A wee bit ago, I got my all-time oddest product review request. It was for UBBAS bath toys, which are essentially rubber cups — somewhat people-shaped — that can hold hands, hug, and pee. They come in four varieties: Papa, Mama, Brother and Sister. Did I mention the peeing part? Because Papa and Brother UBBA pee straight out, while Mama and Sister UBBA pee straight down.
Yup, a gay toy that pees. I told you it was odd.
I OF COURSE SAID YES. Who better to review a cleverly-designed toy for kids with gay parents?
The family that pees together, um… I got nothin.
UBBAS Bath Cups were created by designer Rob Spalding as a tool that offers a fun, loving representation of family for kids of same-sex parents. Each is sold separately, so I got 2 Papas and 1 Brother, natch. It’s also meant to open dialog with your kids about their bodies. You know, because of the peeing.
Now I’ve been griping since before JJ was born about the lack of books, toys, shows, etc. that portray kids with same-sex parents. It’s a large part of what motivates me to blog or do any of the advocacy I do – to make sure JJ sees other examples of families like his, so that he’s confident and well-equipped to answer questions or deal with conflicts he might face because of his unique family makeup. But I’ll admit to being a little weirded out by this toy. I’m a fairly liberal guy, but the thought of mixing same-sex parents, bath time and peeing just sounded skeevy. Not to mention a tough sell to mainstream America.
Extra points for cool packaging!
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But I put my own grown-up hang-ups aside, tossed these in the tub with JJ, and put my expert product reviewer to work. He was immediately drawn to their silliness and their squishiness (they’re very soft), and was thrilled to have yet another thing to fill with water and fling willy-nilly around the bathroom. I sat down by the tub and explained that the toys were a family like ours. That there was a Papa, a Daddy and a little boy. I showed that they could hold hands, and that the two dads could hug and their hearts would interlock, just like Daddy and Papa hug and kiss. Then we filled them with water.
And for the next half hour they peed. We had pee-pee races. We made peeing totem poles. They crossed streams. They peed all over the bathroom floor. And of course JJ made them pee in his mouth. And he was giggling the whole time. As we all know, boys love to pee. They love to talk about it, joke about it, and eventually learn to spell with it. And in case you think only pee-happy boys would enjoy this toy, have you forgotten about Betsy Wetsy?
Or for you modern gals, You & Me: Mommy Change My Diaper Doll.
And there’s no end to the potty training toys to be had. The Pee and Poo Dolls. Talking TP. Tinkle Targets. Peter Potty. Flippee the Toilet Shield. All real. All designed to mash-up playtime and potty time.
In brief, what UBBAS lack in proper potty technique, they make up for in good, clean fun, with a subtle message of diversity and inclusion. While they may not be the ideal representation of our family I had in mind, they’ll do in a pinch. Or a tinkle.
Visit UBBAS’ web site to learn more, purchase, or see them in action! And check out this article on The Huffington Post for a little more back story.
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EPEELOGUE
It’s been just a few days since I added UBBAS to the growing family of bath toys. They’ve integrated nicely, but more importantly have already achieved their intended result. JJ will frequently make up stories, which, if they involve family, have a mommy and a daddy. We oftentimes will ask if there’s a Papa, or remind him that other families, like ours and some of his friends, have a Daddy and a Papa. But I’d wager 99.9% of the stories he sees or hears outside his own bedroom involve a “traditional” family.
So we were pretty darn giddy when JJ, completely unprompted by us, paired up his two Aquamans, declares them “married,” and that the little one was their son. As a gay dad and an Aquaman fan I was overjoyed — nearly made me pee my pants.
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(PS: For each family of UBBAS Bath Cups you purchase, $2 per cup is donated to the Family Equality Council to fight for families’ rights outside the tub.)
(PSSS: I will not link to Baby Pirulin Pee Pee. My hangups are too high for that one, but feel free to look it up on your own.)
