Life with boys is a series of articles aimed at moms of boys (no pun intended here ladies!). This is the first article in that series and I hope you enjoy these peeks into the realities of raising and living with many boys!
Those of you who have boys that have completed the “potty training” years will understand that the training really doesn’t stop there! I want to state here and now that all those “experts” who seem to feel it necessary to lead us as parents to believe that potty training is a simple, concise and easily organized event . . . . . are WRONG!
I always thought that there was a simple short period of time where I would train my children to use the toilet without having accidents in their clothing and that would be that. Hahahaha! Boys miss! Welcome to reality!
Sure, I can train them to pee on a cheerio to help them aim straight, but what if they are talking to the brother behind them at the sink? And how many boxes of cheerios should I need to go through to teach them this tricky aiming act? And is it really appropriate for a tween to need something to aim at? You get the idea! The sad part is that I actually think they did a better job (to some extent) when they were preschoolers . . . they were closer to the level of the toilet rim. I’m actually giggling a bit as I write this, maybe in horror since things seem so much more real when you are processing them through writing!
I do have a couple of suggestions that I have learned over the years that may (or may not) help you avoid a few issues we have encountered:
- If you choose to put a cabinet behind the toilet, make sure that it is mounted to the wall! DO NOT use the type with legs! Boys miss, walls are easily cleaned, painted MDF is not and it is nearly impossible to clean out all the extra nooks and crannies created by one of these monstrosities!
- Make sure you use a sturdy, washable paint in the bathroom and be prepared to repaint every few years.
- Feel free to put reminder notes in visible places throughout the bathroom. Remind them to pay attention to what they are doing, to wash their hands well before returning to the family, to flush the toilet and yes even to clean up after their misses!
- Check your toilet ~ there are many new toilets, seats and more out there that if you really check them out you may find that they can be a real life saver! Choose a toilet seat with the least amount of crevices to clean, also remember that a painted wooden seat although cheaper will need to be replaced every 2-3 years! If you are looking at getting a new toilet, take a look at the ones that are one solid piece (the tank is attached to the base). Think of all the cleaning time it will save, and let’s face it the smell will be much nicer too!!!
- If you are able to choose your flooring, choose a solid flooring (not sticky tile type) that doesn’t have cracks and is easy to clean!
- As they get older show them how to clean the bathroom. My boys rotate through rooms in the house (they are not solely responsible for the cleaning of the room though, the deep cleaning is still my job) and I have found that they tend to be much cleaner, especially in the bathroom if they know they are going to have to clean it up!
Well, there you have it . . . Boys and the Bathroom 101! I’m fully aware that this week’s Mommy Reality is quite a bit different than usual, but I also know first hand just how stressful this subject can be for moms of boys!