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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take my dog toileting in the park while 2yo DS is in bed?

101 replies

MeerkatMerkin · 15/07/2013 20:41

My neighbour just suggested I do and she'd keep an ear/eye out for him (she has my mobile number). His room is on the back and she is always in her garden so would hear him if he cried. The park is a 10 second walk from my house - I can see my house from the park (it's across a road at the end of my road iykwim, my house is towards the end of my road). It's a small city park with a playground and highly populated with summer revellers at this time of year. The dog won't toilet in the garden, normally DH takes her out but he's away with work and will be all next month.

Obviously I pick up after the dog and as soon as the dog has been I'd be straight back. Thoughts?

OP posts:
LadyBeagleEyes · 15/07/2013 21:04

I think I'm getting way too old for MN.
I didn't see danger at every corner when ds was little.
At 18 he's still here.

D0oinMeCleanin · 15/07/2013 21:04

As I say on all of these threads if I was ever killed by a drunk/speeding driver I'd much rather my children be home alone than also be hit or be witness to my death, that's just me though Hmm

littleblackno · 15/07/2013 21:07

I'm sure it would be fine. I would do it if the neighbour was there but equally it's not going to matter at the moment if your DS goes to bed a bit late, espacially in this heat it's hard to sleep anyway so it may cool him down!

AnaisB · 15/07/2013 21:11

leave a copy of this with your neighbour

Book

chubbychipmonk · 15/07/2013 21:22

Would your neighbour take the dog out?

curlew · 15/07/2013 21:27

Why on earth should the neighbour take the dog out when she has offered a perfectly sensible solution which hardly inconveniences her at all. If I was the neighbour, I would be pretty pissed off if I made the kind offer to listen for the OP's child and ring if there was an issue, and she said "thank you, but could you walk my dog instead"

curlew · 15/07/2013 21:29

anais- does the ook cover alien invasion and plane crashes? If not, it's not comprehensive enough for a properly responsible Mumsnet mother!

Original poster
MeerkatMerkin · 15/07/2013 21:29

I could ask the neighbour to sit in my house. We don't have a monitor and actually her back garden is right below his window so she'd be more likely to hear him there than in the living room which is on the front. We hear him more quickly when we're in the garden too, it's just the layout of the house. In the living room, with the TV on, it sometimes takes us a couple of minutes to realise he's crying, when in the garden it's immediate.

Neighbour couldn't take dog out as she's scared of it. Our dog isn't bad but she is a tad nervous and barks when she is. She's most secure with me and will go to the toilet more quickly with me (even than with DH) - I literally stomp up and down the front path of the park so that dog can go on the grass, I pick up and go home, all within view of my house.

Anyway, I just took DS with me. He is now very awake and beating me up. :( TODDLERS. I wish I had more patience! :)

OP posts:
curlew · 15/07/2013 21:31

Meercat- tomorrow, take your neoghbour up own her kind offer and ignore the Mumsnet loons. Honestly, it's fine.

Marshy · 15/07/2013 21:32

This is one of the reasons I don't have a dog, though I would love one - toileting in the park - yuk.
But as for your AIBU, get the neighbour to sit in, or take the dog before bedtime

curlew · 15/07/2013 21:35

PLEASE stop saying " toiletting"

HooverFairy · 15/07/2013 21:36

Sorry if this makes me over protective and a bit lot PFB, but I wouldn't risk it. However, you know your house, neighbour and toddler so go with your instinct.

HooverFairy · 15/07/2013 21:38

Mumsnet loon, that's a new one and very smug

Marshy · 15/07/2013 21:43

If dogs didn't shit of have one. To be honest, toiletting would be great. No little warm bags to deal with.
Sorry, said it again :D

Nagoo · 15/07/2013 21:43

Risk what? The neighbour is RIGHT THERE.

Marshy · 15/07/2013 21:43

I'd have one I mean

HooverFairy · 15/07/2013 21:46

No, the neighbour is outside in the garden, next door. The toddler is in the house alone. There are plenty of risks it's just a matter of how comfortable the OP is with the probability of them not happening.

LadyBeagleEyes · 15/07/2013 21:47

What risk Hmm?

McNewPants2013 · 15/07/2013 21:48

I would only do it if i could trust the neighbour to stay outside for that 10 minutes.

McNewPants2013 · 15/07/2013 21:49

I would give the neighbour the key to the door as well.

LizzieVereker · 15/07/2013 21:57

I wouldn't personally. My DH works nights and I have been similarly stuck, so I appreciate this is a tricky situation for you. I would want the neighbour in the house, in case of toddler bad dreams/ falling out of bed/ being sick.
Is there not a friendly teen who would take the dog out for you for a few quid a week? Could the dog be encouraged to go earlier in the day?

curlew · 15/07/2013 21:59

Risks? FFS- what risks?

Original poster
MeerkatMerkin · 15/07/2013 22:09

Sorry curlew - TAKE A WAZZ AND A DUMP. Grin

As I said, I'm considering getting a dog walker for summer, for an hour each evening to save this predicament. I'm also considering a cleaner for a month as DH is much better at keeping the house in check than I am Blush

God knows how I'll afford it all but needs must!

OP posts:
LilacPeony · 15/07/2013 22:09

The dog could get over-excited and run round and round you, leaving your arms pinned to your side by the lead. At the same time the neighbour could accidentally stick the trowel through her foot and pin it to the ground. You'd both be unable to get to your son if the hairdryer exploded. Sad

ArgyMargy · 15/07/2013 22:11

Curlew got it spot on. Toilet is not a verb.

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