Friday, August 6, 2010

Can we talk about bladders for a minute?

Part of our end of summer routine is to take each Grand school shopping. It is a big event. There are lists to be made. Coupons to be cut. Hours spent in the dressing room watching cute little girls twirl and pose.

It's exhausting.

The day of fun ends with an all-by-myself sleepover at Grandma and Grandpas house. Actually it usually ends with me in bed, exhausted, and Mr. Jenny reading bedtime stories and listening to end-of-shopping-day chatter.

And while shopping might not seem relevant to ...ummm... tinkling, it actually is.

I hope this isn't too personal a subject...

...but seriously...

Have you noticed that third graders don't ever have to tinkle?
I am on the same tinkle schedule as the four year old and it works out swell.

We look at something, we tinkle. We look at something else, we tinkle.

But the third grader. Ummm...it pretty much goes like this:

Me: Julia, Grandma needs to find a bathroom.
Julia: Didn't you just go?
Me: No, that was a while ago.
Julia: Well, can I just try on these t-shirts and then we can go?
Me: No, we need to go now.
Julia: Sigh. OK, Grams.
Me: (whining and dancing and doing the p-dance) OK. Walk faster!

Now, mind you, Julia drinks the same amount of water as me which is a lot since I'm trying to break my weight watchers plateau and ...


...

Wait.

...

What was I talking about here?

...

Oh, yea.

Tinkling.

OK, yea... So Julia drinks a ton of water, too, PLUS juice PLUS Sprite and twice a day she runs into the bathroom for 43 seconds or so.

So, I'm wondering here...How do you get a bladder like an 8 year old?

As Mr. Jenny was putting Julia to bed last night I hollered out for him, "Make sure she goes potty before she goes to bed" and do you know what that little bladder-controlled girl had the nerve to say?

"Maybe Grandma needs to remember to go potty. She has to go all the time anyway!"

Hmphhhh...

But just to be safe...

I got up and went again anyway.

Sigh...

post signature

47 comments:

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

And I would have to get up and go with you too. If peeing was aerobic exercise, I'd look fabulous.

Unknown said...

LOL at PJ's comment. I thought I had to go a lot, but on our recent vacation the little munch was constantly going! I expect it from Mr. Sister, who has to mark his territory in every rest area and bathroom he encounters, but from the little guy?

Margaret (Peggy or Peg too) said...

too funny!....gotta run...have to tinkle.

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

I have pretty good bladder control, EXCEPT for when I go shopping. Then I always have to go about five minutes after I start shopping. ?!

Terra said...

I too am on the same schedule as my 4year old. The 10 year old, NEVER GOES and I mean never. twice a day is good by her. She has been known (even at age 4) to only goes once in more than 24 hours...I don't get it, I really don't

Pat Wahler said...

When thing is for sure, like everything else, our bladders change with age, too!

Pat
www.critteralley.blogspot.com

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

That is so funny. I have to go a lot, too. My daughter never needed to go when she was growing up either, but now that she is prego she pees a lot! Isn't it grand?

Carol said...

I use to be that way....not having to tinkle all the time...Sara can go days...it seems...but now, forgetaboutit! I know where all the clean restrooms are in this town!!

RoeH said...

Too funny. Think of me last week up to camp and having to get up in the night at LEAST three times and the bathroom is down the dirt road with a rock to trip over on the way in the dark and some kind of bush to run into that has thorns after you've tripped over the rock and the rain at night was a treat too. You've got my sympathies.

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Harrrrumph... I just don't even make excuses any more. I simply announce that, at my age, my pottie needs are frequent but fast.

Oh, the fast part. That was before. Before I added IBS to my life. Now they can be frequent but long, at times.

Sooooooooooooooooo... So what? I say! It's life. They'll all deal with it, someday. -Heh,heh,heh-

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Ohh and just to cut someone off at the pass... Before they get a chance to point out that if I drink all those cooling Summer Drinks in my Icon, no wonder I have to "go" often...

Come on! If I was drinking all those deeeeeeelicious alcohol laced Summer Drinks, I'd be unable to sit here at the computer and type this!

So there! So there, *Wise-Acre* person who was gonna' say that!!!

>,-))))))))))))

Deb said...

you have the same potty schedule as me...my Mom and daughter have it too...we know where every bathroom is in a 100 mile radius...

Pondside said...

Just too, too funny Jenny!........and close to home!

Jeanie said...

In my family we are big fans of the "preventive pee", you know, lets all go now in case we can't find a place to go later. Of course I am the one that always has to go now and later.

LemonyRenee' said...

I totally know what you mean. I refer to my son (4th grader) as a camel. That's all I can figure. And I'm jealous.

ImagiMeri said...

Hey Girlfriend,

I'll make sure I have plenty of toitypaper for you when you come over.

Love ya'
Meri

Anonymous said...

This post was funny, but I can so relate to what you say. It just dawned on me...that is probably why I am tired so much, yep, that's it I spend a lot of time running to tinkle. What your grad said was so funny and cute. Hugs

Susan Anderson said...

Boy, do I relate to this one. My bladder is coming apart at the seams.

*sigh*

"/

Theresa said...

