Thursday, June 25, 2009

Strangers, Toddlers and Bathrooms

It's pretty much established that I'm a bit weird and pay attention to the strangest things. Case in point last night.

The girls and I stopped to grab a bite before going down to watch Daddy's indoor soccer game. (First time in um... 2 years? Sorry sweets..)

The vote was for Pagliacci and so there we were. Now I know there are Mom's out there who don't bat an eye at eating out with their 5 and 2.5 year olds. For me, it can be a bit chaotic. Someone's always hanging off some railing or darting in front of a busser with a full tray, you get the picture.

We get our respective slices and drinks and Riley gets the high chair that she demanded and we sit at the table Kate selected - right next to both the bathroom and the garbage. Clearly this child needs to be schooled a bit in the restaurant department. But I obliged. Eeeh, easy access to napkins and straws...

We're eating and drinking and trying not to spill when I notice some tall man doing a bit of a potty dance near the bathrooms. He is sipping his beverage while waiting for the Men's room to become available. First of all - universal rule. NO FOOD OR DRINKS IN THE BATHROOM. That's just disgusting!! Unless you're out at 12A and it's a beer bottle that you shakily set down on the back of the toilet seat...but that's a different blog.

After waiting a bit - Mr. tall guy hot foots it into the ladies room instead. And wouldn't you know it - that's when Riley (who we're trying to encourage to potty train) announces she needs to go to the potty. I tell her we have to wait for the bathroom to be free. And deep inside myself I know this potty dancer is going to be in there for a while. Eww eww eww... Yep. And when he finally emerges I just know that the ladies room is a hot mess. I cannot and will not willingly take my toddler (or let's face it, it's really about me) into the ladies room. You just know it's not good. Toilet seat is probably still warm.

So I convinced my child to 'wait' to go the bathroom when we got to the soccer field. (Yes, I chose warehouse soccer bathroom over the former...). Of course she wouldn't and couldn't hold it.. but I'm totally okay with that.

I just have to say it again, why would you bring your drink with you into the bathroom?? He's probably the same guy that wears his socks into the airplane lavatory....