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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is it wrong for my 8 year old to say she needs a pee instead of a wee?

240 replies

feellikeanalien · 11/02/2016 10:52

AIBU. My 8 year old has had some issues about using the toilet at school and the teachers and teaching assistants have been helping her with this.

She a attends a small rural first school (69 pupils) and is in a composite Year 1/Year 2 class.

The other morning in the playground the headmistress called me aside and said that they were trying to get my DD to ask for a wee instead of a pee.

I was slightly surprised as I did not really see any problem with this and when I spoke to my DD about it she said that they had told her that it was a bit of a rude word.

Generally the school is fantastic and very supportive and I am wondering if I am being a little over sensitive about this.

Any ideas?

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 11/02/2016 10:54

We all say pee in our family, much prefer pee to wee, YANBU.

icanteven · 11/02/2016 10:55

We say pee and wee interchangeably at home. Possibly wee a bit more? It would never enter my head to think it was rude, although I do encourage them (more so my 7 year old) to ask can she use the bathroom, because it's a bit more discreet.

So would say the "debate" should be pee/wee v bathroom/toilet rather than pee v wee, iyswim.

usual · 11/02/2016 10:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BertieBotts · 11/02/2016 10:57

That's odd. It sounds like an American word to me rather than a rude word. Maybe they think she means it like as in short for piss? But certainly it's used in cartoons etc. I think children today use more US vocab than we did and just take it for granted.

Since she's had issues with the toilet perhaps it's worth saying actually please don't push this, it's a perfectly inoffensive word in itself, it's not short for anything and it's unhelpful.

BertieBotts · 11/02/2016 10:58

Oh and yes perhaps "May I use the toilet" might be a better compromise.

acasualobserver · 11/02/2016 10:58

I didn't think there was anyone left who thought pee was rude. Obviously I haven't met your daughter's headmistress ... who is being ridiculous IMO.

derxa · 11/02/2016 10:59

I hate 'toilet' with a passion. How about encouraging her to say 'I need a tinkle'.

Oysterbabe · 11/02/2016 10:59

Pee is not rude at all. It's not like she said she needs a slash.

CrystalMcPistol · 11/02/2016 11:00

Headmistress is odd. There is absolutely no difference between 'pee' and 'wee'.

CrystalMcPistol · 11/02/2016 11:00

'How about encouraging her to say 'I need a tinkle''

Yuck. Please don't!

MrsGentlyBenevolent · 11/02/2016 11:03

Pee isn't rude. Neither is 'going to the toilet'. This is the same nonesense as thinking 'fart' is a rude word Hmm. The headmistress needs to get a grip - no need to be giving young children issues over going to the loo (or adding to any on-going ones). It's not like your daughter is announcing she needs to 'take a leak' like a pissed old man in a pub!

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 11/02/2016 11:03

tinkle Grin, ok Hyacinth.

CrystalMcPistol · 11/02/2016 11:03

'Since she's had issues with the toilet perhaps it's worth saying actually please don't push this, it's a perfectly inoffensive word in itself, it's not short for anything and it's unhelpful.'

Agree with Bertie here.

Kitchencrayon · 11/02/2016 11:03

What about "I need to spend a penny."
Or better still..
"Please Miss, I need to visit the little ladies' room."

We use pee here with toddlers but would say loo later on (don't know when, I'm not there yet!).

Kitchencrayon · 11/02/2016 11:05

*I'm joking btw, in case anyone missed that! Nothing wrong with per for children, but I do find it odd if an adult says it to me (other than needing to pee on a stick or in a cup).

howabout · 11/02/2016 11:05

YANBU - wee means small in Scotland and nothing to do with toileting

DD3 off to school in August and I am now wondering if she will be telling the teacher she is "bustin".

TheVeryHungryPreggo · 11/02/2016 11:05

I grew up saying pee and so did DH (from Ireland) - we only say wee in this house because it's the word used at preschool and we don't want to confuse DS any more than necessary - he already is a bit confused by my non-English use of "pants" for trousers vs underwear!

(I'm already surprised that "feck" is seen as quite as colourful as it is in the UK, "pee" being rude is just Shock to me...)

TaraCarter · 11/02/2016 11:06

It's not something I would pursue with your daughter in their position (bigger battles), but I also feel that 'pee' is a more coarse word. Even though it's only one sound different from 'wee'.

CrystalMcPistol · 11/02/2016 11:08

How is 'pee' more coarse?

TheCatsMeow · 11/02/2016 11:08

Pee isn't rude at all!

Lweji · 11/02/2016 11:08

I'd teach her to ask to urinate at school.

helenahandbag · 11/02/2016 11:12

When my cousin was little she told my auntie that she was going for a slash so it could be worse Grin

TaraCarter · 11/02/2016 11:13

Crystal You could just as well ask, why is sexual intercourse referred to by fucking and not ficking.

Wolfiefan · 11/02/2016 11:14

We don't say pee. Just wee. Are we the only ones?!

derxa · 11/02/2016 11:14

tinkle grin, ok Hyacinth Damn! You've outed me Grin
Seriously why can't your daughter say 'pee'?
Read this very erudite debate
www.middleclasshandbook.co.uk/journal/2010/12/9/the-friday-question-should-you-say-wee-pee-or-use-the-loo-wh.html