Little Bit of Joy

Just over a year ago, when I was still a mom to just one and wasn’t yet pregnant with number two, my cousin got married on the west coast. And since I am a midwesterner, we discussed going. It was finally settled that I would travel with the little one and my parents. We flew, the baby was great, and probably the worst part was keeping her on her Ohio schedule in Washington (which means I was up at 4 everyday and didn’t go to sleep till 11).

On the day of the wedding, we made the trek to downtown Seattle. On the way there, I noticed THE face. The one that said I HAD to change a diaper before the wedding. I don’t really like public changing tables because I never feel like I can have room to work and for my stuff, so I always change the kids on my lap in the car (until they are too big then they lay on the seat and I stand).

So we’re in the parking lot of a very hip art gallery/wedding venue and I’m changing a baby on my lap. Already I’m chuckling to myself. I’m sure she’ll be the only baby there. (There were 3.)

As I open the diaper, I see one tiny little turd. Not what I was expecting from THE face, but nonetheless.

Then it happened. Suddenly, she started to pee. EV.ER.Y.WHERE.

Now, I’m not the brightest crayon in the box. No matter how often people tell me to have the new diaper ready to go, it never happens. But I also never get peed on. It may go on the changing pad but not me, so I guess I don’t worry too much.

So here I am in someone else’s car, and my daughter and I are covered in pee. As I’m starting to process this, SHE POOPS. On the outside of the diaper laying on my lap. The biggest poop of her solid-food-eating life. On her wedding clothes. On my wedding clothes. In the car.

I start frantically yelling for my mom. She opens the door, takes one look and starts to laugh. I say “Not a WORD!” and she helps me by doing something to clean up. I have no idea, these details get fuzzy. I can tell you that for the first time EVER I had packed a second outfit for my daughter (see, Carmen, I finally listened). I however had no options for myself. Not only was my ENTIRE skirt soaked in pee, but so was my underwear. I’m about to go to a super hip art gallery wedding in underwear that is wet from someone else.

Classy.

Luckily there was a drug store next door, I got new skivvies (although not the right size because under pressure, I can’t buy underwear, but that’s a different story for a different day) and aired out my skirt and went to party hardie. No one noticed or cared that my daughter was in a onesie instead of a pretty dress. And to my knowledge, no one noticed that I was covered in pee. My parents, were, however, sworn to secrecy and this is the first time the story has been told publicly.

Fast forward to yesterday.

I’m sitting in the my chair, feeding the baby. He’s a fickle guy in the morning because everything’s getting moving again. I have him sitting up to burp and I hear a rumbly in his tumbly and I think “hear comes a man burp”.

Sort of.

Next thing I know comes the all-too-familiar little baby poop noise. And then warmth.

I look on my lap and somehow the POOP has managed to shoot sideways out of his diaper and onto me in a weird flood of breastfed baby #2.

Before the pool even has a chance to form, it begins to mudslide. Towards my chair. No not my chair. My DAD’s chair. Which is this crazy weird fabric that’s super hard to clean. And so I know I have to stop it.

I put my hand under the mudslide and catch it. With my hand. HAND.

I yell for my mom to help and we get kid and mommy cleaned up, clothes in the wash. He was a very happy boy.

Later in the day my sister asked me how I was doing. I said “My day started with poop in my hand. It could really only go up.”

Now, I share these two stories for a few reasons.

1. Who doesn’t need some poop-based comic relief in their day? I hope I have painted a vivid enough picture for you to truly enjoy the hilarity of both of these events.

2. I, like you, am right in the thick of it folks. Some days are excruciatingly hard. Like fall-in-bed-fully-clothed-and-sleep-like-the-dead hard. And some days are totally awesome and the baby rolls over for the first time and the toddler goes to Bible study child care without crying. And sometimes, this is all one day.

3.  And last, but most importantly, is the point I would really like to make which is how do find joy and gratitude in the middle of all of this?

I would say that it’s attitude. Could I be angry? Yes, and I’m sure to a degree and for a while I was. And some days that degree and time are longer. But then I try to refocus and see what am learning? How will this impact me down the road?

For me, it always starts with little things.

I am thankful I packed a second t-shirt.

I am thankful there was another adult to help.

I am thankful for dry underwear.

I am thankful for normal bodily functions.

I am thankful for laughter.

Then it grows to bigger things.

I am thankful that my kid(s) is healthy.

I am thankful that this happened to make me laugh.

I am thankful I can see the humor.

And these things lead to joy.

Wow what a cool story to remind me of this trip.

Think of how much we laughed.

This of his face.

Think of how God has entrusted you with those little lives to watch grow and care for.

 

I know some days are hard, but also know God is walking with you. Joy is available even in the worst of situations.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

This may be one of the hardest commands when life isn’t going as you planned. But God has a plan. And this verse may help you to pray to find thankfulness then joy and see the situation in a new light.

 

Dare you today to share a way you find joy in the midst of all the poo. 🙂