A little potty problem, a softie solution

"Mommy, I'm do-ooone!"

It's a refrain heard commonly around our house. At 8 years old, Sabrina still wants me to do bathroom duty. In other words, she likes me to wipe her butt. 

"Sabrina, you're old enough to take care of yourself!" is the other refrain heard commonly around our house, because I typically refuse. We'll go back and forth a few times, and then she'll call "Dadddddy!"  and try to sweet-talk Dave into it, at which point I'll literally body-block the door and tell him not to cave. But then sometimes I do, because there is only so long you can let your kid hole up inside a bathroom. Talk about sit-ins.

I once asked her why she has an issue with this. "It's gross," she explained, matter-of-factly. Ohhhhh.

It's possible Sabrina is this way partly because she's squeamish and partly because she feels it's her right, given that Max still gets assistance in the bathroom. "You always help Max!" she's pointed out to me. "Yes, honey, but he can't do it alone," I'll say. She knows full well that Max has challenges using his hands, except logic doesn't always work with 8-year-olds.

And then: I got invited to the SocialLuxe party, happening when I was in Chicago last week for BlogHer and always a good time thanks to Marie, Jane and Allison. Cottonelle sponsored it, and would I like to try out some t.p. and wipes? It just so happens I knew a kid who would. Or so I hoped. Combined, the t.p. and wipes are supposed to give a "fresher" feeling. Perhaps they'd discourage doodie codependency.

A Cottonelle Ultra Comfort Care four-pack and refillable dispenser of Cottonelle Fresh Care flushable cleansing cloths arrived in the mail. Sabrina felt the t.p. "Oh-ho!" she said. "Soft! Like a pillow!" It was as if she were in a commercial or something.

I left the wipes on the bathroom sink (the canister is really slim) and asked her to give 'em a go the next time the urge struck. It is amazing how much your life centers around bums once you become a mum, and yes, I think there is a bumper sticker in there somewhere. "Do you want to come in when I try them?" she asked. "NO!" I said, a little too emphatically.

"How were the wipes?" I asked, later that day.

"Amazing!" she said. (See: "as if she were in a commercial or something.")

"So does that mean you'll clean yourself up from now on?"

"Yes!"

"And will you yell for Daddy?"

"I'll try not to!"

It's been a few days now, and I have yet to hear "Mommy, I'm do-ooone!" thanks to her new BFFs (Bathroom Friends Forever). She's actually socked the wipes away in the cabinet under the sink because she wants them all for herself—and for once, I'm OK if she doesn't share.

And now, onto the next challenge! Anyone got ideas for inspiring your kids to CLEAN the bathroom?! Or anywhere? I'd really like my house to have that fresh and clean feeling, too. 

Disclosure: Cottonelle provided compensation for this post, but the opinions and bathroom challenges are my own.

Image: dreamstime