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Inititated into the "Mother of Two" Club

December 2008.
Adirah was one month old:

Today after school I took Asher and the baby to Cafe Airplay- a cafe specializing in children and music. I have had a few outings with both children and it is always difficult to meet everyone's needs but I remain optimistic.

We arrived just as "Eat and Beat Drum Play" was ending but Asher got to have a turn on the drum set. I ordered a sandwich and Asher stuck close by me-uncharacteristically shy. Just as the baby woke-and obviously needed a diaper change, Asher announced "I need to poop and I can not wait!" I had violated my own rule of going straight home after preschool as Asher usually has to poop after school and it is best to be home. "I can handle this, no problem, " I thought and I grabbed a baby diaper, wipes and changing pad and led Asher to the bathroom.

To get to the bathroom we had to go through two doors and then down a long hallway. I chose the stall that had a changing table and got Asher undressed. "I can't sit on the toilet" he whined, "too cold, too cold!" It was 28 degrees outside and this bathroom was cold, but I was not going to be bothered. I am a mom. I can fix it.
"I will put toilet paper on the seat, so it is not too cold " I told him.
"I hate toilet paper!" was Asher's response
Asher is using the word "Hate" quite often. I think he realizes the strength of the word. It doesn't always make sense when he chooses to use the word, but it always gets to me. I usually try to hide this, so my reaction doesn't make him more likely to use the word in the future (I can really get to mom!)

So Asher sat on the hated toilet paper and pooped in the potty while I changed the baby. All was well until I turned my head for a moment to throw away the poopy diaper and baby Adirah peed all over her changing pad and soaked her clothing (even though I had tucked them well above her waist). I had a change of clothing for the baby but it was all the way in the cafe through the long hallway and the two doors.

"Can you stay here by yourself while I take the baby to get more clothes?" I asked Asher.
He agreed.

I took the baby in nothing but a diaper back out to the cafe. I brought her back with the change of clothing and got her dressed. By now she was cold and hungry and she began to cry. "I can not nurse her in this toilet stall" I thought to myself. And there were no chairs in the bathroom.
"Are you almost done?" I asked Asher
"No, there is still more poop" Asher replied. He can sit on a potty for a LONG TIME.
"Can you be done soon please?" I tried to negotiate.
"Um, No." Was his typical 4 yr old response.
"Okay, I need to go back to the cafe to feed the baby." I told him
"Will you hear me if I call out?" He asked.
I looked in the toilet. There was a lot of poop in there.
"I will not hear you if you call." I was now screaming above the sound of the baby's cries. "Please can you be done?" I was begging.
"Okay" Asher agreed. But he moved slowly. And he refused to put on his own underwear and pants. I had to do this with a flailing screaming baby in one hand. We skipped Asher's hand washing and ran back out to the cafe to nurse the baby.

And as for my needs? I still had to pee.

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