You Be The Parent, Potty Training Issue Resolved

Wow.  The unanimity is overwhelming.  Tree peeing seems pretty reasonable to me--and in this particular park there are many spots that are out of the way (where dogs also pee freely)--but before I was even contemplating potty training, I came across some anti tree peeing screeds that scared the bejeezus out of me.*

Fearing the retribution of those less enamored of toileting in the great outdoors, most of the time, I have a portable potty in my bag (or thrown in the bottom of the stroller).  The Boy has had some limited exposure to tree peeing, but he is already a big fan--such a big fan that (as many of you cautioned) that is often his preferred potty venue.  This can be embarrassing when he very loudly insists that he must drop trou in front of his pre-school (which is housed in a quaint, white-steepled church).  Thus, I try not to reinforce tree peeing unless there truly are no other options.

*The particulars that started those "discussions" are pretty different from the scenario I presented, but nonetheless, the venom directed toward the outdoor pee-ers (and their charges) is pretty striking.

Comments

[Jen]

I've always found if in trouble an empty water bottle works great. Used many times in parking lots and such where there are not any trees. Just remember to keep the lid so you can screw it on tight, then either dispose of discretely or go home, pour, flush, rinse and recycle.

[taquita/toni]

I have to agree that peeing on a public city street would be pretty gross, but we have certainly pulled over beside the road to let our boy go. He particularly fancies peeing in puddles. lol

For our upcoming very, very long drive to Disney World, I plan to bring a large mouth (gatorade type) bottle for emergencies.

[Heather]

Yes, it's funny. All boys once they've tried it, love to go pee outside.

[Summer]

All boys like to pee on trees. My parents have a house in the country, and I swear my dad will walk past the bathroom to go outside to pee. It's instinctual or something.

And, by the way, that nanny spying website kind of weirds me out. One woman complained because a little boy was talking to her at the park which made her "uncomfortable" (the little boy sounded friendly and wanted to talk to her kids) and another followed a nanny home and was shocked when the nanny yelled at her to stop following her. Huh.

[Miss W]

I personally don't have a problem with it as long as there is discretion. I was recently in a situation where, in theory, this shouldn't have been an issue -- not with the lowercase, he still adamantly refuses to pee anywhere but his beloved SESAME STREET diapers. We were out with a group of friends, one mom left her two daughters with us to go a couple of blocks down the road to get her car...Leaving 2 moms to watch over 4 (or 6...can't remember if the newborn twins were with us) when one of the boys HAD TO PEE...so, we circled around him as he peed into the storm drain beneath her car. Right outside the children's museum, on a city street, but no real option when looking at adult-to-child ratio and limited time span between a 2 year old announcing need to pee and actually going!

I say, do what ya gotta do, mama!