My Ickiest Parenting Moment

 This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Clorox.

I have been avoiding telling the story of our potty training adventures with our oldest.  In small part it is because I hope no one ever has to go through the same thing.  And for the most part,  because reliving it at this stage is just a bit too soon.  But, I found out about Clorox looking for stories of the ickies that come along with motherhood.  And I have some, but one sticks out in particular.  And I can have a sense of humor about it (to a certain extent) even as I shudder to think of it again.

But I think I could probably use a laugh or two as I go through this process of potty-training and child-raising.  The people at Clorox have teamed up with major (and legendary) The Second City improv troupe to help parents laugh through the cleaning up of the messes that fill our days.  They are listening to our stories and using them as a springboard for their comedy skits  and to give out the Clorox Ick Awards (more on that later)!

Too fun!   So, I just had to share my worst (and funniest) and ickiest moment with you.

Warning:  1. There will be a frank discussion of poop;  and 2. If you have not potty-trained at least one child, you may not want to read further.

Let me start this story by saying that we, as parents, were forced into potty training our oldest.  We did not really force the issue.  We talked to her about the potty and had fun sitting on it, but no pressure to go.  Nothing.

Then one day, we went into her room after a “nap” to discover she had pooped on the floor.  ICK

Then the next day we went into her room after a “nap” to discover she had pooped and peed on the floor.  Oh, and she had played with her poop!  Played. With. Her. Poop.

MEGA-ICK!!

We had what I would deem to be an age-appropriate discussion with her about pooping and peeing on the potty or in her diaper.

And then it happened again, and again, and again.  It was her new favorite pass time.  And it was disgusting.

Let me just pause here for a second to say that I have clearly defined limits for poop.  I honestly do not mind changing diapers (even the most awful ones).  But my patience for poop in any location other than a diaper or the toilet is non-existent. So, to say that I was the patient and long-suffering mother in this circumstance would be clearly inaccurate.  I am also a very organized person and an “everything-in-its-place” kind of person, including poop.  My husband and I were beginning to think she agreed, but had a different idea of the place for poop.

So, one day, we walk in after her “nap” to discover her latest exploits in poop decoration and rearranging.  And we set to cleaning it up.  We had honed our talents in this area by this point.  My husband was getting really good at cleaning the carpet, while I disposed of the, shall we say, “organic matter.”  And I was in my least patient mood, throwing misplaced things back into their appropriate places as I was instructing her that this was just not going to stand any longer.

I picked up item after item, straightening and placing it back into its particular place.  And then I picked up her cute little piggy bag, the one we keep small books in for her to read.  And I took my hand and quickly stuck it in the bag to straighten it out…

and touched a fresh pile of poop! 

No glove between…

no cleaning cloth in my hand…

no warning.

Just my daughter’s poop and my hand getting to know one another on an intimate level.

Yes, I told you…ICK, ICK, ICK!

And that is my ickiest story (yet) of motherhood and messes.

Thankfully the bag cleaned up nicely and I scrubbed my hands at least 16 times.  And thankfully that has never happened again.  And the pooping on the floor thing is just a phase (that has for the most part past!).

Do you have a story about a gross moment you had while raising your little ones?  Interested in laughing through the misery?  I would love to hear them here!  And join Clorox and The Second City for a the Clorox Ick Awards on Wednesday, April 9th from 6-10 PM (Eastern) and laugh, learn, and win amazing prizes.  The Second City will be turning our moments of madness into hilarity.  Just use the hashtag #ickies and tweet your stories to nominate them for an award. Then tune into Twitter to watch the fun.  They are also giving away $2,500 in prizes!

For the days when the messes are sudden and icky, I really am glad we have Clorox wipes around.  We are able to quickly clean up the messes our little ones leave behind with a nice barrier of disinfectant and cleaning solution on a cloth between my hands and whatever they leave behind. If you are interested in learning more about what Clorox can do to keep you smiling through the ickies, make sure you check out their newsletter.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Clorox.