knows what the minds of children will do.
As a mom, it is your duty to imagine the most screwed up, inappropriate, potentially dangerous, way they will interpret anything and work your best to prevent it.
You rock btw. I hear toilet water is good for your cuticles.
Theresa recently posted..Suck it up, Momma
Thank you. And I agree, I should have known better and anticipate! Lesson learned.
Now that you mentioned it, my cuticles are rather lovely.
Twitter: JenAnnHall
Oh my goodness! Children are too literal.
Just Jennifer recently posted..Phone Photo Phun
Oh yes and being male probably contributed.
Twitter: Mytimeasmom
Yes, I have been down a similar path. Not fun.
Jessica recently posted..Where I’m From
Wow, Jessica I just read your post ‘Where I am from’, so beautifully written.
As for the loo, I am holding this against my son until he graduates at least.
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
There is no way I’d be able to do that! I’d hold that over his head until he’s 30!
Kimberly recently posted..Small Comforts and Joys
At the very least, right?! Unless he makes it big in life and buys me a heated, cushioned, automatic toilet seat.
Twitter: kiddothings
Thanks for the tip. I swear I will never ever throw anything in the toilet bowl in front of the kids. I do not have plumbing skills and I certainly would not want to get my hands into any toilet bowls.
I was hoping for a picture of you as a plumber.
Kiddothings recently posted..I Envy
Hmmm, no photo editing tool could have made that shot presentable…
Wow, I am not sure weather to laugh or cry…
I had no idea that the porcelain toilet bowl could be removed without serious consequences (a flood of contaminated water on the bathroom floor)…
I am amazed by how you made a simple story so well written!
Anna recently posted..Parents, please help your kids!
To be honest, I did not know either. I went in looking like a bomb disposal guy and the bathroom sealed off CSI style. But it turns out there was no need. It is just a whole in the floor and in my case apple stuck in the most impossible to reach part of the bowl.
Thank you Anna, your blog has really grown in the last month.
I am trying to remember if I have done this. If I have thankfully, JDaniel has chosen to not try it yet.
JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..Mary Lee Remembers a Xanthous Haired Boy
It is the always the little things we do unconsciously they pick up on the most, isn’t it?
Twitter: Foxinthecity_J
I have to admit that that is one of my fears with my son. I just know that he is the kid that will flush something that should not go down the toilet, down the toilet. I am so not looking forward to that day.
Jenn @ Fox in the City recently posted..Words of Wisdom: Just Do It
Twitter: finallymom
blech! i hate when the toilet clogs or cleaning the toilet so i’m sure i couldn’t have handled doing all that! i caught Lovie’s vomit in my hand the other day at Target (stupid icee’s) but toilets … blech!
christina recently posted..So very sad.
You know diapers, picking up after my huge dog and mocking up after my horse has left me rather immune. Also those three require most of our money so the incentive to DIY was rather high
I feel for you on the Target incident though. Big hug!
oh hahaha. I myself consider myself as an amateur plumber but that would’ve sucked! Yes toilet bowls are insanely heavy.
Aren’t they just?!? I mean I never have spend any time thinking about them and their weight but if somebody asked me in the past how heavy a toilet is, I never would have guest this much!
When we first moved into this house the upstairs toilet needed to be replaced(among many other things)The landlord literally dropped off the toilet outside and said here ya go. Yeah see why I’m moving?
Twitter: chicktuition
Ha! The little ones are watching us every minute, aren’t they? I’m very impressed with your plumbing skills. Is there anything you can’t do??
jacqui recently posted..A Scary Proposition…
Tell you what Jacqui, the idea of spending money for someone being called out to fix this absurd situation coupled with the waiting period before the next available appointment are an amazing incentive for a mom like me…
Yep, Little J is forever scanning. Hope we are now even on me loosing his chick
Twitter: SJM_CookiesMom
THAT is very good advice. I have just been awaiting the day that my son will put something in the toilet that he shouldn’t, assuming it to be a foregone conclusion. So far though, nada. I will definitely keep this incident in mind and maybe we’ll skip it altogether (knocking on wood and crossing all digits).
Cookie’s Mom recently posted..Best of the Blogosphere: September 2011 Blog Tour
Twitter: nystoopmama
Hahaha. Ohhh, kids. Such little buggers. I’m sure you wanted to say “Come ON!! You KNEW that was a bad idea!!”, but in reality he probably didn’t. They’re so NEW!
Very impressed with your plumbing skills, also. I would have called my husband, who would have then called a plumber.
Tracy recently posted..9/11 (10 years + 19 days later)
Aww, yeah its usually monkey see monkey do when it comes to kiddos and the toilet. My nephew through a towel in the toilet when my friend though a wad of t-paper in there once..
Sucks you had to lift that thing by yourself!! Strong woman! They are very heavy indeed.
Jodi Hall recently posted..The last trip to the garden…Showing off my shot!
Twitter: runnermomjen
AHHH!!! This is hilarious! And I only say hilarious because…my son threw a brand new bar of soap in our toilet (when he was 3) and we had to do the same thing…except not we, my husband…but I watched. And, yes, toilets are heavy!!! (or so my husband says they are
Runnermom-jen recently posted..Breathe In, Breathe Out
Twitter: mama_andthecity
Oh my God Stasha, that made me remember about my toilet and the disgust to be around it, seriously it needs to be replaced since it is from the 50′s, but on the skim of all the things that need to be replaced, that one is the least since it still works. Anyway, diverging, uh…I can’t not picture myself changing a toilet. I am good at DIY – paint, removal of old carpet, paint, gardening, paint and perhaps putting together IKEA furniture, but never a toilet would I be able to jump in to do…no way Jose. It will only be because someone is pointing with a gun at me.
Now, the peel incident, I guess there is no way to avoid it. Kids pick things from every source, schools, strangers, etc… So, don’t think that you brought up that to yourself because of a moment of weakness. Sooner or later they have to make a big (and I mean it BIG) mistake, sometimes very expensive too, but I think the “how” we handle it would be the question here and I think you rocked it.
Mama And The City recently posted..Summer 2011
Oh dear. I forget how closely they’re watching. Good reminder. Sorry about the toilet. Wow, I would’ve just called my husband. He’s actually taken ours apart!
Rach (DonutsMama) recently posted..So How’d You Meet? Jennifer & Mark
Twitter: Lilahbility
I do NOT envy you having to deal with that. I’m interested to hear the results of the poll, too!
Amanda recently posted..Wordful Wednesday: Well, Hello, Fall.
So far nobody said yes, the rest are split equally. Keep you posted…
Twitter: normalmomally
Oh NO! But I am sitting here so impressed that you fixed it yourself! Nicely done!
Ally recently posted..Sometimes You Just Need A Little…