While cleaning the powder room, something became very apparent to me.  Something I had been overlooking.  Avoiding.  Cleaning around for months.  Something I was trying to ignore, in the hope that denying its existence would somehow eliminate its need.  Refusal to acknowledge leading to nonexistence.  A sound strategy or maybe just a buried desire not to jinx myself.

Whatever the reason, whatever my intent, I had long ignored the “flushable wipes” container perched on top the back of the toilet.  Our youngest child Ben has not needed their services for many, many months having graduated long ago to regular toilet paper.  It has been a very, very long time since I have heard the troublesome words coming from the bathroom, “Dad, I need help wiping.”  Ah, just repeating the phrase makes me shudder.  Typing those words makes me fear their return.

Today, however, was going to be different.  I would confront my long buried fears and heavily entrenched superstition and finally remove the Kandoo brand flushable wipes container from the bathroom.  You are no longer needed.  I’m not afraid of you.

Exiting the bathroom and holding the plastic container in front of me, I bravely said to Charlene, “I think we can safely dispose of the Kandoo wipes.”  Smiling, Charlene confirmed our safe arrival at a new stage in life, “Yes, it’s a big day for us.  Everyone in the house can now wipe their own bottom.”  Yippee!  A new day has officially dawned! 

The Kandoo Frog giving his thumbs up of approval, as he waits in the garage with all of the other plastic recycling.

“Good job, Mom and Dad.  Congrats on your official graduation from potty training.  Ribbit.”