Short Story

Potty Mouth

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Written for OLWG #402. The three prompts
for this week are given below. This my story.

© Etsy

Our granddaughter has started a new thing when she’s at our house and needs to use the bathroom: she brings one of our iPads in with her and plays games while sitting on the toilet. At age 5, the games Kukla (her nickname) is interested in are color by number, jigsaw puzzles or dot-to-dot. Once in a while she’ll tune into YouTube Kids and watch Play-Doh videos. We don’t mind; it’s harmless and interesting.

Truth be told, Kukla stays in the bathroom longer than necessary but that extra time gives us a break. When you’re old farts like us, babysitting for a precocious child for 9 hours a day, 3 days a week can be exhausting. We need those breaks. It’s actually kind of funny that the bathroom and not the television has become a substitute babysitter!

I could justify Kukla’s potty time by saying it gives me a chance to prepare lunch or answer some emails but I won’t. She’s perfectly safe and content watching the iPad and doing what comes naturally. Besides, we don’t ‘set her and forget her’ as Ron Popeil’s chicken rotisserie infomercial suggests. We check on her every few minutes and are rewarded with a resounding “I’m not done yet!”

Kukla’s toilet routine has not impacted her negatively so I was a bit taken aback one night when I got a text at 10pm from our son. It went like this: “Hey Mom, tonight at dinner when Jess served Kukla her lamb meatballs and lentils, she said “What the heck is this stuff?” and refused to eat it. We were shocked! Have you or dad ever heard her talk like that?”

Of course we never heard her talk like that and I said so but I couldn’t help thinking how hilarious it would have been hearing Kukla say “What the heck is this stuff?” Honestly, I don’t know what the big deal is; she could have said something a lot worse!

Obviously Kukla hadn’t been playing color by number that day. I checked the iPad and found a paused Ghostbusters video. When I told my son what had happened, I could practically see the wheels spinning in his head. He thought better than to tell us to be more aware of what Kukla watches; he knows we’re doing a great job with her.

Besides, he’s no fool; he realizes this free babysitting arrangement they have with us is a pretty sweet deal.

NAR©2025
#OLWG

Here are the three prompts: 1) what does she watch on tv; 2) go for the “no”; 3) a cruel culture. We can use one, we can use three or none at all. We just need to be creative.

This is “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.

OLWG#402- Disc Golf

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy ~ The Sicilian Storyteller, Nancy (The Sicilian Storyteller), The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk, and The Rhythm Section, and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

26 thoughts on “Potty Mouth”

  1. What a cute story our children don’t know they are born these days …no one helped us we had to cope . I had no help and I just had to cope! … Plus until our parents sadly passed on we had to look after our parents as well as our children and grandchildren.

    That said what a great story and I am sure you wipe the iPad over with a disinfectant wipe when she comes out of the loo.

    You have bought your boy up well and he knows which side his bread is buttered. Enjoy your bundle of fun and make the most of any respite you can get. 💜💜💜💜

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    1. I laughed out loud when I read your comment about wiping down the iPad with disinfectant! You can bet the house on that one, Sis! 😂
      I always say that being a parent is the hardest job in the world. There’s no training, no owner’s manual. It’s all hands on and learn as you go …. and be prepared to make a lot of mistakes.
      Yes, our sons are lucky that we live nearby and can be actively involved with our grands. We are just as lucky …. some grandparents live very far away and never see their kids/grandkids.
      Kukla tires us out for sure but in another year she’ll be in Kindergarten and we won’t have as much time with her. I’m very grateful for these 5 years with her …. so far. 💛💛💛

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      1. Yes indeed these are the best years , I don’t get to see the grands as much as you but like you we find every second very special.

        I also new the answer to the disinfectant wipes …lol I know your like me and careful.

        Yur boys are blessed as are your grandchildren. 💜💜💜

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  4. What a fun story! 😆 I agree that your son is very lucky to have you be able to babysit, that daycare $$$ is no joke! It sounds like you do a wonderful job with her and again she is too cute. ☺️ 💕

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