Breaking the Code

First, thank you all so much for the kind wishes in your comments and emails. I'd like to give you all a big hug but my round ligament pain is killing me so I'll just blow you a kiss. Mwah!

We're in deep potty training today. I will spare you the gory details. It's going alright but I am exausted. There are many calls for animated displays of pride and joy, and much watching like a hawk and much thinking up of new and better bribes to sit on the goddamn potty for more than 3.2 seconds. It's hard for a slacker, I mean laissez-faire mom like myself. I have to pay so much attention to him.

I really do think about what I write about here with regards to Lowell. I don't want to post something that will be immortalized in some random cache and then might be passed around when, inevitably, it falls into the wrong hands. That said, I apologize in advance, dear son, if this ever gets out there but I am compelled to share the following: raising a boychik really gives you a window on to how men become obsessed with their penises. I mean, I have a front-row seat on this particular aspect of their burgeoning psyche. First, I watched the discovery -- the look that dawns on a little boy baby's face when he stumbles across the damn thing is pretty amazing. It's like the look you might imagine someone having if they were watching the moon landing on live TV and simultaneously won the lottery. Then, playtime with the penis. This is the first thing that really seems to hold their attention for more than a nanosecond as a baby and now, as a toddler, remains a very absorbing activity. And then comes speaking to the penis, with the hushed tones and the very funny in-jokes. Then comes the ability to do and watch (and show mommy) hilarious tricks. And now with potty training there is a whole new level of anthropomorphizing that I am exploiting for my own agenda. My sister, mother of a schoolage and a tween boy, assures me that this never stops. Having seen how many men end up in adulthood it's all starting to come together. Totally fascinating to witness the evolution. Perhaps I will also get some insight on why they don't ask for directions. I will keep you posted.

Comments

[Suzanne]

Just thought I'd comment here so you didn't feel like it was SUCH a mistake (and comment-killing) to write about your son's peepee. Anyone who has been deep in the (stickers-and-songs-and-books-and-prizes) trenches of potty training understands. 'Nough said.