On the advice of another veteran mom, I decided to up the ante with the potty training and put a potty in the back of the car.

We’re in the car often enough that this plan makes sense. So, I’ve got potty #2 in the tailgate next to the stroller, the cloth grocery bags, the jumper cables and the all weather picnic sheet. Nice and cozy. Surprisingly, Morgs doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, every time I pluck her out of the carseat (or before I plunk her buns back in it), we have a visit to the car potty. I think she thinks it’s exciting.

Case in point. We went to Bennett’s Creek Park after playgroup the other day for some fun and sun. Norfolk weather has been absolutely ridiculous as of late. One day it’s about 48 degrees, cloudy and drizzling, the next day (hello yesterday and today), it’s sunny, 68, and wonderful. So, we go to the park with our pals and our lunches. Open tailgate, get the Morgs and plunk her on the pot. No joke, my girl is quite happy to be there and informs me after five minutes, “I still have more pee pee to do.” Alrighty then.

Coever is hanging out in the carseat, observing as usual. Our friends are skipping and jumping, running and swinging on the playgroup equipment, doing the very things I think Morgs would be itching to go do. My girl is adamant that she’s still got “more pee pee, Mama. More pee pee to do”. Oooookay.

The car is one link in a chain of cars parked adjacent to the playground leaving room for other cars and rec/parks vehicles to navigate past. The tailgate is open for all of the park to see into this makeshift ladies room and wouldn’t you know it, a cavalcade of Suffolk parks and recs lawn mowers, tractors, and other members of the earth digging/moving family start rolling by. In the interest of privacy and modesty, which Morgs all but demands at home when she’s on the pot, I move to stand in front of her, blocking the view. No haps.

“Look at the tractor, Mama. I see the tractor, Mama. I still have pee-pee to do. Hi, Tractor!” And like a miniature Queen Elizabeth (that’s a little redundant, right?), Morgs stands up and begins to wave frantically at the man on the lawn mower and the man in the tractor. As they drive past either oblivious or mortified into inaction, Morgs turns to continue to wave, exposing her backside* to the road and to the dad in the ’98 Explorer bringing up the rear who just wanted to take his son out to play catch. A full moon on a sunny Wednesday afternoon? I doubt that was in the Farmer’s Almanac for February 6th.

*every time I see those buns, I think of Dr. Evil in Austin Powers 2 saying Mini-me’s buns look like, “Two eggs in a hanky.” That always cracks me up.