It was time for homeboys to learn how to really rough it....by peeing in the woods.
I assumed this would be way easy and way fun for them. After all, isn't that sort of thing right up little boys' alleys? But, unfortunately my recent gentle reminders to "OMG NEVER PEE ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE TOILET...ESPECIALLY NOT YOUR BEDROOM FREAKING FLOOR AND CARPET" were taken to heart because the first time we showed our kids how to find a secluded spot and drop trou to relieve themselves, they both looked confused, then scared, then horrified. And they would not go.
The thing was, perhaps we wouldn't have pushed it, but the actual toilets in the campground were way worse than anything Mother Nature could offer, and I had zero interest in sitting my babies' butts on those spider hotel poop pits. They could hold it and come home and pee on the bedroom floor before I wanted them using those toilets again.
So Operation "Spray," as Little Bro coined it, began.
It took Little Bro a couple attempts, but it was ultimately his recent fascination with waterfalls that got him over the hump. From then on, he regularly asked to "spray in the grass," and I consider myself lucky that he still understood that one does not "spray in the grass" in front of other people or their food or tents or pets. Because I know he secretly wanted to.
Little Bug was our hold out, but I'm really proud of him for getting past what was obviously a confusing thing for him. Little Bro peer pressure sent him over the edge, and he got comfortable with the program after a while. Comfortable enough that I caught him twice trying to drop trou and "pee in the grass" on his own....in front of our tent. You win some, you lose some.
I can now proudly say that my boys are well on their way to becoming true campers. Just wait until they find out what our next camping operation will be!
I really wish this was an issue for us. Instead, I have to be on constant "spray watch" as M will drop trou on the side of buildings, beside a parked car, pubic parks, and even (seriously) in front of a school bus full of children. He's like a dog.
ReplyDeleteI admire your dedication to camping. I'd love to go more but getting everyone packed and out the door is SO MUCH WORK. Yay for navigating the confusing world of where to pee. It's a theme, I just showed Ada how to do this too, in a pinch - good skill for a girl to have.
ReplyDeletehaha! We just taught Michael how to pee in the woods while at my uncle's cabin. We tried for 5 days, no luck. He wanted to sit. Along come his idol, Grandpa. He had the brilliant idea of telling Michael to "put out the fire". Success! yaahhooo! Also--check out my FB photo. You'll see Alex first hand :)
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