merit badge tale :: Danielle

It has been a while since we have shared some merit badge tales. I love these funny (and sometimes sad) tales from the front lines of parenting. This one comes from Danielle who blogs at 52 Brand New where she chronicles her family's adventures as they try 52 new things this year. A mama merit badge is on the way for surviving this poopy mishap!

When my son was 16 months old, he was diagnosed with Toddler Tummy.  This very scientific term means that he had difficulty digesting fruit, and it would wind up exploding out of his diaper shortly after he ate it. We drove from Phoenix to Sedona, AZ, hit a lot of traffic, and were stuck with a screaming toddler in the backseat.  Nothing we did would calm him.  When we reached the hotel, it was after 3:00, so my husband went inside to check in while I attended to Luke.  I took him out of the backseat to find that he had liquified poop up to his shoulders and down to his knees.  I gagged and almost cried, wondering how I was going to clean him and his car seat.  My husband returned from the lobby and told me that the room was not ready.  I marched in, holding Luke at arm's length, and demanded that we go to our room immediately.  The clerk insisted it was not ready.  I hoisted Luke up onto the counter and cried, "If we don't get a room now, I have no choice but to change this disaster in your lobby!"  We were instantly upgraded to a suite and escorted down the hallway.

I did apologize to the clerk later that day.  My husband was mortified.  He said nothing could have been more traumatic for that clerk, not even a hold up!