Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket

Monday, August 30, 2010

Primary School Hurdle

Every parent has a bit of worry when their child starts proper "big school" (elementary/primary school). Most worry about if their child is going to be ready for the work, the long days, be able to socially adjust and if they will make friends. I am not worried about any of this. I know KiKi will adjust. She is a very flexible child, well about most things. There is one thing though that is potentially going to sink my little "happy my child is growing up and going to school" boat. She won't wipe her own butt when she done with her "business".

Don't laugh. This is very serious.

This morning she and I had a fifteen minute standoff in the bog because she wouldn't take the toilet paper and wipe her butt. I stood there with loo roll in my hand trying my damnedest to hand it to her. Her flat ignoring me screaming at the top of her lungs to me to wipe her butt.

Me: KiKi take the toilet paper and just wipe your butt.
Her: "NOOOOO, YOU WIPE MY BUTTTT!!!"
Me: KiKi, I can't wipe your butt while you are at school. You need to do it. Take the TP and wipe.
Her: "IF I DO POOP I WILL GET IT ON MY HANDS!!! WIPE MY BUTTTTTT!!"
Me: I am not wiping you. Wipe your own butt. I can't come to school with you to wipe your butt for you.
Her: "WIPE MY BUUUUUTTTTT!!!!" *eyes at this point about to bulge about her head*

Continue this conversation for another fifteen minutes with me eventually leaving the bathroom to load the washing machine while she continued to screech for me to wipe her bottom. I gave in. I know, bad mom giving in, but really it was just ridiculous to watch her sit there with her legs dangling from the toilet seat and screeching her head off.

So, to recap, my goal this week: getting my child to wipe her own ass. For some reason I think I have a better chance at making sun set in the east.

Posted by Kat at
Labels: , , , ,

Comments (26)

Loading... Logging you in...
Dashboard | Edit profile | Logout
  • Logged in as
-1 Vote up Vote down
frugal queen's avatar - Go to profile

frugal queen · 761 weeks ago

Oh dear oh dear oh dear, and you've been doing this for how long?? sorry to sound like super nanny, but you've only got yourself to blame - I'm a secondary school teacher and by the smell eminating from some kids, I don't think some of them can do this properly even when they are eleven! they can't be afraid of poo, if she gets it on her hands it shouldn't matter - it actually wouldn't do her much harm if she ate it; just ignore the screaming, no one likes naughty children and least of all teachers - I'll get off my soap box now and say we all make mistakes as parents and I certainly did xxxx
-1 Vote up Vote down
susie's avatar - Go to profile

susie · 761 weeks ago

Have you tried getting her flushable wipes?
Loading...
+2 Vote up Vote down
thebittersweetmanifesto's avatar - Go to profile

thebittersweetmanifesto 16p · 761 weeks ago

Frugal Queen, she's only 4! They get silly ideas in their head at that age and are very stubborn. I doubt if any mothers still wipe their kids' bottoms at 11!

Kat, we have had similar (my DD is 4 in October), but our problem was pooing in night time nappies and refusing to use the loo. Over the last few months, we have managed to conquer it by taking away the night time nappy option and we have been teaching her to wipe herself too. She prefers to use wipes, as Susie suggested. Can you just send her to school with some wipes and maybe some 'special soap' in case she does get poo on her hands?

I think she'll be fine. Sometimes they just need a push in the right direction and if she is as adaptable as she seems from what you've said, I reckon she'll get into the habit of doing it on her own.

Good luck!
Loading...
+1 Vote up Vote down
thebittersweetmanifesto's avatar - Go to profile

thebittersweetmanifesto 16p · 761 weeks ago

Oh, and PS, I'm glad it's not just me having these kind of stand-offs. We have the same, different issues, but same shit (pardon the pun!).
-1 Vote up Vote down
Deb's avatar - Go to profile

Deb · 761 weeks ago

We use the Kandoo wipes which seem to be easier for my youngest to use and the school said they can have their own there.

My 4yr-old doesn't wipe his bum at home. I did the usual "you know when you get to school Mrs P won't have time to do this" routine. His reply? "At home it's a grown-up's job to wipe my bum. I do it when I'm at playgroup".

So my advice, for what it's worth, is not turn it into a battle. It kind of becomes something else then doesn't it (or does in our house). I reckon once she's at school and clocks all the other children sorting themselves out she will.
-1 Vote up Vote down
Meera's avatar

Meera · 761 weeks ago

When i faced the same issue with my son who is now 15:),i told him- 'it gets in to my hand too when i clean it for you,so you can also start doing it.' May be if you can try in a funny way ,first she wipe and then you offer to do the final cleaning and a few 'awsome job's , she may just start doing it:) . And also a special handwash bottle for extra cleaning;), just for her:). The image of the lil one screaming sitting in the toilet is funny:)
0 Vote up Vote down
Pants With Names's avatar - Go to profile

Pants With Names · 761 weeks ago

Adam is exactly the same. Drives me nuts. If you manage to discover how to get kiki to do it, do pass on the secret. I'm getting desperate!
0 Vote up Vote down
SueAnn's avatar - Go to profile

