Zoe takes Toilet Town

Like all good parents, Sara and I are always looking for new ways to brainwash our child. The current propoganda is geared toward potty training. Yes, Zoe is still a little young to get a lifetime pass aboard the porcelain bus, but we figure that its never too early to plant a little seed that will hopefully grow into the plastic sapling of training pants, and eventually into a giant redwood forest of panties (with a day of the week printed on each tree). Boy do we have the appropriate motivation...I calculate that we spent about $750 on diapers last year, nearly burning away the entire $1000 tax credit afforded to us by this bundle of joy.

Since the Elmo in Pottyland DVD is getting really old, we began to brainstorm about new ways to convince Zoe to more seriously reconsider her current potty situation. That's when I remembered that we live only a half hour away from the toilet capitol of the world, Kohler, Wisconsin. The Kohler company has been one of the world's largest producers of bathroom fixtures since 1873, and is conveniently located just west of Sheboygan, between Milwaukee and Green Bay. I did a bit of research and was pleased to discover that the company has a toilet museum! Let me repeat that shoutily, a TOILET MUSEUM! Perfect!! We spent a few hours there a couple weekends ago, and are pleased to announce that Zoe is now completely potty trained. Or let me rephrase that, Zoe is now completely trained about potties.

For those of you who don't plan on making a special trip out here to see it for yourself, here are some pictures of the toilet museum. I've included some handy captions in case you're not up to date with your toilet-lore. This is a picture of Sara and Zoe in front of a wall of toilets. I don't think any plumbing is actually hooked up to these toilets, but even if it were, I'd rather not use the cans on the bottom of the stack. I like the pink ones, but the yellow ones seem so much more practical.

Kohler was the first company to use wooden toilet seats in an effort to increase the comfort of the sit-ee. Ends up that several years down the road some crazy scientists discovered that wood is like a sponge when it comes to toilet germs, and the seats quit selling. Yep, Zoe most certainly is touching this wooden toilet seat. We're just glad she didn't try to lick it. Kohler made sure the exhibits were interactive, and she had to slam the lid down on every model. She's learning.

Some of the more modern toilet models are made to look more like clothing hampers. This confused Zoe a little bit, and we most certainly do not want her to confuse the two, so we were quick to leave the museum and head back home.

As if this post weren't long enough, I must share this interesting Kohler fact. In 1888 Kohler Water Works began producing the first drinking fountains, which they originally called "Bubblers". People in Wisconsin still call them bubblers today. Weird.