Overflowing Toilet Leads Me To Overflowing Heartache

I decided I would share a very, very recent Sweetpea predicament...

Sweetpea; my dear, smart, funny Sweetpea,
Where to begin on this story...

A couple of months ago on a Monday Sweetpea was home sick from Kindergarten. She was pampered with Chicken and Stars soup, ginger ale, a twisty straw, bed pillows on the couch and the down comforter from my bed. She watched Disney movies and Saved By the Bell.


(This was my selection while she was sleeping. How could this not be included on a sick day agenda? How could you resist the healing powers of Zach Morris?) She was living the good life of a "sick kid home from school" that was straight out of my dreams. She went back to school on Wednesday. She was not happy. She cried. She would not get out of the car at carline. I had spoiled her. Her teacher and I struggled with her desire to be the "sick kid home from school" for the rest of the week. She missed me...or the sick kid attention. I'm going with the former, but I knew it was the latter.

Fast forward a few weeks and she is fine. Back to her normal school lovin' self. Skipping up the sidewalk into the building and bringing home "hard work" with a big grin. I wiped my brow- whew, that was a close one. Then things went downhill fast.

The carline teacher loaded her in the car a few weeks ago and mouthed, "She had a very, very sad day today." Huh? Why? The carline teacher just kind of shrugged as to not embarrass her. Damn she had no answers.

On the way home I asked Sweetpea, "Sweetpea, are you sick?" She started to cry. I pulled over to the curb, leaned over the seat and said, "Let me feel you head. Nothin', cool as a cucumber." (My mom always said that, so I think I'm supposed to). For the whole ride home I drilled her on her health. She seemed fine.

But, that next morning she cried and was refusing to go. Now, hold the boat girlfriend, what is wrong?! WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? (I tried to say this is my sweetest Mommy voice, but I just know it escalated and came out in a scary, I'm about to lose it Mommy style.)

Me: What is the problem?

SP: Nothing I just miss you.

Me: Don't you like school?

SP: Yes, but I just miss you.

Me: You must go to school. You aren't sick and if you stay home, then I am being a bad Mommy.

Sp: But I'll MIIIISSSS you.

Flattery. It usually gets ya far (well it does for my husband), but this was different. I felt like I was being played. An evil, evil trick. Headline: Happy, school lovin' girl makes Mom crazy with talk of missing her. Eeeek!

Me: Let's go. I love you, but let's go Sweetie.

SP: **tears galore**

Me: in my brain- Oh my good Lord, I am the worst mother sending her to school like this!

We arrive and park. There is no way I am taking chances in carline. Sweetpea grips onto me for dear life at the door. Thankfully, her dear sweet teacher takes her and I leave, this time with tears in my eyes.

This continues on and off for a while, weeks even. How annoying. I was beginning to have nightmares. Bullying, isolation, trauma. What the heck was going on?! I started noticing a trend. On Monday and Wednesday she stays for a longer day. I picked up that the days she had to stay for lunch were extra horrendous in the morning.

That was it, someone was bullying her- I just KNEW it. A mean, nasty, overly large, smelly boy was picking on her at her peace, love, happiness Montessori school---uh... OK, not likely. But I was convinced. I confronted her.

Me: SP, is someone bothering you at school? A mean kid?

SP: Mommy, no silly. (laughs at me)

Me: Are you sure?!

SP: Yup, I just miss you.

Sheesh. WTF- and I like to say it Double U, Tee, Effff

Last week, I pick her and her little friend up in carline. It is reported to me that apparently another sad/bad/making Mommy crazy day. Crap. Half way home, she starts yelling, "I HAVE TO GO!!, QUICK MOMMY, I HAVE TO GO!!!!" STOP!!" He little friend chimes in with a comment about eating fruits and veggies so your poopy comes out. Geez. TMI. We detour to our house so she can go. It then occurs to me she had been holding it. Hmmm...

After we drop her little friend off, I challenge her to a game of yes or no. She happily agrees now that her bladder is empty.

ME: Do you like school?

SP: Yes

ME: Do you like staying for lunch?

SP: Yes

** I will not bore you with our entire yes/no game, but this is where it gets good...**

ME: Do you use the bathroom?

SP: ~silence~ (I'll take that as a no.)

ME: Did something happen in the bathroom?

SP: ~silence~ (I'll take that as a yes.)

ME: Did something happen to the potty?

SP: **tears** BINGO!

ME: Tell me please.

SP: You'll be so mad.

ME: No, I promise I won't. Please tell me.

SP: The potty overflowed on my shoes the day I was working on my 5th map. I ran out and didn't tell anyone.

ME: (Should I smile from relief or cry from sadness that this kid has been holding her pee in for WEEKS? 5th map?! Geez, it really had been weeks. That thing came home a while ago.)

We pulled in the driveway and I unbuckled her and gave her a big squeeze.

ME: Tomorrow, I am going in an having a conversation with that naughty potty! I love you Sweetpea. You don't need to worry about that potty. Daddy overflows them too. No one is mad.


Sweetpea; my dear, smart, funny Sweetpea, it was not your fault you have been acting weird for weeks. I would have been in a school funk too if a toilet overflowed onto my shoe and I was holding my pee in for hours on end.