SueAnn · 761 weeks ago

What a frustrating problem!! Somehow or other; these things have a way of working themselves out. Good luck!
Hugs
SueAnn
0 Vote up Vote down
frugal queen's avatar - Go to profile

frugal queen · 761 weeks ago

I'll clarify, some 11+ year olds have backsides that smell of poo, because they haven't mastered wiping their own bums properly, I taught mine to wipe and look at the tissue, when the tissue was clean then stop wiping. I sent mine to nursery school and they had to be clean, dry and self managing by four so it can be done. I'm an older parent with older/grown up children, we seemed to make our children do more for themselves at a younger age in the past.
1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago
0 Vote up Vote down
Kate's avatar - Go to profile

Kate · 761 weeks ago

Kat, Monkey was a bit like this last year and to some extent, Missy Woo is like this but not as screamy.

I found that when they get to school they realise the other kids are doing it and get on with it. Alternatively, they seem to work it out so that they only poo at home.
0 Vote up Vote down
vodkamom's avatar - Go to profile

vodkamom · 761 weeks ago

HAHAHA. I laugh ONLY because I went through the same thing with Golden Boy. Only I walked away and didn't come back because he's the YOUNGEST. Everyone KNOWS the youngest gets ignored.

xoxoxox
0 Vote up Vote down
Jane Gaston's avatar - Go to profile

Jane Gaston · 761 weeks ago

Oh my goodness! Sorry that you've got this problem but I'm sure you'll help her find a way she can accomplish this task without getting her hands dirty. Am SO glad I didn't have this problem with my kids!
0 Vote up Vote down
Sarah in Lomellina's avatar - Go to profile

Sarah in Lomellina · 761 weeks ago

oh love seriously don't worry, mine was the same, wanted me to do the dirty job at home, but outside he suddenly gained the skills required cos he was standing on his dignity.

To be honest I can't see the rush as long as they know how and get some supervised practice so they can if needs be do at least a halfway good job at cleaning themselves, why not help them out while they are little. their arms are a bit short.
0 Vote up Vote down
ella's avatar - Go to profile

ella · 761 weeks ago

My four year old starts school this week and he has exactly the same problem. We've never rushed him over things in the past but with school looming I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to achieve this in three days!
0 Vote up Vote down
granny's avatar

granny · 761 weeks ago

Tell KiKi that Granny said for her to be a big girl and wipe her little butt.
Ask her if she wants to go around school all day with a dirty bum because the teachers won't clean her up. The kid wipes sound like a very good idea and tell her if she gets it on her hand it will wash off. Give her special hand wipes for just this purpose. She will surprise you. She will be all right.

Kiss both the girls and the man for me and I send you a big hug and kiss.

xoxo
Granny
0 Vote up Vote down
Expat Mum's avatar - Go to profile

Expat Mum · 761 weeks ago

What about leaving it till she gets to school. I'm sure the teacher will make damn sure that she gets the message about wiping her own bum. Oh and you might want to call it something other than "butt". It's not quite as acceptable from little kids in Britain as it is here. In fact, I still won't let my Little Guy say it. Or "fart" for that matter. But that's a whole nuther blog discussion!
3 replies · active 761 weeks ago
0 Vote up Vote down
Pollyanna's avatar - Go to profile

Pollyanna · 761 weeks ago

I've been very blessed with a pre-k teacher who refuses to wipe butts. Since the big switch to pre-k last week, Stinkles hasn't called out from the potty once!
0 Vote up Vote down
VEG's avatar

VEG · 761 weeks ago

Oh, I watched Captain Dumbass' very cute baby video right before I read this and thought: BABIES! I WANT! And then I read this and went, "Yeah, maybe no."

I congratulate you. You are a trooper!
0 Vote up Vote down
Captain Dumbass's avatar - Go to profile

Captain Dumbass · 761 weeks ago

Just when I thought I was done with this I go and have another one. Sigh.
0 Vote up Vote down
Mancunian Mum's avatar - Go to profile

Mancunian Mum · 761 weeks ago

My son, who is starting primary school in September, learnt how to wipe his bum for nursery, but only through practice. He was exactly the same as KiKi - he kept whining, and wouldn't stop until I gave in. But, after a while of helping him learn, he finally learnt. She'll learn eventually, don't worry.
Loading...
+1 Vote up Vote down
jfb57's avatar - Go to profile

jfb57 64p · 761 weeks ago

I do hope you mange that particular lesson - for Kiki's sake & her teachers!
0 Vote up Vote down
Joan's avatar - Go to profile

Joan · 761 weeks ago

There's so many things I like about this! First, my kids are in college so I don't worry about this anymore. Second, I got wise advise from a wise woman when they were in preschool - "By the time they get to college, none of them will be nursing, they will pee and poop on the potty, they will know their letters and they won't want to marry you when they get older."

All are true, and I haven't had one butt wipe request in forever!

Good luck, this too shall pass!

Post a new comment

Comments by

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)