First Things First
January 25th, 2010 by phyllis
I was visiting a parenting forum when I ran across a post about potty training. Now if you have little kids, this can be a big deal and very stressful for both parents and kids.
But, I was struck by the question these parents had. They had just gotten custody of their niece and nephew. They had just been removed from their home by child protective services. Now, neither of them were potty trained. The “parents” (aunt and uncle) were complaining and asking for help on how to accomplish this.
They do what many parents do. Overlook the situation that is surely upsetting and stressful for these little ones and focus on what they consider misbehavior, not wanting to use the potty. These children are surely traumatized by what has just happened. Using the potty is most likely the last thing they want to do.
Looking at how behavior is connected to what is happening in the family can provide you with great insights into your child’s behavior. Just because they are children doesn’t mean they are not affected by change, positive or negative. Clearly in this case compassion, structure and reassurance is what these kids need. Potty training can come later.
