I Get Left Holding the Bag
Yesterday afternoon Baby A. and I made a emergency potty-training stop into Starbucks. (For her, not me. Just to be clear.) Out of guilt I bought a cookie on the way out.
We sat on a park bench to share the cookie. Baby A. took the bag, removed the cookie, and handed the bag back to me.
Me: "All right, let's stop here and share some cookie."
A. : "Okay, here, Mommy. I'll hold the cookie, and you can hold the bag."
Question for readers: When you take your kids into restaurants just to use their bathroom, do you buy something as a "potty fee"?
Comments
No way, I bet you bought more than your fair share of coffee required to make a potty fee free pit stop. And if people give you dirty looks just tell them you were in earlier today or you don't have time to buy anything or better yet just ignore them. You are just a blip of time in their life.
I am sure other parents make up stuff all the time so you shouldn't concern yourself with such issues, you will blend right in. If you are really concerned go someplace lower rent like fast food, though I bet those bathrooms are awful. Or better yet hit a mall if you can.
Posted by: Christian Pearce | October 4, 2006 05:20 PM
The truly amazing part is I didn't buy a coffee—just the cookie. That practically never happens.
Even more amazing was that I managed to wrestle the little packages of chocolate and vanilla milk out of Baby A's hands. Why, oh why, do stores have to put such yummy things at toddlers' levels?
Oh, wait. I know why. :)
- QSMama / Lea
Posted by: QSMama / Lea | October 5, 2006 08:02 AM
My wife & I made a habit long ago of doing this. When we're travelling and have to make a "pit-stop" at a gas station/convenience store, we always buy a drink or something as a way of giving back for the much-needed (My bladder is only slightly larger than a golf ball, apparently) restroom facilities.
Having seen some pretty nasty truck-stop bathrooms, I go out of my way to find something to buy as a way of thanking the folks who go out of their way to make their facilities especially clean & well-stocked.
Posted by: Rob O'Daniel | October 13, 2006 04:12 AM
Yes! I always buy something in those situations. Unless I literally was there earlier and feel oddly entitled.
Posted by: Rookie Mom Heather | October 19, 2006 07:28 AM