Since becoming parents, nearly 8 years ago, there are not very many things that Greg and I disagree on. We pretty much expect the same things of our children (and each other), which makes things run rather smoothly most of the time. We often will say exactly the same thing to a child at the same time (for good and for bad), and then one of us has to stop and let the other take over the conversation.
But, there is one thing that we can't seem to agree on. And since it's been some beautiful weather again, the subject has surfaced once again. I don't think it's a big deal if the kids pee outside while they're playing, and he does.
My reasons:
-we live in the country, surrounded by trees and people who work all day (so aren't home)
-they're kids
-it teaches them to be adaptable (if we should go hiking/camping/road trip/whatever the need may be)
His reasons:
-we have neighbors (that are home sometimes)
-it's not that much hassle to come in the house
-who wants to see that?
My rule is that they have to go to the edge of the yard (into the trees) and be discreet. And not near the road or even so that they can be seen by cars on the road.
We had an incident a few years ago on a road trip where we were up in the snowy mountains of California putting on tire chains (for our self and then 2 other cars who didn't know how) and our 2 little boys had to pee. So, I sent them off to the side of the road (through the past-knee-deep snow) to pee in the ditch. A lady saw them and was shocked (the one whose car Greg was putting chains on). He said, "Oh, those are my kids!" What other option did we have? Tell a 3 & 5 year old to hold it for another hour? That would have gone over well. We have tried having a potty in the car, and it has never gone over well, or at all, I should say.
I've now been teaching our daughter how to pee in the woods, so she can if she needs to. (Or on the side of the road, as has been the need in the past) I call it "how to pee in the woods without getting it on your clothes or shoes" and it's definitely a skill!
Thoughts on this subject?
