Boys and the Bathroom

is it the dad too making a mess? find out... also if it's the boys.. show them the mess.. tell them that they will have to clean it up if it continues. the day I started my son (at age 2) going to the bathroom.. I showed him where to aim.. and not to get any on the wall or floor.. to this day.. at age 13.. he hasn't missed yet. My husband is also neat when it comes to using the toilet. Give them a wet wipe after they use the bathroom and show them how to clean it up.. they won't be happy and I'm sure they will improve after having to clean up..good luck..

I grew up with 4 brothers and at a certain age my mother (of total 7 children)had the boys cleaning up after themselves in the bathroom. After a short time of that chore the became much cleaner and aimed better. Their wives have thanked my mother for their (the boys) neatness in the bathroom. We all had chores growing up and we are better for them( the chores) with respect for our spouces.

They are old enough for chores, and I say that cleaning the bathroom should be the very top of the list. Each boy can clean the toilet, the floor and the wall around the toilet every other day. When their aim improves, you can go to twice a week (and see if it is really their aim, or just that it is getting cleaned more often), and then down to once a week, write it on the calendar so there is no arguing whose week it is.

That or you can use the embarrasment approach, and ask the boys (especially the 9 year old) if he needs his mommy to show him how to aim his firehose. This could be really effective and/or traumatic if you ask him in front of his friends. I would try the chores list first (and make sure you include the whole bathroom, the kitchen, vacuuming, etc.). If they don't respect you and do their chores, you can feel justified in embarrassing the heck out of them -lol.

Hi L.,

Although I live in a household full of girls (even the cat's a girl), here's my suggestion: Get your husband to step in and show the boys the proper way of urinating in the toilet. Have him tell the boys that having good aim is a good thing. This will help Mommy out as well.

Good Luck.
J.

Hi L., I know your pain! Having raised 4 sons 1 daughter
I still have 2 at home(27 and 26)plus my husband. It is not as bad as when they were younger. You may have to show them how to clean the toilet. Raise the seat, aim into the middle, but the sprinkle is ever present. I felt as if I worked in a public rest room. Just keep on reminding them and you must clean often. I don't think they mean to be sloppy, it is just the nature of the beast! Grandma Mary