Bodily Functions

One thing about parenting young children is how front and center bodily functions become. No, I'm not going there...well, I am going to go there, but not just yet. This reality starts out very early in the day when my boys wake up wanting breakfast in a way that suggests that they've been wandering in a dessert for 12 days. Their hunger is so urgent. Some days, with all that needs to be done, after I fix them breakfast first thing, I do another hour's worth of stuff before I get to sit down and eat. Or, if I sit down while they're eating, my meal is punctuated by 1,100 trips to the kitchen for something they want or need. Yes, I can and do say no, but our family seems pretty unorganized at this stage, and often something has been left off the table that needs to be there.

Then, there are the noses. My 2-year-old says very endearingly "my nose are running" and "peez wipe my nose". I much prefer these reports and his willing blowing to the wrestling match that occurs over sinus-sourced mucus with some children. Still, there's an urgency about it. And then, there are moments when I'd really like to blow my nose, and I can't because I'm carrying a) children, b) groceries, c) my work bag, d) my cell phone, trying to arrange a sitter or e) all of the above. Dont' get me started on coaching my 6-year-old to blow his nose with the kleenex rather than pick the dead-of-winter monster boogers he picks and arrays nicely on the kleenex.

Finally, of course, there's the bathroom. The fact that our toddler doesn't use the potty, and sometimes I need to very badly and can't get there for whatever reason.

It all just makes me realize that parenting young children is primal. We are in charge of people who grow slowly out of their helplessness, and it forces us to put some of our most basic wants and needs on hold.