Brett’s birthday was the next day, so in true last minute fashion I set out to get him a gift the day before. Colin was in school so it was just Asher and I. I was quite looking forward to running this errand with just one child. We walked up to World Market; I grabbed a shopping cart and placed Asher inside the seat. We strolled all over the store, starting with the greeting cards and ending up at the kitchen wares. We ended up finding a few knickknacks for the house along with some cool grilling accessories for Brett’s birthday’s gifts. While we were on our last few aisles I could smell that Asher had done a number two in his diaper. I planned to just change him in the car, as we were minutes away from being done. We finished up our shopping and headed to the check out. While in line, Asher reached up for me to hold him. I lifted him up out of the seat and started to kiss the top of his little head. Then I noticed a damp feeling from his bottom and also on my arm. I looked at his bottom and could see that it was wet. I then looked over at my arm and noticed….poop! There was poop on my arm!! Ahhhhhhh! I then looked at his back and could see a dark color peeking out from behind his shirt. He had had a complete poop storm blowout! It blew out of his shorts and up his back!! OH. MY. GOODNESS!

We were next in line… I scrambled to think what to do. I looked in my bag and noticed that I didn’t have any wipes OR diapers with me. Total mom fail! We walked up to the counter and I awkwardly and jokingly tell the check out girl that we had a “blowout”. The girl was very clearly grossed out. I placed our items on the counter and prayed we could get out of there with no more embarrassment. Just then the employee looks at me then slowly and silently points to the pizza paddle I was about to purchase. I looked down at it and saw a nickel-sized piece of poop on it. Ahhhh!! How did that even happen?! I looked back up at her and asked if she had any tissues or anything. She handed me a sheet of paper that they use for wrapping glass items. I wiped the poop of the pizza paddle. Then I held the tag up for her so that she could scan the paddle without having to touch it. She thankfully finished up our order and we headed towards the door.

On the way out I noticed a table with coffee samples. There were napkins on the table so I grabbed about 6 of them and headed out the door to the parking lot. Once at the car, I started the process of trying to clean up the poop storm sans wipes or a new diaper. I took off his shirt and began to wipe down his back with the water that I had thankfully brought from home and the napkins from the store. I got him wiped down enough to get him in the car, but then I had the dilemma of what to do with the poo filled napkins. I certainly didn’t want to go back in the store to look for a trashcan. And I definitely didn’t feel right about leaving the napkins in the shopping cart. So without an obvious good second option, I wrapped the poo napkins up inside the poo filled shirt and placed it all in my drunk. Then I sprayed myself down with hand sanitizer and drove home. I took pictures of the incident to prove to my husband how bad it was. Because even in the midst of my mortification of what had happened I almost immediately could see the humor in the absurdity of this poop storm. I knew for sure that Brett would find it hilarious. Especially since this had happened to me rather than him.

That evening I logged onto Facebook and noticed a post on my feed from a fellow mama friend of mine. She had had a really hard week. One of those when it rains it pours type of weeks. She seemed very emotional and overwhelmed. I know from personal experience that those feelings can also bring about the feelings of loneliness as well. I decided to share with her my poop story and picture from earlier that day. I also shared a few caring words. It was a reminder to us both that we are all human and all experience our own brand of challenges and triumphs. The important thing to remember is that we are all connected in this crazy beautiful experience we call life. I was able to turn my rough experience into an offering to help someone else feel connected and less alone in the world. For that alone I feel grateful for our epic poop storm.

— DISCLAIMER POOP PICTURE NEXT! — ; )

The Mess: The epic poop storm and all the embarrassment and literal mess that came with it.

The Magic: The comforting reality that we are all connected. Our shared human experiences is what helps us feel connected and makes life so rich, beautiful and fulfilling.

Love & Light, Christina