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Monday, February 23, 2009

Misadventures in the first grade

I already told you that I spent the better part of Friday volunteering at the school. It was teacher appreciation week and parent volunteers take over the classrooms so the teachers can go to a catered lunch off campus. I spend several hours a week in these classes so I thought the whole experience would be fairly mundane.

As I was returning from lunch with a first-grade class we stopped at the bathroom. One little boy went in to take care of business, and came out grabbing himself and hopping around as if someone had set fire to his pants. I quickly pulled him aside to search out the problem. As he stood before me, ferociously clutching himself and hopping on one foot, he explained that, "I went in there and went potty like I was supposed to and pulled my pants back up. But I guess my ding-a-ling wasn't empty, 'cuz then I went a bunch more in my pants."

Good grief. How can you wet your pants after you just went to the bathroom?!

I took him to the office to get cleaned up. I picked out the appropriate clean clothing and asked if he needed help. He declined and went into the bathroom armed with some wet wipes and the fresh clothes. He was in there for quite some time and I didn't hear anything. I knocked and asked if he needed help. I'll paraphrase the next part... apparently, he tried to remove his pants and underpants simultaneously without first removing his shoes. I'm confident enough to admit that I've done this myself (although not after wetting my pants. And not recently.) and the result is inside-out-pants-bunched-into-a -hopeless-ball-around-your-ankles. Trust me when I say it's very hard to extricate yourself once you've gone down this road.

I asked again if he needed help only to be told no. I waited another few seconds, and then I heard muffled sobs. Aw, crap. He doesn't want me to come in, but what am I supposed to do? Leave him sitting naked on the floor with his wet pants wrapped around his ankles?

I really couldn't think of anything intelligent, so I morphed into silly-mommy-mode. I'm embarrassed to admit this but with young kids, if you're willing to check your ego at the door, you can pretty much get them out of any mood/funk/tantrum/whatever by acting like a giant goofball. And since I didn't know what else to do I started drumming a beat on the door. And the crying stopped. And then I started singing along to my beat:

I can sing...
And I can dance...
But I can't do it with pee pee in my pants.
Let's just do what we have to do...
Take those pants off on the count of two...
ONE... TWO...!

I had to sing loudly to be heard through the door, and by the time I got to the ONE... TWO... a lady from the office was poking her head in to see what was going on. Nothing like a little mild public humiliation to get the day started, right? I had to sing for a couple minutes, but he stopped crying, asked me to sing it again, and eventually got himself out of that bathroom without me having to go in. I think we were both relieved.

By this time I realize that I've abandoned the other mommy helping in the classroom for a good chunk of time, and am anxious to get back. I'm walking quickly down a long hallway and trying to encourage my little friend to keep up by doing more of my stupid rhymes. I was saying something about keeping up the pace, and we had to race when suddenly he wasn't there. I stopped and turned to look for him, and there he was 10 paces back with his pants around his knees.

I'm pretty sure my mouth fell open. I've been volunteering at school since my kids started school and this is, by far, the most ridiculous chain of events. Ever. How many incidents can one child have with his pants in a 30 minute period anyway? I must have been silently staring at him longer than I thought because he said, "Jeez Mrs. B. You raced my pants right off."

I have never been so relieved to get a kid back to the classroom in my life. I just hope he transfers schools before fifth grade. I don't think either of us will forget this any time soon. It's kinda cute now, but by that age? Not so much.

22 comments:

MsTypo said...

I'm not sure if i feel worse for you or for the kid! LOL I wonder if he told his mother when he got home that night. hehehe

Anonymous said...

Oh man - I think I can handle all the potty adventures with my own son, but I'm not sure how well I could do it with other kids.

(I also sing silly songs constantly.)

Anonymous said...

That is a hilarious story. One I'm sure he will not forget! :) I use humor and silliness all the time...it works! I've got a whole repetoire of voices I use to get my kids to do many things!!

Gibby said...

That is so funny! That poor kid. I can just see it...ten years from now your daughter tells you she's going on a date. Ding dong, the doorbell rings. You answer. It's bunched around the ankles pee-pee pants coming to take your DD to the movies.

Oh, will you be chuckling on that day!!!

Anonymous said...

Laughing at you misadventures!!!! Holy cow, that is a serious chain of events! Poor kid and poor you! My favorite is the song you made up!

Mama Wheaton said...

That is a great story and when you see this boy in Jr. High you should greet him with a song!

Grand Pooba said...

What a crazy funny story! LOL poor kid!

Mary K Brennan said...

Have you ever thought of breaking into the world of Children's Song Writing? I always wondered where they found those people. If you can't get it done; do it with humor. That child will always remember you. Good job!

Anonymous said...

Remind me to tell you the "underwears" story!

evenshine said...

Gotta be willing to check that ego. Good for you!

Lana@The Kids Did WHAT?! said...

Awe. Poor thing. Poor little boy too!!
You saved the day!!

Debbie said...

You have amused me greatly with that story! What a funny tale.

Minxy Mimi said...

OMG, poor child but I was sure laughing over here!
You rock! You are very nice to put him so at ease! YAY

Unknown said...

Poor kid, but at least you didn't have to touch the pee pee pants. I would have so loved to hear you singing LOL. Thanks for the laugh!

Hccm said...

Sure wish somebody would have sung that song for me this morning:)

Hugs and Mocha,
Stesha

Jen said...

Nice post, I can just see him with pants around his ankles. My son has done similar things. Too cute.

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BTW-Stesha said to tell you that she will rest and relax!

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Unknown said...

I am seriously laughing so hard my sides hurt!! And I thought weiner dog was funny! You must have been volunteering at Sassy's school! 1st graders are a trip, aren't they!?!
The sad thing is Bo has done that. But he is only 4.

Anonymous said...

THAT is hilarious!

Just wait until he tries to date one of your girls!!

Patricia said...

*L* that was hilarious. Good for you on volunteering.

Anonymous said...

Wow. I'm impressed with your silly mom routine. I think I should try it. Have any advice on a poutter?