Panty Pride

With 4 little girls of varying size , you can imagine that panties are plentiful. They are all over the house. We have been potty traning in its various stages for 3 years solid now. After changing diapers, the graduation from pull-ups to big girl panties is incredible. In fact, it is the promise of panties that keeps the most discouraged mother and toddler going.

I have used cute panties to bribe the girls into learning to use the potty. Most recently, we bought the Disney princess panties. Each panty comes with their own Princess and accompanying floral design. The most coveted of which was "The Mermaid panties". If you could get all your "poops and wets" into the potty, you would be the winner of the panty of your choice. In fact, they are like trophies, and when at last you won the coveted award, you showed those panties off to anyone who would look. Transition to the panty, a beautiful right of passage.

All this time, I thought this tactic was a good one. Parenting at its finest. Manipulation and bribery at its best. It was today, that I had an epiphanie--at church. We are so proud of our panties, and so rambunctious, that EVERYONE in church has had the opporunity to check them out. We use our dresses like fans to cool our faces, or play peek-a-boo. All this time, without completely thinking it through, I have actually set them up for this behavior. Since I was just a little girl, I have learned that pride is bad news. It has led to the downfall of civilizations. Today, in church, it led to the downfall of my dignity.

We are back home again, out of the religious spotlight, and safely back in our pants. Thankfully, I have been a mom for a while now. I know that with time and patience, our panty pride will wear off and privacy will reign.