Hello friends and sorry for the amount of time that has passed since my last post. You know how life sometimes just kicks you in the ass and you really can't figure out why? That has pretty much been my year, work related especially, so I have been a little down in the dumps. Don't get me wrong...I love teaching and I love children, and have had one of the most amazing classes ever, but everything else associated with my job has just sucked. And every time I take 2 steps forward, I get pushed back 3. So I figured the best kind of therapy might be to share some fun, insightful information about kids with those of you who take the time to read my little section of Anthony's amazing website.
I promised to continue a little bit on poop and I don't want to disappoint. This is very simple and direct - at what age do you expect your child to be potty trained? 2? 3? 4? I would think when they get to age 3 or 4, they should be able to handle most bathroom issues. While they will probably still find enjoyment in creating a design with their pee or seeing how far they can make their pee shoot out until death, boys should be able to hold their second brain in their hand and aim in the toilet. Girls should know how to pull down their pants, sit and pee. Now for the kicker...everyone poops, right? So don't you think part of the toilet education should be spent on wiping? I know boys have it easy, because they only need to worry about this with a good ole #2, but still, boys and girls should all know how to wipe. Front to back, back to front, circular motion, looking at the toilet paper when done....I don't really care what their personal technique is, or exactly how affective it is. But in Kindergarten, when the child is 4,5 or 6, they should not be afraid to poop at school. And they should not be opening the bathroom door, pants around the ankles, in tears, saying they do not know how to wipe themselves because mommy and daddy do it for them.
Come on parents...don't you do a happy dance once they are out of diapers??? Do you really want to keep wiping your child's dirty butt after age 5? I mean, if they are sick or eat something that does not agree, that is different. But a good old regular bowel movement should be taken care of by the child, don't you think? They might not do as good a job as you, but isn't that why they usually take baths every night? They need to learn a little independence and how to take care of themselves, at least in this particular area. If you child is potty trained and going to school without pull-ups, please PLEASE be the adult and teach them how to wipe. It is really not that hard. If you are afraid of your "baby growing up" I can think of many other ways you can try to hinder the maturity process. Just ask and I'll tell you! But for now, give your child some self confidence and independence...teach them to wipe themselves.
