Monday, June 30, 2008

Punishment starts with a P

Sometimes I'm so frustrated at the lack of influence we've had on the boys' first few years. Yeah, I know--not our choice. But we still have to deal with the consequences of that. :)

Today I picked the boys up from school and as I'm buckling Zhenya into his car seat, I notice that his shorts are wet in a very suspicious area. I ask him if he peed his pants and I get a long convoluted answer that basically consisted of he had to go to the bathroom on the playground and the teachers said no so he wet his pants. Ummm, no, not acceptable. I know why they wouldn't take him inside--there's not enough teachers per student if one of them goes inside, but it shouldn't be an issue since they usually take the kids to the bathroom before they go outside.

So, what do I do? Do I let it go and have my soon-to-be 5 yo thinking that if he can't find a bathroom it's okay to wet himself? Because that's the way it's worked for the last few years of his life. As long as no one knew, he was safe. And his teachers have no idea he wet his pants. I thought long and hard about this, and did end up disciplining him for wetting his pants. I'm still not sure it's the ideal response, but I certainly don't need him peeing his pants whenever he feels like it either!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Courtney, I think you made the appropriate choice. I would let the teacher know that it happened so they are aware of what happened. My daughter started that after my youngest son was born ... she was 4-ish. I also chose to punish her for her age-inappropriate behavior. She had to wash her clothes by hand in the sink (rinse them really). She didn't like that AT ALL! It happened a few times, 3 or 4 I think, but with consistency over several months she eventually stopped. And CONGRATS MOMMY!! That is a HUGE step in attachment for your family!! I'll keep praying for you!

Tami said...

I think you responded appropriately as well, but I also agree that you need to tell the teachers what happened. That way they can do what they need to in order to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Jane said...

Maggie peed in her pants last night because "I was outside playing with Ben and Daniel". Not really a legit excuse, but she thought it was valid....

musicmommy3 said...

I don't know you or your son personally so it's hard to know. :)

I think you are a very in tune Mommy so you probably made the right decision.

If it had been my kid I don't think I would have but I know, for a fact, that my kids cannot hold it very long. At all. Even if they have just gone sometimes mine would still have wet their pants (ages 5 and 6). I'm sometimes glad we homeschool just on this issue alone. I KNOW that my kids would have accidents when they are told when they could go and when they couldn't. :)

Back to my original statement. You know your son pretty well by now and what he is capable of. I'm sure you did what was best. :)

Keep up the great Mommying.