I can SO relate! I stop at every potty especially when shopping:) I know where EVERY bathroom is in every store! I know if you have to press a button to get in, have to have a key, if there are more than one stall... trust me I am the potty guru! Now, my grandchildren say they don't have to go but REALLY do have to go as soon as we leave the area and then the do the pee pee dance and we have to go back.

My 14 (almost 15 year old) granddaughter said the other day "Ganky, you must have the smallest bladder":)

Happy to know someone else has the same issue! You and I could shop together, as long as there were TWO stalls:) Have a blessed day my friend! HUGS!

Busy Bee Suz said...

This is the story of my life. I have a 'baby' bladder. I swear it is the size of a peanut.
Oh, to be eight again!

One Photo said...

Hilarious! Well if it makes you feel any better this Aging Mommy has to go to the bathroom more often that her three year old daughter :-)

Marlene said...

LOL....well, you could always skip the trip to the loo (trip, trip, trip to the loo....trip, trip, trip to the loo) (sorry) (ok, not).....and buy some DEPENDS instead. :)

Cheryl D. said...

Haha! That's how it is with my daughter and me! I'm going constantly while I'm nagging her to go. She neer seems to have to! AGH!

Claudya Martinez said...

Well, sounds like she has a great bladder and a great sense of humor. Give her a few years, she'll be tinkling up a storm.

Andrea said...

Ha! That little toot! I wish my 7 year old had a bladder like that. If there's a public restroom, she has to use it. Drives.me.bananas.

Have a great weekend!

Betty said...

Ahhhh...to be young again.

Chatty Crone said...

That is so funny! And true. My problem is I can go all day fine - then at night I need to get up.

My GS never has to go - until it's an emergency!

sandie

Anonymous said...

How funny, and I truly can commiserate!

Teresa

Anonymous said...

How funny, and I truly can commiserate!

Teresa

Melinda said...

Yes, the older we get the more we have to tinkle.
But... if you have kidney stones like Mr Ken you know about bathrooms and tinkle frequency.
Loved the story.

Melinda

Melinda said...

Me again--check out my curretn post on things kids say.

You'll love it!

Melinda

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Oh my! Can I relate to this! I can tinkle right before I leave home in the morning and have to go again as soon as I get to work...about 9 miles from home! And I know every bathroom in every store that I shop -- I could be a great bathroom inspector as my next career!

Kim Lehnhoff said...

I used to be just like that, waiting almost all day to go. And I have daughters who still possess the skill, even in their 30s.

I don't know when the bladder began to betray me, and cause me to have to know the location of every public restroom in every store and mall I frequent, but it was sometime after our trip to Disney World in 2007 - because I remember waiting outside ladies' room(s) while my daughter's mother-in-law went...and went...and went.

Growing old sure ain't for sissies. Enjoy your obedient bladder while you can.

Vicki/Jake said...

HAHAHA...Kidney's have boat races in my life quite often too...

Keep squatting my friend :}

Jo said...

lolsy! some of us just have to go ... a lot!

Cheryl @ TFD said...

LOL! I laughed because as my older brother used to say, "I resemble those remarks." I just hate having to go when running errands and having to use a public bathroom...ewwww!

Have a good weekend.
Cheryl

Anonymous said...

I'm sure it's a sign of old age.but i prefer to think of it as a sign I've been eating healthily!

Tracy said...

Ok I have decided to contact the IOC because I believe there should be an Olympic medal for any women who has had kids and can go 2 hours without the need to pee.
I have worked out that if I am horizontal it is ok as the pressure is taken off my bladder so I manage to only get up once in the night.
If however I am walking, sitting or riding my bike I need to pee almost hourly.

I have structual engineering in place to hoist the water back into the correct position this means that peeing can take an age and at times feels like a marathon effort for an egg cup of relieve ok thats enough off to pee.

Jami said...

I think it's awesome that you take them shopping for back to school time. Over the years I have been shocked and downright scared of how much it costs to get my kids ready for school (uniforms, etc.) When the grandparents offer to help, I could not be more grateful. Plus, it is a great memory for the kids!

Bits-n-Pieces said...

I've always claimed this mantra when it comes to tinkling...."frequent but fast!" I go a lot..but it doesn't take long!

In high school, my bff's potty schedule was twice a day..when she got up, and when she went to bed. Never during the day. I know I drove her crazy when we'd be doing stuff cuz I was always going!!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

LOL! I am knocking wood right now because I have still have good bladder control. It's been so hot this summer sweating has replaced urination...lol

Back to school so soon? NYC schools don't go back till after Labor Day.

Debbiedoos said...

Ha Miss Jenny I find we think about it more often...everything we do as we get older revolves around a bathroom being close by...do you notice that? Ahhh to be 8 again, not a worry in the World.

Sue said...

Would you consider moving to Illinois and being my best friend?

Mary said...

LOL! Don't make me laugh~ I'll have to pee...

The Words Crafter said...

Oh my gosh!!!!! You are just a hoot! And your grands are going to be just like you...well, except for the tinkling part, LOL!!!!

Lourie said...

Age and birthing babies. Now I have to pee...excuse me...tinkle.

PERMANENT POSIES said...

hahahahah This grandma has to tinkle all the dang time. Fortunately, my gkids are still young enough that they want to check out all public bathrooms. I love the idea of taking each grandkid shopping alone. I recently took my grandson on a date to the movies. I down....3 to go.