Recently actor and dad Ashton Kutcher and his 5 month old daughter Wyatt Isabelle were in the news. It seems that doting dad Ashton was rightfully miffed at the curious lack of diaper changing facilities in men’s restrooms. It’s 2015, people – dads change diapers! So what’s a dad to do when faced with a diaper changing dilemma? Will Koala answer the call and outfit men’s rooms across the nation with changing tables, or will desperate dads everywhere start storming the ladies’ room to avail themselves of their diaper changing facilities?
While it would be rather startling to walk in and see some guy in the ladies’ room (especially if it’s Ashton Kutcher!), having recently made my own foray into the men’s room, I’m hardly one to judge.
Allow me to explain.
I’m at a point in my life where hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and yes, a fussy bladder have become a fact of life. A quick search over at WebMd bore this out:
During and after the process of menopause, levels of the female hormone estrogen drop significantly. In addition to controlling your monthly periods and body changes during pregnancy, estrogen helps keep the bladder and the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body, healthy.
Lack of estrogen may also cause the pelvic muscles responsible for bladder control to weaken, resulting in urinary incontinence.
While I haven’t started cruising the Tena aisle at the drugstore yet, lately the sense of urgency I feel when I have to pee is, well, pretty damn urgent. When I have to go, I. Have. To. Go.
And here comes the part about the men’s room.
I was shopping for my husband at Macy’s one afternoon when the urge hit. Having learned the hard way not to ignore it for too long (my first ever UTI a few months ago taught me well – thanks again, menopause!) I made my way to the ladies’ room only to find a burly plumber at the entrance, who informed me that it was closed due to a burst pipe, and that I should use the ladies’ room on the 1st floor. I was on the 4th floor. The men’s room was right next door. My brimming bladder felt like it was knocking against my uterus and ovaries, threatening to make a break for it.
I made, what seemed to me, a perfectly logical, rational decision. I was going to use the men’s room.
I have three younger brothers. I have a husband. I have a son. I know what boys look like. There was nothing in that men’s room that I hadn’t seen before. After all, I wasn’t going in there to look. I was going in there to pee.
The plumber watched me turn, make a right and start walking into the men’s room.
“Hey, you can’t go in there!” he called after me.
Now, I’ve always been a calm, reserved person; I play by the rules and don’t like to make a scene. But this stage of life has flipped a switch in me where my tolerance level for just about everything is at an all-time low – so dude, there is no way in heaven or hell that you’re going to tell me that I can’t go pee!
I turned to face him and replied sweetly, “Oh, really? Watch me.” Head down and eyes averted, I scurried into the men’s room (I think I caught a fleeting glimpse of some boots standing at a urinal, I can’t be sure) and plunged headlong into the first stall I came to. I locked the door, and stood there for a second, listening. Was the plumber going to call security to come hustle me out of the bathroom? Was there a guy wearing boots standing at the urinal ready to curse me out for invading this sacred man-space? Was I going to make it through this without peeing my pants?
All I heard was silence. I yanked down my Lululemon’s, squatted over the toilet, and mercifully, gratefully, peed. And peed. And peed. When I was done I slowly opened the stall door, stuck my head out and looked around. The men’s room was empty. I rushed out, quickly washed my hands at the sink and glided out triumphantly, the plumber nowhere in sight. But there was an elderly couple standing in the hallway who saw me exit the men’s room. They looked at me, looked at the “out-of-order” sign that was now in front of the ladies’ room, then quizzically looked to me again.
“It’s okay, go ahead – it’s empty” I whispered conspiratorially, nodding over to the men’s room. The woman gave me an amused little smirk and, shrugging her shoulders, walked in to use the facilities while her husband stood guard outside.
And, not that I was looking, but I don’t think there was a diaper changing table in that men’s room, either.
Mom Meets Blog 
Hooray for bathroom anarchy! I have resorted to the men’s room a number of times. Dammit, if I have to pee, I have to pee!
And I do my part with the changing station in the men’s room thing. When I joined the church staff 11 years ago one of the first things I did was put changing stations in all the men’s bathrooms. Both moms and dads have thanked me for that many times!
You were way ahead of your time with those changing stations! And I hope not to make that men’s room thing a habit. . . 🙂
Awesome! Hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go.
Exactly! 🙂
I also think it’s so unjust that often woman stand in long queues and the men have no queues at all due to their way of solving the problem. Fortunately more more restrooms in Denmark are made for both sexes
I wouldn’t mind that at all! Thanks for stopping by.
Great story! I love the blistering boldness that women can get as they grow older and more in control of deciding who is allowed to “give them permission.” As sad as I am to hear you’re struggling with some of these new issues, I’m relieved to read that you’re taking charge. I suppose I just really love headstrong, confident women. You go, girl!
Blistering boldness – I love it! Thank you so much for your support and for giving me a read – I really appreciate it!
Hilarious!! And who could blame you?
Thanks for reading !
Great post! I have often used the men’s room when I have a friend or husband standing guard outside. I have always been irritated by the fact that men’s restrooms do not have changing tables.
Thanks for reading! While I don’t plan to make it a habit, maybe next time I use the men’s room there’ll be a changing table in it! 🙂
Really a great story…and how true! http://lilypupslife.wordpress.com/
I’m glad you enjoyed it, and thank you so much for reading!
Did we have the same life in a former life? Great post.
Thank you! Who knew I’d find so many women in the mens room. . . 🙂
I LOVE IT!!! I remember being at a play once and during intermission, the line for the ladies room was out the door. No men in their line, so another lady and I went for it!! Sorry, when you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go!! 🙂
Thank you for reading! That’s right, any room’s a ladies room if there are ladies in it -sorry, fellas!
Know the feeling… when you gotta to, you GOTTA GO! Fun post!
Yes, some things cannot be ignored – thanks for reading! 🙂
lol, good read. I’ve used my fair share of men’s restrooms, my bladder waits for no one and I’m no where near menopause so that phase in my life should be fun…not! Thanks for sharing.
http://windycitywardrobe.com
Yes, menopause has certainly made me a little more, ahem, aggressive – it’s certainly a wild ride! Thanks for reading!
I’ve accidentally uses the men’s facilities in such a rush that is didn’t even notice until a gentleman opened the door as I was washing my hands and hastily informed him HE had the wrong restroom. 🙂 no changing table there either.
Great narrative. I love your site 🙂
That’s funny – I think I’ll use that the next time I use the men’s room! Thanks for your kind words and for stopping by!
Haha. Glad to be of service. and you are very welcome.
You’re too funny! I’m of the mind set that says we need uni – sex restrooms. I’m right behind you, Kiddo! I say use whatever room is available. At our age, who cares? When ya gotta go, ya gotta go!!!! Funny post! Thanks for stopping by and reading me!😊
You’re welcome! I totally agree with unisex bathrooms, but I guess any bathroom we’re in is ‘the ladies room’! Thanks for stopping by!
Oh, sister of kindred bladder! You had me at “Oh, really?”
I have done this and WILL do this again. Having wet my pants between the front door and the bathroom of my own home (a mere 20 steps,) I sooooo GET why there’s not a chance in hell of making it (dry-bottomed, anyway) to a toilet 3 floors away. As to the changing tables, I’ve noticed a lot of places here (craft stores, larger fast food restaurants, and super markets) with “family restrooms” that are unisex.
Great post!
Thank you so much for reading! While I hope for more unisex bathrooms, I’m pretty sure I’ll be visiting a few more men’s rooms before I’m through!
I feel no qualms about using the men’s room, especially if it’s a single (like in a restaurant). They tend to be dirtier, but when you gotta go, you gotta go!
Agreed!