While scrolling through my social media feed recently, I came across a video shared by a friend featuring her adorable toddler. It instantly grabbed my attention because it showcased a vibrant pink stuffed flamingo that looked like it was about to toss its cookies. The bird’s neck was flailing about in a bizarre manner, and my friend’s little one was giggling with excitement, eagerly watching this peculiar performance.
But hold on … was that really a dance? No … oh my goodness, was that a toilet? Yes, indeed! This bright pink flamingo was perched on a tiny plastic toilet, preparing to take a dump. How cute, I thought. But WAIT. Was something actually coming out of its rear end?! I watched in a blend of fascination and horror as a beige, gooey substance squished out from the flamingo’s backside and into the clear toilet, which I now realized was designed for viewing the whole process. “He’s poopin’!!” my friend’s toddler squealed with joy. That little one was absolutely thrilled.
My kids are 14 and 11, well past the days of potty training. Lacking the magic of this incredible pooping flamingo — which, after a quick Google search, I discovered is called the “Little Live Gotta Go Flamingo” and was a popular toy for Christmas 2020 — I had to resort to M&Ms to bribe my kids to use the toilet. This amusing flamingo would have made potty training a breeze. I’m quite envious that today’s parents have this option. I’m certain my son, who was difficult to potty train, would have gladly used the toilet just to watch this ridiculous toy do its thing. But no, I had to make do with whatever incentives I could find. Parents today get to potty train their toddlers with actual pooping flamingos! What a time to be alive.
Can you imagine how the team at Moose Toys, the creators of Little Live Pets, came up with this idea? I envision a group of executives gathered around a sleek boardroom table in a fancy Melbourne office, having a serious discussion about which animal would amuse children most while sitting on a toilet. “How about a koala? They’re cute no matter what,” one might suggest. “That’s the issue. We need something sillier,” another counters. “What about a sloth? They’re goofy!” “Nah, it would take too long. Kids would lose interest.” Silence falls as everyone contemplates. “A turtle?” “Its shell would be a problem.” “Good point.” “I know! A flamingo! We can make its neck do funny things while it poops.” “Yes! Plus, we won’t have to worry about giving it arms.” The room breaks into applause while someone feverishly writes notes. High-fives all around!
Okay, that’s probably not how it actually happened, but let me have my vision. The world can feel like a chaotic mess, so we need all the joy we can find.
Of course, the Little Live Gotta Go Flamingo isn’t the first pooping toy ever created. Fur Real has made dogs and cats that drop little turds while being walked. The classic children’s book “Everyone Poops,” published in 1993, aims to normalize going number two. But the Gotta Go Flamingo is the first I’ve seen that utilizes a clear toilet to explicitly showcase the act of poop being expelled from a rear end. Kudos to Moose Toys for being such innovative weirdos.
To be clear, I fully embrace this quirky little toy. Honestly, I’m a bit jealous that today’s parents of potty-training toddlers have access to this delightful flamingo to make the process easier. Even though my kids are well beyond that stage, I might just buy a pooping flamingo for myself because it’s that entertaining. Who knows, I might even display it proudly alongside my grandma’s china.
In a world that often feels overwhelmingly bleak, this amusing, grunting flamingo serves as a quirky reminder that there are still bright moments to be cherished — a reminder that we can incorporate some silliness into our lives amidst all the serious stuff.
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Summary:
The article reflects on the author’s envy over the Little Live Gotta Go Flamingo, a toy that helps make potty training fun for toddlers. The author reminisces about their own experience with potty training their older children using M&Ms as bribes, wishing they had access to such a whimsical tool. The quirky nature of the flamingo, performing its odd act on a toilet, provides a lighthearted reminder of the joy that can be found in everyday challenges, especially in parenting.