Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Life is good then you get pooped on.

It was one of those days when everything was going great.   I was enjoying our spring break with my family and renewing friendships and family ties.  The two little guys were playing with cousins as we took the four oldest to downtown Salt Lake to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Easter message and weekend.  We listened to wonderful, inspirational messages from men of God.  Then we enjoyed a calorie filled meal and milkshakes at our favorite burger place.

As we were waddling back to our car, laughing, enjoying each other I heard the sounds of the Utah State bird, the seagull, flying over head.  These birds are known for their miraculous insect eating abilities over 100 years ago in Utah, saving crops and over 4000 pioneers from starving.  Yea, well,  that was then.

I felt a plop on my arm.  I thought one of my boys had thrown food at me.  That would not be shocking.  But I looked down on my WHITE sweater and saw greenish, gooey, seagull poop.  Ewwwwww!!!! And I swear I could hear those birds laughing as they flew away.  I screamed and gagged like a woman who had been pooped on.  My hubby poured water  on it and tried to clean to the best of his metro-sexual abilities.  But there remained one big green stain.  It did not quite match the milkshake stain I already had on my cuff.  Yea, I was a mess.  I had hours to go in that sweater before I could change and it was way too chilly to take it off  (thank you Utah for the artic weather).  So, I tried not to let it get me down or walk to closely to someone in case I smelled of bird plop.

When we were finally on our way back to our lodgings and the kids were still laughing at the well aimed poop (I guess it could have been worse).   I decided to turn it into a teaching moment.  I had heard several messages that day about taking advantage of teaching moments with our children so I decided to turn poop into a positive.

Okay kids listen up. Sometimes life will be going really well and then you get pooped on.  And it is usually not a matter of IF you get pooped on but WHEN.   And it is up to you to decide how to handle the poop. Do you get mad and poop back?  Or do you say "Okay I got pooped on.  I'll clean it up and move on," And that poop may leave a little stain and set you back for awhile and you may have to head a different direction to stay out of the poop.  But it is all up to you and how handle the poop.

Well they all laughed at me.  But I bet that is a lesson about bird poop they will not soon forget.

22 comments:

Saimi said...

Sorry, but that is absolutely hilarious!! Good for you and your example of making a positive out of poop!

So would you say this is something that does or does not make you happy? :)

Kristina P. said...

Nice!

My friend got married at The Lion House, and a bird pooped on her dress at the reception.

Lourie said...

My son got pooped on when we were in San Antonio waiting to ride the boat on the river walk. Originally, I had thought it just got a bit on his shoulder. Upon closer inspection, the dookey in question had actually gone inside his shirt! Nice. Good for you for turning it into a teaching moment.

Heather @ Raising Memories Blog said...

I seagull got my head on picture day in grade 5. I will never forget ;)
Way to find the teaching moment! :)

w said...

sorry you got pooped on. also. yes, you poop back. that's my answer. and i know it's the right one.

Leanne said...

Absolutely hysterical!!!! SO sorry that birdie had such good aim . . . but hey, kudos to YOU for turning into a positive! So glad you've had such adventures last week!

AB said...

Fantastic teaching moment! I think we'll read your blog for FHE this week!

Anonymous said...

oh, i love a good poop story!!!!

i was at the park the other day with the kids and a dog came up and peed on us!!! i was PISSED.

needless to say, we got up and went home after that...and i havent been back to that park, probably never will!

Theta Mom said...

Thanks so much for visiting me on my SITS Day! I am finally getting the chance to meet and greet the fabulous ladies who showed some love for me. Hope to see you at Theta Mom again! :)

Cheeseboy said...

At least it was the state bird. Better than getting pooped on by some bluebird or other worthless bird. Fun blog. Your kid quotes are great. Glad I stumbled upon it.

Lisa said...

Do you SEE how brilliant you are as a mother? That's right...a GOOD WOMAN...and a MOTHER WHO KNOWS. Love it!

Momza said...

::::APPLAUSE:::
Only a true mother could take that experience and make it a teaching moment!!!
You totally ROCK!!!

wv: fercista: noun, as in: "Linda is one feirce-sista"

Jenny P. said...

I will never, ever forget the trauma of being pooped on by a bird in the fifth grade, while on the lower four square court. I always loved playing four square, but after that incident... the game was never the same.

Krista said...

I just gotta be the one that says it......here it goes......aren't you glad that cows don't fly? Bahahaha! We had a mulberry tree in Oz (Australia) and the birds would leave purple poop all over the place - on the cars, on the sidewalk, on the kids. Awful. Great teaching moment.

Aunt Suzi Quilts said...

You are an amazing mom!! Thanks for the example of a great teaching moment. <3

Serene is my name, not my life! said...

LOL! Been pooped on. But your lesson will forever be chiseled in my memory, never to be forgotten. Until perhaps I have another kid and lose even more memory brain cells....
What was I saying? Oh yes,
that was awesome.

Vanessa said...

That happened to me, only the tweens and teens that were around me were my classmates, b/c I was in junior high. Embarrassing. Also, someone told me that being pooped on by a bird meant you were going to come into some money.

Evelyn said...

It could have been in your hair...Now THAT has got to be pretty bad. So, Heavenly Father still sends seagulls to teach his people lessons, eh? ;)

Unknown said...

This story totally made up for my crappy weekend!

Dalia (Generation X Mom) said...

Oh, that really stinks but great that you were able to grin and bear it and turn it into something positive!

Charlotte said...

The other day a bird hit the door as I opened it. Another second and it would have been me. I'm glad my bird had worse aim than yours!

Hilarious story!

Codi said...

My finger got pooped on...by..you guessed it, a seagull in Utah. I was coming out of the Arctic Circle with my friend and our kids, loading them all into the car. I was holding my drink by the top and was about to take a drink, when I suddenly felt something. I looked down and saw bird poo on my finger and cup lid. EWWWWWW


Good for you, turning it into a lesson! :)

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