Lenny and I have an inside joke that we think is hilarious. (Though I guess it’s about to be a little less “inside”…) When one of us is out with the kids, we text, “Guess where I am right now…” The answer is always the same. In a public restroom. It gets even funnier when it comes multiple times within the same outing — well for the person receiving the text, at least. I’m pretty sure the record is five.
What is it about going to a new place — or any public place, for that matter — that makes kids decide they Absolutely. Must. Go. Right. Now.?
Sometimes it goes quickly and smoothly. Sometimes…well, it doesn’t, and you come out only to find your cart full of groceries has been taken away and restocked on the shelves. (Yes, that’s happened more than once to me.) But every time, there’s the dreaded question of how terrible the experience will be. Especially if one of the kids is in diapers. How is it that some “family friendly” places don’t have changing tables? Ugh. I can’t be the only one who’s littered the floor in toilet seat covers in the hopes of protecting my baby from an icky sticky floor, right? It’s a parenting rite of passage, I like to think.
Then there’s the toddler stage when the kid is on the move and doesn’t quite get how gross it is. Pink’s favorite game to play is, “Can I touch this?” Yes, she’s heard me shout, “No touching! No touching!” so many times, that she now thinks it’s a joke. “I touch this?” “This” is usually something so horrific I don’t even want to think about it and I panic, “No! No touching!” This is funny, I guess. And tempting. Then she gets a little sassy…”I touch Mommy’s knee?” “I touch Mommy’s foot?” Um, how about just sticking with the whole no touching thing, k?
While I’m pretty sure the no touching rule will be in place no matter what, I’m excited that a new service/app called clnli is about to launch (cln.li is pronounced clean-ly). They’re working with establishments in major metropolitan areas to make clean restrooms available to their users. So you know those “customers only” signs that send you into a panic when you’re out and about with a wiggling kiddo? Well, using this app, you’ll be able to find restrooms that are clean and available to clnli users. Not only can you quickly find directions to nearby restrooms, you’ll know that the establishment is committed to keeping them, well…clnli clean. And you can even filter your search for things like changing tables. Phew.
When clnli launches in the spring of 2014 (in major metro areas), they will offer the service for a monthly subscription rate — which will be $10/month, or a pay-per-use model. But if you sign up now — and are one of the first 100 subscribers — you’ll get 6 months for $20 and a lifetime discount. (Note, if you change your mind for any reason, it’s fully refundable any time between now and through the first month after launch.)
Now how’s that for pee-ce of mind? (Oh, my friends, I’ve got more “dirty” jokes where that came from!)
Disclosure: Thank you to clnli for sponsoring this post. I was compensated for my time, but all opinions are my own. Photos courtesy of clnli.
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