When Tim Pooped on the Deck

      A little three year old boy, one who has particularly stolen my heart while I've been here, named Tim (pronounced like "Teem") is a free spirit who catches the attention of everyone he meets. He's a chubby little guy, making him even more adorable, with an opened-mouth smile always on his face. He's got some serious attitude (and who doesn't love a kid with a lil sass) and whether he's actually saying meaningful sentences, I'm not sure, but he is always yelling something.
       He walks around like he owns the whole village and never has pants on; a shirt if we're lucky...but never any pants.
      And like all Thais, dancing is in the bones of Plaboo's kids. Today as we were all hanging out on the deck where we teach at the community center, upbeat rhythmic Thai music playing from the computer, little Tim is dancing around with his typical huge grin taking over his face; his rolly arms swinging, and surprisingly keeping good time to the music. All of a sudden, looking very happy, pant-less Tim dances down into a squat, and poops on the deck.
      With no adults around, you can imagine how the scolding went down...it didn't, no one could stop laughing long enough to punish him.
     Other than giving a whole new meaning to poop deck, something happened when Tim squatted, and I wasn't sure if I loved him more for it...or if he lost major cute points. I think it was a bit of both.

     Perhaps the thing that happened at that exact moment of relief for Tim was that I knew, right then, that we were a true family. You don't poop in front of just any friends, but your family is always there to see you through it. And while it was disgusting and vile, you can't help but love them for it...and tell every single person you know. Just like a real family.