boys peeing outside in public - Page 4

[DavinaT]

As for 'disgusting and gross and unacceptable' and it "being indecent exposure and a criminal offence" - they are KIDS for crying out loud.
Even here, the police have way way more on their hands than a 3 year old pee ing in the park in an emergency.
I don't have a problem with a parent allowing a child to do this is an emergency and anyone who does should read pixiepunk's posting.


As for 'how about an adult' - well I would have thought that obvious difference is that adults have fully developed larger bladders and have physiologivcally developed bladder control.
I for one have not become so "precious" that seeing a toddler peeing beind a tree in a park disgusts me.

[mamasgroovin]

Originally Posted by Margarita26

i dont think her point was that parenthood should be easy, i think she's just trying to illustrate why some parents choose to let their child pee in a park once in awhile.

:

As the mother of 3 boys and now a daughter as well, I am SHOCKED by all the posters proclaiming disgust. My 3 boys, all fully potty trained now, all have at one time or another had to make use of a tree or bush at one time or another. It's not like you are going out there and saying, "Hey, let's go to the park to pee on some trees today kids!" It is done out of necessity.

I think this thread is going .

[SiValleySteph]

My son is 3 and potty trained. This has just never been an issue. If he needs to pee, we find a restroom. Same as I would do for myself.

[orangefoot]

I don't think it is a big deal: spitting is way worse as is smoking and drug use in public.

My boys have weed on trees, in bushes and in drains if need be - when they were little. Now at 14 and 10 they can hang on until we find a toilet and they don't consider using a tree or bush.

I EC our littlest outdoors sometimes if we need to, and my 4yo dd has very rarely needed to wee when we are out and about bur she did when she was smaller. I don't think it is the worst thing that could ever happen but maybe I've had more years of toddlerdom and bladder distraction in my family than some people

This is one of those things where if you are totally against it you won't let your child do it and you will accept the consequences of that, or maybe keep them in nappies for longer.

[mariamaroo]

Originally Posted by pixiepunk

it's not about whether or not parenthood is easy or hard … get over it. pee is sterile, and it's a natural bodily function.

Thank you!

[heket]

I got a bit : reading all the posts. So I had to go back and reread the OPs original post.

Originally Posted by bettysmom

There is no restroom actually at the playground, but there are local businesses right across the street with clean restrooms and nice staff.

Assuming that these businesses don't mind, if at all possible I'd opt for these restrooms. But this might not always be the case. I would feel compelled to patronize the business since we made use of their restroom, and as someone else said, I might not be able to do this each time.

Originally Posted by bettysmom

What do you think of this? Should boys just fire away in public outdoor places, or should parents try to teach them to announce their need soon enough that they can get to an actual toilet? And am I just a prude?

I don't the it's the end of the world to pee on a bush or tree, but I would look for a secluded spot where privacy could be maintained. If there are no restrooms at the public park, that's not going to stop my child from peeing.

Although, I have a diva and I know she'd hold it rather than pee in public...My ds, though, I can see peeing in public.

[philomom]

Originally Posted by ThreeBeans

It's completely inappropriate unless it's an emergency. We've had to let DS go a few times in that case...once when he was just training and we were twenty miles from the nearest building, and he needed to go. We pulled over, hid behind some bushes and watered a tree.

Parents should absolutely not be encouraging their children to whip it out at a playground for no good reason. And if an emergency situation exists, a courteous parent will make some effort to shield the child from view.

Yep, the handful of times, my son did this kind of thing, was only because he couldn't wait. And we always went out of range a little. I don't want anyone stepping in pee.

[Bellejar]

I don't have a problem with a parent finding a somewhat secluded spot in an emergency, but I don't like the idea of little kids peeing in the middle of the park. I do remember as a child my mom had an emergency potty in the back of our station wagon (think potty chair). That worked well for us, of course we were all girls. I do think it is important for parents to try and impart this behavior is for emergencies only. I only have girls and we have never had them go out in public, but we have public restrooms pretty much everywhere and they are generally pretty clean. I might change my mind if that weren't the case.

[habbymommy]

Bigger Boys

My DD is 8 years old and loves to pee outside (just like his father does) Now before you go jumping to conclusions...My DH only does this at night in our backyard which faces a farm. I am not in agreement with this behavior but it is baffling to me what is so fun about peeing outside when bathrooms are readily available. Maybe it has something to do with getting back to nature and feeling the wind in your....or more likely it's pure laziness. At any rate, what is borderline appropriate for a toddler, becomes less so as kids get older. While I sometimes catch and reprimand my son for peeing in the backyard, it would be totally inappropriate for an 8 year old to do so at a park or any other public place. In emergency situations, we've all done what we have to do but FYI, my 20 year old niece recently got arrested and spent the night in jail for an emergency pee in a parking lot at night at her college campus. So, for all those in agreement with public peeing toddlers, at what point is it not ok? I, for one, still keep a diaper in the car for emergency situations for my 3 year old DD.

