YIKES! No, thank God!!

Love you too! XOXO

Thanks for the great information Claudia. I feel so bad for the man you describe above–that’s a horrible thing to do to a child. The worst thing we’ve done is take away his video games. He’s in daycare right now, and I’m really interested to see if I pick him up in a diaper or in his underwear. He’s been given one final choice–poop in the toilet and stay in britches, in his class. Poop in his britches, he’s changed into a diaper and has to go back with the toddlers. I’m hoping that by making this his “choice” he chooses the toiler.

It seems bowel issues such as this are really common among boys from the ages of 5-7. Psychologist postulate that it’s about control – they realize they have some control over something so exert it. The idea is that they are testing how they can impact the world – and parent play into it by getting upset. (Now see what I can do. I can make Mommy upset. kind of thing) It’s not conscious, so the only intervention is choice – love and logic style. You then give them a way to exert control with their choices.

Remember I heard about this from adult men as a therapist. You would be stunned to hear how many boys are abused due to this behavior. One man held his poop in for days at a time (like 8). His father made him pack a bag and dropped him off in downtown Philadelphia at an ‘orphanage’. The man never got over it. Like ever.

You are not alone in your frustration. I hope you have a few more resources than these folks.