Peeing

[Phoebe]

That is a tough one. If you already know it will be a battle between you and he if you wait to have him clean it up, then I wouldn't pick that one. I think I would warn him if he did it again, he will be cleaning it up and then check up after him, but not make a huge deal out of it.

You could ignore it, but then if it keeps happening you will be cleaning up pee. I wouldn't want to do that.

That's my two cents.

[DCJenn]

He can sit. Actually, my husband prefers to sit because he hates cleaning more than he hates sitting. (obviously in public restrooms he stands but at home, he's a sit and pee kinda guy)

Jenn

Laura, I don't know what to say for that age. We've been having some issues with our 3 year old. I notice that being as calm as I can and giving it neutral attention has worked best. I have her help me clean up. I would guess that he should be able to do all or most of the clean-up himself?

Maybe clean it up, tell him that you did it for him this time, and that from now on he needs to do it himself with the flushable wipes you leave in the bathroom. Or something like that? I'm sure it is very frustrating.

Oh Laura - I'm right there with you. Although w/mine I don't think it's agression / for attention (this time - we've had that before), it's just that they're boys, their aim is lousy and the big one had a tendency to scratch his tummy while peeing and everything bounces up and town.

I like the lock the door and make him ask for a key idea. I'd think that one day of that would probably do it.

On Jenn's note, I taught mine to sit while peeing, but the nasty ladies at the JCC preschool told Jacob "Sitting is for girls. Boys stand." :>

[Momo]

When I found out I was having a boy w/ my 1st, a friend of mine offered me the best advice IMO about potty training boys...train them to sit, tell them to hold their penis so that it points down, and you'll never have a pee soaked bathroom...@ first I thought this was odd, but she said "trust me on this one you won't regret it and you'll probably tell others!" I have never dealt w/ pee on the seat or on the floor!

I like cupcake's suggestion!

Maybe clean it up, tell him that you did it for him this time, and that from now on he needs to do it himself with the flushable wipes you leave in the bathroom. Or something like that?

I feel the keeping the door locked could cause more problems, you never know when someone has held it too long and even unlocking the door might take too long...you don't want to add laundry to your list

On Jenn's note, I taught mine to sit while peeing, but the nasty ladies at the JCC preschool told Jacob "Sitting is for girls. Boys stand."

pardon the pun but that really pisses me off!

[Sheherezade]

I'd have him clean it up. I guess it could be a battle in your house -- you would know best. Here, I probably would have just said "DS, you missed a bit. Can you clean up around the toilet? Here are some Clorox wipes. Toss them in the trash can - not the toilet. " I'd have left it at that.

Then again....it wasn't a battle zone for us. He'd just miss when he was messy. If it is actually agression towards the home and he knows you are ticked off at him then making him clean it up would just make it worse. Is there any hope of making it a more neutral topic? He is old enough to be neater and clean up -- but DS still "misses" and he's 10. (Not often....but when he's in a rush.) I approach it as a housecleaning issue.

Good luck with it. I hate the whole boy bathroom stuff. So.....squirty.

[mommax3]

We have handed our boys the Clorox wipes many a time, but we never thought there was any aggression going on, just air-headedness. So we weren't really mad when we handed them the wipes, just matter-of-fact. I would either warn him one LAST time, or just have him help you clean it up and tell him next time, he is on his own. It has gotten a LOT better around here, and I have noticed it is much better when there is only one kid in the bathroom at a time, so I guess distraction is a factor.

Sally

[Flynn]

Nice job Laura!!!!

It sounds like you made a point AND didn't have to clean up pee!!

A "win win" in my book.

Kudos.

I think that it's good that you got him to help clean it up!
We went through the same sort of thing with DS2 when he was 7...I think that he was so busy moving and talking that he would just forget to look and voila, a pee tsunami in the bathroom.....after a few toiletand floor cleaning sessions it seemed to get better....FAST

Good luck, aren't boys great !!!

He owned up to it and did very well cleaning up the mess himself with me watching.

How interesting! Don't you wonder what on EARTH they're thinking?? "I'm mad, so I'm going to pee all over the bathroom!"

Well done.