Comments on: The Potty Problem

By: Briefly Noted: 3 more blogs involved in the Tag Reading System giveaway «

Briefly Noted: 3 more blogs involved in the Tag Reading System giveaway « — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:52:42 +0000

[...] writers I know and his blog showcases those skills terrifically. From his serious discussion of The Potty Problem (what’s a dad to do when his little girls need to use the public restroom?) to his hilarious [...]

By: Ron S. Doyle

Ron S. Doyle — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:44:47 +0000

I think the Grandpa felt bad when he realized two girls were already in the bathroom—but my hands WERE full, so maybe I should have asked for some help…

By: Tino

Tino — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:15:22 +0000

get a nanny

By: Lu

Lu — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:55:22 +0000

My interpretation is that Grandpa was subconsiously volunteering to take your little ones to the Girls’ loo! Try taking him up on his offer next time and see what his response might be. Just kidding, sorry you are not receiving more public support. My take is unless it is a unisex or family bathroom you have to take them into the Mens bathroom until they are old enough to go to the Ladies alone. Ignorance be damned in this situation.

By: Ron S. Doyle

Ron S. Doyle — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:14:29 +0000

Brette: Oy, the locker room. Swimming lessons have been interesting, to say the least. Lots of raised eyebrows…

Claire: I love your take on the situation—and especially your story. It’s hard not to be a helicopter papa (after all, my girls are 2 and 1) but I know you’re right.

By: Claire Walter

Claire Walter — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:48:27 +0000

My son is now 27, so this is ancient history. We were living in NJ but flew to Colorado when he was 3 1/4. He had to go to the bathroom at the old Stapleton Airporty. Before I could bring him to the ladies’ room w/ me, he folllowed some man into the men’s room. I stood outside the door hollering, “Get back out here and come with me.” But of course, he didn’t. Then I figured he wasn’t going to spend the rest of his life going into the ladies room, and an airport was just about the ideal place for this to happen. If he didn’t come out after a reasonable interval, I could ask a uniformed airline employee to send him out.

I waited outside — and finally asked an airline guy whether a little boy with curly blond hair was in there. He said, “Yes, he’s playing with the water.” I chose not to inquire just what water he was playing with, but asked him to send my son out. My son never came into the ladies’ room with me again. It makes me sad when I see paranoid moms bringing their too-old-for-this sons (7, 8, 9 or so) into the ladies’ loo — sad for the worrywarts who believe there’s a pervert in every corner, sad for the kids whose helicopter parents never let them learn to handle themselves, and sad for our society that has come to this.

By: MarthaAndMe

MarthaAndMe — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:40:35 +0000

I always took my son into the women’s bathroom and I think that is almost never a problem – most moms in there understand and have no problem. I do remember though being in a locker room with my daughter when she was about 10 or 11 and a mom had her son of about 7 or 8 with her looking around with big eyes. My daughter was so uncomfortable we ended up in a stall in the bathroom to change. My husband did have to take our daughter into the men’s room on a few occasions and usually he did what you did – checked it out and scurried her into a stall. If there were men there when they came out, he sort of turned her head (she was clueless then anyhow) if he could and hustled her out and used the hand sanitizer we carry instead of the sinks. I agree that when they’re older it’s ok to send them into the women’s and just wait by the door, even propping it open a little to listen if you want. I think the guy was out of line who got upset at you with them in the men’s room- your girls are so little what does he expect you to do? And I agree, family bathrooms are the best. At some airports I’ve even seen some described as caregiver bathrooms and the sign shows kids, adults and wheelchairs to signify it’s for anyone who needs someone to assist them.

By: Ron S. Doyle

Ron S. Doyle — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:03:45 +0000

Michelle: The Denver Library might have a family loo, but not in the Children’s Library. Yes, I’m particularly fond of the “Family” restrooms—but infuriated when I find one and some random single guy is enjoying the privacy of the bathroom for his morning constitutional…