I’m in Indiana right now with my friend who’s 4, and it’s always newly fascinating how little kids can drive people so nuts . . . sometimes they know exactly what they’re doing and other times they’re acting on such primal impulses.

It’s also interesting when you’ve only ever used phrases like “Shut up!” or “F*** you!” as jokes, and then you say one of them to someone who grew up having them meant seriously, and of course they go ballistic.

But you didn’t hear that name from me.

I hate when they push our buttons, even at the best of times it’s hard not to react. I think I’m doing well and then suddenly it’s like POW! I’m on par with a 7-year old. Logically you can look at any situation and know what you should have done, but the actual doing part is always the toughie.

But it’s time express this thought, as it has come here previously, then tonight the Cookie Monster diaper brought it up:

For those who don’t know me, my Ryan is a high functioning 30 something person with DS. Like Sophie, he wore a “nighttime diaper” (that’s what we called it, thus quotes) until he was around six.

When he was toddling, we were puzzled why the little turkey had not developed, er, manifested the skill to drink unassisted from his tippy cup. Then one day I saw him use two hands to pick up the dog’s bowl and drink from that. Thereafter Ryan was required to drink from the tippy cup when he became adequately thirsty, without no needless help from the parents!

Likewise, around age six, he was going to spend the night with his cousin at Grandma Bootsie’s house. Cousin Melissa, 18 months younger but developmentally normal, teased Ryan about his nighttime diaper. Ryan, offended, attempted to refuse to wear it.

Grandma wisely made him a deal: “Stay dry tonight and you won’t have to wear it tomorrow night.” It was his last diaper.

Sophie wont’ wear her overnight diaper forever. And who cares. My octogenarian mom wears ‘em.