Do you think this reaction is normal?
Hi,
My child is currently with my girlfriend because I am away for work.
He has trouble going to the bathroom with strangers because he's embarrassed, or so he says. I'm in contact with him, and he's holding his bowel movements, even though he's had to go since today.
Should I tell my girlfriend that he has this problem? I'm worried he'll get a bowel obstruction.
He's 8 years old. My girlfriend has two children herself, so I think she'll understand.
(2 votes)
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Perhaps you could explain to your child in a child-friendly way that digested food needs to come out and that their body functions like a small factory. If you hold it in for too long, the bowel function slows down, and the contents of the bowel can solidify so much that they become hard, blocking the bowel opening and having to be removed, which is sometimes the case with older people who suffer from severe constipation. Tell your child how important regular bowel movements are to staying healthy and fit, and that even the Pope and the German Chancellor go to the bathroom. Tell your friend; perhaps a relaxed and open approach to the topic of going to the toilet can be encouraging, reducing shame, and supporting. At home, too, you should aim to use a more relaxed approach to the topic and talking about it more naturally. Just be careful not to make the topic too central or to discuss it excessively. Treat the topic of "going to the bathroom" as a normal occurrence, something nothing to be ashamed of, and set a good example. Of course, you also have to somehow accommodate and consider that people want to be undisturbed while using the toilet. Perhaps it will help your son to be assured by his friend that no one is listening or disturbing him. How do you handle this issue with your friend?
Ich hätte es meiner Freundin schon im Voraus gesagt. Wenn dein Kind länger dort ist und nicht auf Toilette geht, leidet er doch.
Ja, ich finde das wär ne gute idee
It is important that you inform your friend that your son has problems using the toilet at other people's houses.
Du solltest sie darüber bitte informieren!
Sicher solltest du das deiner Freundin sagen und zwar pronto.