Potty Presents

Isabelle learning to go potty

I have a wonderful 4-1/2 year old nephew named John (not to be confused with my wonderful husband named John). He was potty trained promptly at 2 years old as all my brother's children have been. However, he has a little problem flushing number two. Each time I use the bathroom while visiting I find a little something in the toilet. And each time John comes to visit me I find something in my toilet. It has sort of became a joke between my sister-in-law and me as it happens with such frequency.

Well now I have a potty trained princess and often hear "mommy, I need my BUTT wiped" floating across the house. However, she is now trying to wipe herself so I am not alerted to all bathroom breaks. So now I am finding my own surprises in the toilet even when John hasn't come to visit.

So my question for the day is, "Why"? Why can't they flush the toilet? How is this skill not being passed on in our potty training techniques? My SIL coached me through potty training and I did exactly what she told me to successfully potty train at 2 years and 2 weeks old. One has to wonder if there is something missing in her method since we both have the same resulting lack of flushing. (do you like how I am passing the buck here?) Were we too focused on getting it in the potty and not focused enough on the after care of doing their business? And now that I have missed teaching this skill is the window closed for learning this skill? Will Isabelle and John be forever forgetting to flush the toilet and leaving annoying deposits everywhere they go? Will the part of their brain that does this atrophy from lack of use? Is there a special support group for parents and children with this disability? Will they have to hang out with the other socially outcasted non-flushers in jr. high? As they grow up will their college roommates and then spouses be flushing the toilet for them? Only time will tell.