The scene: The McDonald's indoor play area.
DJ was playing with two other kids.
One kid--age 4
The other--age 2
and my son--almost 3 in October
Everything's going great, I'm chatting it up with the other two moms, we're all having a good time. The kids are having a ball! Then all of a sudden, you hear the dreaded words--
Ewwwwwwwww you poopy on yourself! Ewwwwwwwwwwwwww you stinky! Ewwwwwwwwwwwww!
Me and the other two moms jump up! You know secretly hoping it's not OUR son with the poopy pants.
The boys emerge from the play tunnel, DJ first, I grip him up, smell his butt, yes, I smelled his butt. Oh, come on am I the only mom who does the sniff test! LOL
Nope he's dry! Whew! close call. This Operation No Diapers is killing me. It makes me paranoid. I need to relax.
The other two boys emerge and two other older (they looked about 6 or 7) boys come out too pointing at the little boy with the red shirt on. They're chanting and pointing--Ewwwwwwww he pooped in his pants. Ewwwwwwwwwww. Well, of course my son decides to join in on the chant.
I quickly gripped him up and said, "that's NOT nice" don't make fun of your friend. I said it loud enough hoping the moms of the older boys would say something to their sons for making fun of the kid. But, that didn't happen. I told DJ, your friend had an accident. He feels really sad now. I left the play area to take him to the restroom and that's when he starts to giggle uncontrollably.
Mommy he poopy on himself. Ewwwwwwww.
I could not believe my son was doing this. That's when I became very stern giving him the stink eye and bent down to his eye level and said,
Me: Look, KNOCK it off. Stop teasing your friends. That isn't nice. He had an accident. Remember when you had an accident the other day and you were sad? Remember you didn't make it to the bathroom in time? Remember you were sad? Remember?
DJ: No. I didn't poopy on myself I pee peed on myself.
Me: We're going home.
Ok, my son was not getting the point. All he was doing was mimicking what he saw the other kids doing. Well, that didn't make it right. I want him to be sensitive to others.
I was on the phone with my friend and told her the story. She said, well the boy was FOUR, he had NO business pooping on himself. I would've made him marinate in it.
Me: Sigh. Let me call you back.
Ya'll see what I'm dealing with?
What I learned from all of this. It takes creativity and dedication to teach sensitivity to a toddler. Just the mere mention of poopy sends some of them into a giggling fit.
and most importantly...
Bring an extra set of clothes and wipes just in case my son decides to have an accident.
10 comments:
You are scaring me and making me say to myself, "self, what the hell are you thinking by having another?" Poopy makes me giggle too!
I think you approached it well. All we can do at this age is guide our kids and hope that all our guidance will stick with them. Therefore when they are on their own, hopefully they will act as we would have wanted them to.
Wow! I hope your friend was joking. I think you absolutely did the right thing. I know it's hard to teach kids the right things now a days, but you still have to try. Toilet training is tough enough without other kids making fun.
I can't believe your friends reply... I have learned from having an autistic spectrum child that not every child is the same. I guess if you haven't lived it, it's hard to learn it..
God bless,
Sallie
You definitely did the right thing. As for your friend, that isn`t very nice as all kids have accidents at times that they can`t help. I have distinct memories of poo-ing myself when I was about 5 in my first couple of weeks of primary school. Don`t remember why it happened, if I was trying to hold it in or whatever but I do remember everyone being really mean about it and never living it down. Hopefully you have saved another child from experiencing the same humiliation!
I can so relate! I've had to talk to my son time and again that our values are what matters, even when no one else seems to share them. He's almost ten now, and he gets it.
Aww, I had an accident in preschool like that. I still remember how embarrassing it was, twenty one years later!
You did the best you could. Keep on repeating until he gets it. He will because he's basically a sweet little guy.
He's at the age where "poopy" and toilet humor are the funniest things in the world.
Some people outgrow it; some don't.
Marinate in it! uggh, that's nasty. Hey I know some grown folks who have had poopy accidents, sh*t happens..lol
I think you handled it really well. Even kids who are completely potty trained have accidents. It is so important to teach empathy to children, starting as soon as they can understand. And your friend? I'm sorry but I think she is wrong.
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