Does your DD have male playmates? Maybe she's picked it up from them. (all it takes is seeing something one time). The drop-the-pants-and-pee thing is something I have heard a lot of parents of sons dealing with. Maybe some of their strategies will help. I'd have suggestions if she were in the two-s or early three-s, but it is a little surprising for a four-year-old.

You should also call your pediatrician's office and discuss it with the nurse.

I have found that when I sometimes feel like the only parent ever to have to deal with something, I find that what I think is rare, is actually something not unheard-of.

My best wishes that this all turns out well in no time!

She does definitely have male playmates and has seen them do this on more than one occassion. At the soccor field we have no choice, boys and girls run for the bushes. Our friends live on the lake and have a spot to pee by a tree, because it is so far to walk up to the bathroom. Although for #2 they usually make the effort, but like I said she does exceptionally well at other peoples homes. I think she may have at my girlfriends home when she was being silly. At that time it would be something I would be more likely to laugh off, but my girlfriend says its no laughing matter.

No advice, but I don't think you are alone. I have four brothers. My sister would sometimes try to pee like them when she was little. She tried the outdoor thing and the indoor thing. She stopped after the rest of us made fun of her for being silly.

I think that maybe it's because she's such a busy kid. She probably is so busy playing and doing whatever that she doesn't want to take the time to go the bathroom and go, so she goes wherever it's more convenient. Also there is the issue of her seeing others going in different places and being allowed to on certain occasions. Maybe you need to explain in the best way possible that it's not always okay to do that. I know we have the problem with DS. He's learning that he can go in our yard if were outside but we have to stop him from doing it elsewhere. The best thing we could do was tell him to tell us he has to go before he does. That way we get him to the correct place and aren't in an embarrassing situation.

I know what you're saying about people comparing kids. Your friend needs to realize that not all kids are the same. Many children don't focus on the same areas at the same time. While yours has maybe been more active, her daughter may have been more into verbal and social skills. It's normal for kids to be like this. So what if her daughter learned to go in the potty in a week and it's taking yours months? That's normal. Maybe it's time you did speak up once in awhile. Maybe say that she's your daughter and your decision or something?

People walk all over you and overstep boundaries only because you yourself let them. It's hard to get to understand that because the good old Golden Rule taught us to treat others the way we wanted to be treated. These days it seems to not apply anymore. I'm sure it's becoming more stressful than fun when you go around your friend and maybe a talk would help that. If she can't respect you, then maybe she's not a good friend after all. I'm slowly learning this myself and it's making me feel better and life easier. Good luck.

~Leslie~

Leslie,
Ahh, brings back memories of the first potty training days. My DD did the same thing -- would hate to leave to go potty - so afraid she'd miss out on something! And then she'd make it halfway there and have an accident! Sigh, I had almost blocked those memories out! LOL