Riding in cars with toddlers

Trips to visit my parents are often a mix of excitement and dread. While it is only a two and a half hour drive there a lot can happen!

It never fails that if we need to make a bathroom stop for M it is always at the point of our drive where all the upcoming exits are connectors to other highways and where there is a not bathroom in sight. As you can imagine she has become an expert at peeing in the great outdoors. One particular trip back home from my parents house in the middle of February it was a little too cold to pee on the side of the road. This readers is where our story for today begins....

M: I need to go potty Mom!
Me: Can you hold it or do you have to go right now?
M: I can hold it until I can use Nonny's potty.
Me: Okay are you sure?
M: Yes I'm fine. I'll wait until Nonny's house.

Less then five minutes later...

M: I can't hold it!
Me: Alright let me try to find an exit with a bathroom.

After passing several exits that were just connectors....

Me: Well there are no bathrooms nearby so we are going to have to pull over and you are going to have to pee there.
M: I think I'd prefer a potty please.
Me: I know you would honey but there are no potties.

On the trip to my parents house M was not feeling so great. Occasionally she gets carsick. I packed a small bucket with a few plastic grocery bags lining it. With it being so cold I realized she wouldn't be able to pee outside of the car without freezing her butt off. We had to improvise a little....

Me: M here is the plan. I am going to clear off the floor on your side of the car and put everything on K's side. Then you will have to squat and use the bucket to go potty.
M: I can't go potty in a bucket Mom!
Me: Normally we wouldn't but we don't have another option right now so I need you to try.
M: Okay I'll try.

A few moments and an empty bladder later....

Me: I am so proud of you M! You went pee in the bucket and I know that wasn't too easy for you!
M: Don't be too proud Mom. I got a little pee on the floor.

I am extremely thankful we have rubber floor mats in our car otherwise we would have had a very smelly ride the rest of the way home!