Habbymommy

[sadiejane08]

I wouldn't want a kid (mine or anyone else's) to pee anywhere I wouldn't want a dog to pee. Way off in the bushes where nobody plays? Fine. Up against a tree in the middle of the play area? No way. Urine may be sterile when it comes out, but it doesn't stay that way for long.

[Swirly]

I absolutely hate the smell of urine in public places. I usually assume it is an adult who has done the act, but I am sure it is smelly when it comes from kids too. I think it is best to not go in public areas unless it is an absolute emergency.

[momma-d]

In an emergency, I don't think there's anything wrong with peeing away from everyone (like off in the trees, out of sight...I do this myself often when we're hiking through the woods)...but...just at the edge of the park? And, what, only the boys? OP - I would be using the facilities across the street before going in to the park and upon leaving in order to avoid such an emergency.

What I'm not getting are all these comparisons of toddlers to dogs. Huh? Of course dogs pee outside. If you know of a dog who uses the toilet I'd love to see a picture...
Apples to oranges, ladies.

[EviesMom]

In an emergency, there may be an appropriate area of a park for children to pee in, but I really find it inappropriate for adults or kids of either gender to pee IN the playground.

My daughter looooooves to collect leaves and acorns and such from trees around the playground, and it's disgusting to know that some parents think those are appropriate pee spots. The only playground where I've seen children peeing (and that was a girl, for the record), we don't go to anymore.

As for dog pee, at least here, dogs aren't allowed on the playground, and I don't let my daughter collect leaves and sticks--or run and play--in dog/pee appropriate areas. Playground trees are not for peeing on.

We have a portable folding potty for playground use, or we go to shops which don't mind (I've asked) because while we may not buy something that exact time, we shop there regularly regardless. I also once let my dd pee in the drain for the water sprinkler that kids splash in. I know that the water there is not recycled, so in an emergency, I knew it would go directly into the sewer, and would be fully washed away.

[p.s]

Gl

[PuppyFluffer]

I think Americans have a very distorted and unhealthy view of the human body. It saddens me that the nudity of children is so reprehensible to so many.

I really wish I lived in Europe!

[mamahart]

I think this whole conversation should be about how freaked out we are in general by biological behavior. The misdemeanor indecency exposure is used all the time in situations where someone is really just trying to find a place to pee. It's sad. Of course I don't want exhibitionists around any children anywhere, but is that what this is about? Is peeing behind a tree really that disgusting?!
I think that learning discrection and respect for others would allow little boys the skill to quickly and quietly pee in an emergency w/o showing off thier privates. Same goes for girls.
My little boy lives in the country and pees outside a lot of the time, granted this is at home. Well when we recently went on vacation and stayed at a hotel he tried to pee outside in a very busy area. So I tell him you cannot pee outside unless we are at home. Now when we're out doing chores or working on Daddy's farm he is freaked out to pee outside!! I'm sure he'll get over it.
My uncle had his grandson stay with him at his country home for the summer, he was about 7. Uncle taught little boy to pee behind a tree when they were out doing chores.
When the little guy went back to Los Angeles his mom took him to the mall where he promptly climbed into a indoor plant area and dropped his pants.
I thought it was funny!! But thank goodness he wasn't hauled away in handcuffs.!

[bri276]

I think it's cute for little boys, kinda gross for adults. If I were male, I would definitely take advantage of the pee anywhere benefit in emergenices, though! However, I do think it should be limited to places where the urine can be absorbed into the ground rather than on pavement or somewhere that is likely to be walked on.

I can't imagine having a problem with anyone, male or female of any age, peeing outside where no one can see them, as long as it's in the woods or somewhere remote. Urine really isn't some huge health hazard.

[MonP'titBoudain]

Originally Posted by PuppyFluffer

I think Americans have a very distorted and unhealthy view of the human body. It saddens me that the nudity of children is so reprehensible to so many.

Seriously! This thread is truly bizarre : I really do not understand the freaking out about toddlers peeing on a tree, regardless of the presence of bathrooms. And what is the deal with comparing toddlers to adults and older children, forget dogs? Talk about apples to oranges! I hope by the time my son is grown he will be doing lot's of things differently, like not farting in public and announcing it proudly! Or maybe speaking in fully understandable sentences!

[Margarita26]

[QUOTE And what is the deal with comparing toddlers to adults and older children, forget dogs? Talk about apples to oranges! QUOTE]

Thats exactly what i was thinking...really dont get that at all!

[EviesMom]

I actually have no problem with nude toddlers running around at the playground. In the summer when the sprinklers are on, there are always a few both boys and girls shirtless, or in just panties, or in nothing. That doesn't bother me at all.

But peeing on trees IN the playground when other children will then be picking up leaves, sticks, other natural treasures soaked in someone's urine? Go outside the playground gate at least, where I know that there might be urine, human or dog, instead. You don't even have to take your other child(ren) with you to do that here, depending on their age. You can still see the whole playground.