What’s worse than getting diarrhea? Getting it during a long road trip. And what’s worse than that already nightmarish scenario? Getting diarrhea during a long road trip in front of your own offspring. But luckily for father Clint Edwards, his 4-year-old daughter Aspen was quite supportive throughout the ordeal.
Clint, who chronicles his parenting misadventures over on his website, No Idea What I’m Doing: A Daddy Blog, was two hours into a 12-hour car trip to a funeral. The family had stopped at a rest area, and while Clint’s wife Mel and their two older boys waited in the car, Clint and Aspen went inside to find Cornflakes. That was when Clint felt a familiar rumbling in his stomach.
Photo Credit: Clint Edwards
With no one to watch Aspen, Clint was faced with a difficult choice familiar to parents everywhere: he had to bring Aspen into the stall with him.
Take it away, Clint!
“Aspen watched as I struggled, Moana light-up crocs on the wrong feet, blue eyes wide and supportive, hands clapping. ‘Good job, Daddy! Good job! You make two poops! Now three poops! I’m four!'”
Photo Credit: Clint Edwards
As Clint’s bathroom trip dragged on, Aspen continued to cheer him on through his struggles, commenting on the proceedings like an excited play-by-play announcer. Clint described it thusly:
“I’m not sure what happened exactly, if I’d eaten something wrong, or if it was the stress of traveling with kids, but what I do know is that my 4yo daughter is the Richard Simmons of pooping. I’ve never felt so supported in anything in my whole life. She commented on the size, smell, and sound. ‘Wow!’ She said. She commented on my work ethic. ‘You’re trying so hard!’ At one point I had to actually push her face away from the business end of things as she clapped and cried ‘You’re doing it, Daddy! You’re doing it!'”
Later in his post, Clint explained that Aspen most likely was inspired by her own recent potty training.
“She’s potty trained, sure. But she’s also easily distracted, and prone to potty accidents. I suppose she’s gotten used to the positive reinforcement Mel and I give her each time she goes. And when I’m cheering her on in our family restroom, it seems normal, even appropriate. But when the roles are reversed, it’s just, well, awkward.”
Oh, and in case you were wondering, no, Clint and Aspen were not alone in the bathroom.
“The man in the stall next to me was obviously holding back tears of laughter. Laughter that busted loose when she called me a ‘pooping-farting robot.'”
After the bathroom visit, Clint picked up some much-needed medicine.
Photo Credit: Clint Edwards
Back in the car, Clint’s wife Mel wondered why they took so long. Clint tried to change the subject, but Aspen cheerfully recapped the excitement, clapping all the time.
Clint later posted the story on his Facebook page, where it racked up over 12,000 likes. Parents everywhere couldn’t wait to share their own similar stories.
Turns out Aspen is not the only one who likes to do bathroom commentary.
Photo Credit: Steph Lane
Another Mom starred in had very own Kids Say The Darndest Things episode.
Photo Credit: Michelle Irvin Giddens
Here’s a tip: if you’re potty training a kid, avoid hardware stores.
Photo Credit: Sarah Briley Freudenthal
It REALLY doesn’t take much to impress a toddler.
Photo Credit: Angela Fauber Whitehouse
If you enjoyed this story, you should check out Clint’s book, I’m Sorry…Love, Your Husband: Honest, Hilarious Stories From a Father of Three Who Made All the Mistakes (and Made up for Them) for more.
h/t: Someecards