Flushing With Pride

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“I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn’t it.” – Groucho Marx

The other day, my five-year-old son, Mr. D had a play date with a darling classmate from Kindergarten. It didn’t start off very well. They couldn’t figure out what to do.

Mr. D wanted her to be part of his band. She wanted to find where the gecko was sleeping in his enclosure.

Mr. D wanted to throw balls outside. She wanted more Oreos.

I tried to suggest a couple of activities. Then I sat down at my computer to try to stay out of it.

After a few minutes of negotiating, I finally heard the winning suggestion. Mr. D asked his friend, “Do you want to plunge a toilet?” and she heartily agreed.

In my defense, I did teach him to plunge a toilet this past weekend when he told me the water in the toilet went way up. The water was clear and it didn’t appear to be blocked but I figured a couple of plunges wouldn’t hurt. Little did I know that it would become a favorite activity.

After they finished with the downstairs bathroom, I heard Mr. D say as they headed up the stairs to do the upstairs bathrooms, “For these ones, I’ll let you flush!”

Ah, the Leon household, where we flush with pride. Or where friendship flows. Or where the toilet puns never end…

(featured photo from Pexels)

You can find me on Instagram @wynneleon and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynneleon/

I co-host a storytelling podcast featuring authors and artists with the amazing Vicki Atkinson. To tune in, search for Sharing the Heart of the Matter on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music or Pocketcasts (and subscribe) or click here. Or the YouTube channel features videos of our interviews. Please subscribe!

My other projects include work as a CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer), speaking about creativity and AI through the Chicago Writer’s Association, and my book about my journey to find what fueled my dad’s indelible spark and twinkle can be found on Amazon: Finding My Father’s Faith.

91 thoughts on “Flushing With Pride”

  4. “Okay, kiddos, if you liked plunging. Just wait until our next playdate, we’re going to learn about plumbing repair. And if you’re really good, we’ll move to the spare bedroom where we’re going to learn all about drywall installation. It’s going to be so much fun!!!” What do you think Wynne? Ha, ha.

    Liked by 3 people

  7. I absolutely love this, and staying out of it is hard, and how they figure out how to negotiate, take turns, and problem solve in their own way, as they did!!

    Liked by 2 people

  11. OMG- the innocence of children. You taught him well. Although I hope you didn’t utter these words before teaching him how to plunge ‘now, this is what we do when the toilet is blocked with something’ because he will have heard ‘I can get rid of anything that blocks the toilet by using this handy plunger – including toy cars, socks, dolls, cookies in fact anything’.

    You didn’t say that did you? Please say no….

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Kids find enjoyment in the most amazing ways. Red Green (a Canadian comedian) famously says, “If the girls don’t find you handsome, at least let them find you handy!”

    Liked by 2 people

  24. LOL – out of the mouths of babes!
    All credit to you Wynne for allowing them to get on with it when visions of floods and future joinery must have been floating around for you. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  25. This is where the art of compromise comes in. They could have thrown Oreos outside or serenaded the gecko. Then again, you got your bathroom cleaned for free, which is the ultimate win/win!

    Liked by 1 person

  28. Hilarious story! “Do you want to plunge a toilet?” I’ll bet you never thought you’d hear those words on a playdate. The art of negotiating and problem solving is a lifelong skill. These are the kinds of social skills that kids who are home schooled sometimes miss out on.

    Liked by 1 person

  29. This is beyond adorable. I love how you tried to stay out of it and let them figure it out. And they did. That’s wonderful parenting, Wynne! And Mr D literally took the plunge during his play date. Win win for all of you. 😊💕

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks so much Wynne. Happy Belated Valentine’s Day to you too. We can still celebrate the gift of love between friends right? 🥰💖😍 Hugs and smooches to a beautiful week ahead! 🥂

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