My Name is Poop

There is no doubt that our boy is a comedian.  He'll do many things for a laugh, even when he is the only one amused.  His favorite go-to is using the word poop.  It all started (in my opinion) when Matt and Adam we're waiting for me in the Socorro Walmart parking lot over Easter weekend.  Matt tried to call me on my cellphone while I was inside the store.  After repeatedly getting my voice mail greeting, Matt said, "Oh, poop!"  Adam found the exclamation delightfully funny and never to be overused.

Weeks passed and Adam gradually started working poop into his everyday word fun.  He was encouraged not only by our initial giggles, but also by our later attempts to get him to stop using the word so often.  We really didn't think it was anything to worry about until the infamous MyGym class where he decided to unleash his public use of the word.

Matt and my mom took Adam to MyGym on that Saturday.  Adam is normally a little shy about saying his name during class introductions and a few weeks prior, he'd gotten flustered and said his name was "Momma" which resulted in the parents laughing.  Laughter doesn't necessarily scare off our little funny guy.  He tends to think he's hit a gold mine when something he does or says makes someone laugh, even if that wasn't his original intention.

During introductions for this particular class, Adam was on one side of the teacher (Brittany) and a little girl (Annie) was on the other side of the teacher.  This was Annie's first class and she was having a very fussy time.  When Brittany asked Annie to say her name to the class, Adam answered, "Poop!"  In the same moment, Annie started crying.

Adam understands that the introductions always start with a child seated next to the teacher, what he didn't realize that it could be either child sitting next to the teacher.  He thought that he was going first, but it didn't work out that way.  We're pretty sure that he didn't intend to call Annie, Poop, but was meaning to answer that for his own name.

When it was finally his turn to say his name, he used his second chance to say his name:  Poop!  This repeat got a few laughs from the crowd.  Not good.

Since that class, Adam has come up with various word combinations (not limited to those listed):
poop soup
dog eat poop
Poop Mama
Poop Daddy
Adam Winter Craig Poop
poop face

He's also gotten into a habit of answer poop when asked a question.  I've found that repeating the question and offering him choices of acceptable answers (and for the love of God, not laughing when he says it) is the best way to encourage him to be serious.

In MyGym class, Adam reverts back to his poop name when Brittany is teaching the class, but will answer "Adam" (very shyly) when anyone else is teaching.  This revelation has embarrassed poor Brittany most of all.  We'll work on this, but I think the key is taking the power out of the word.  He also thinks the word obnoxious is hilarious.  Go figure!