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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My son shat by the footpath.

253 replies

LumpyMcBentface · 23/09/2016 20:18

He said he was going for a wee, on our twenty minute walk home from school. He went behind a bush next to the footpath. When I went to pull his trousers up the evidence was there to see (and smell). He proclaimed innocence to start with and then giggled uncontrollably all the way home.

I usually have poo bags with me but I'd left the dog at home and hadn't considered I'd need them for walking a five year old. So I had to leave it.

We scarpered down the path and I think we got away with it, but I am mortified.

Should I have gone back to clean it up? I considered it but then, erm, didn't. I'm now feeling a bit guilty.

How bad is this? Please tell me your children are as gross as mine!

OP posts:
olivesnutsandcheese · 25/09/2016 18:36

My DS who is four needed to go at the park last week. There was no chance he could hold it. I had a nappy sack randomly in my handbag and he managed to poo perfectly in it Grin I was so proud yet mortified.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 25/09/2016 18:42

I honestly would have gone back and cleared it up. It was an accident and no biggie (arf!) but truly not nice to leave it there. It doesn't matter if there are worse things to find under bushes (worse than shit? I'm trying to think) but I couldn't have left it. Surprised at number of people who would have.

YeOldMa · 25/09/2016 18:46

My son suffers from IBS and has, on a rare occasion in a traffic jam, just had to go. There are just times when the turtle won't stay in it's shell! Wink

petalmoore · 25/09/2016 19:05

I shat in my pants on the way home from school when I was six. I was caught short and had already asked if we could detour via the toilets in the park, but my Mum thought i was just being a nuisance and told me to wait. It was a one-mile walk home from school, and I had to waddle home with the mess stuck to my pants. She wouldn't talk to me and I felt very ashamed. When we got home she made me scrape down my pants into the toilet at home, to teach me not to do it again. That was 60 years ago mow, and I remember it as though it had happened this afternoon. I wasn't a 'difficult' child - too compliant, if anything, and I certainly didn't giggle, so I couldn't help feeling quite bruised by the responses on this thread. With the benefit of adult understanding I imagine my mother might have felt she'd have risked this sort of disapproval if I, and she, had been found out.

aleysha · 25/09/2016 19:08

He is only five, just gone back to school after long hols. His bowel and toilet routine is probably all up the creek again anyway - and often they don't get that much time to go /spend time in the loo during the school day anyway. Just keep an eye on his bowel routines and try and get him back into a morning poo without stressing him.

6demandingchildren · 25/09/2016 19:17

Ffs the child is almost 5.
Do any of you know any runners/joggers I bet all them have had a Sally gunnell moment. I know I have!!!!

limitedperiodonly · 25/09/2016 19:20

The worst place is by my MIL's which is a very nice seaside town in a rural area in the south west. The footpath leading down to the town from her hillside house is shocking. People there seem to think it is perfectly acceptable. She doesn't mind dodging it even though she is virtually blind now. This is dogshit, not relatively benign horseshit or shit from toddlers caught short.

I live in London and most people pick their dogs' shit up. Just another town V country divide.

I'm not clear of the precise location of OP's child's shit. If on or adjacent to the path I'd prefer her not to kick leaves over it but to leave it in plain sight - I have horrible memories of kicking through autumn leaves and getting dog shit on my shoes as a child.

But if it was in a bush, so what? Who goes hacking into bushes?

flupcake · 25/09/2016 19:27

Some of the responses on here aren't very kind. He's a 5 year old for goodness sake! Often children are scared of doing poos in school toilets so try to hang on to it, then are desperate for a poo on the way home.
OP if it's any consolation my DS did this a few times when he was about 6 (once was in the school grounds!! 😳). It was really embarrassing for me. I of course explained to him why he shouldn't do it, but it's also really important not to make children embarrassed about toilet accidents or it can lead to other problems like constipation (which my DD had and believe me is a lot worse than picking up an occasional poo).

Still to this day don't know why he did it. I think he just was delayed in learning to control himself and felt the urge, so went.
Fortunately each time I had my baby's nappy bag with me so I was able to clean it up.
Maybe make sure you have some tissues / mini pack of wipes / plastic bag with you in case it happens again?

ArchibaldsDaddy · 25/09/2016 19:28

I'm been quite amazed by parents freaking out about this - get a grip of yourselves!

The kid is 5 and clearly needed to go severely. At least it was somewhere discreet and not on the footpath.

And, as an ultramarathon runner who occasionally suffers from violent stomach upsets whilst running, I've been forced into similar situations a few times myself!

Floggingmolly · 25/09/2016 19:34

Nobody is aghast at a 5 year old being caught short. It's the leaving the pile behind that's a bit rank, Archibald.
I assume you carry bags with you yourself, if you've had this happen to you several times? probably not

Jojofjo44 · 25/09/2016 19:40

Lumpy my daught once shat her pants on the beach so we buried them. Perhaps you should have dug a hole for said shit?

Yogimummy123 · 25/09/2016 19:51

My lg did this when she was about two. Went to wee in the bushes & a poo came out! Only had a receipt to scoop it up with (luckily was pretty solid) & get to a dog poo bin before I peed myself or died laughing

Vulty · 25/09/2016 19:52

Maybe I'm too laid back, but this is fucking hilarious. He proclaimed innocence to start with and then giggled uncontrollably all the way home. don't take what other posters are saying to heart just explain to him about using the toilet before he leaves.

PortiaCastis · 25/09/2016 19:52

OP May I award you this prize of a golden throne for making me laugh so much.
Dd once shat on my foot, we were in a country park and no convenience available. She was around 4 at the time and said she needed a wee. We found some bushes and I got her into the correct stance, unfortunately a Richard the third popped out on my flip flopped foot. I didn't know what to do but saw a stick so picked it up and removed the Richard with it.
You've heard of shit on a stick haven't you? I did bury the bugger under some leaves but my foot was really aromatic driving home as I had to use all the wipes in my bag on dds bum.
Lesson learnt, never assume a wee is just a wee and here is your award.

My son shat by the footpath.
Original poster
LumpyMcBentface · 25/09/2016 19:53

I had literally nothing with me for cleaning up. All I had on me was my house keys and phone.

And as I said, I'm not sure I could have found it if I'd gone back anyway.

It's rained a few times since Friday so I imagine it's all gone by now.

OP posts:
MarissaMaypole · 25/09/2016 19:53

Wow! Some nasty cows on here! Watch out for karma - your kids might get caught out on a coach in Turkey or somewhere! HE IS FIVE! He wasn't doing it purposefully! He's a LITTLE BOY! If you go to Iran, or India you will find ADULTS pooing at the side of the road as you drive past! I'm pretty sure his mother won't be letting it happen again!

Original poster
LumpyMcBentface · 25/09/2016 19:54

Portia Grin

OP posts:
BishopBrennansArse · 25/09/2016 20:05

Well you could have scraped it up with your phone and carried it home on that. Tsk, OP, very slack Wink

NoFucksImAQueen · 25/09/2016 20:07

I can't believe some of the responses on here
"Vile"
"Disgusting"
"Chav"

This is a little boy you're all talking about. I'm sure he didn't plan it ffs.

misson · 25/09/2016 20:08

I let dd (age 7) have an alfresco poo a few weeks ago. She eats a lot of fruit - when she needs to go, she needs to go.

She wouldn't have made it to the loo (25 minutes walk) especially as we had ds (4) with us so would have been a slow walk.

Seriously, am I supposed to let her poo her pants? I cleared it up.

I knew dogs are cat shit, horse shit, shit in general. Had never thought they would enjoy human shit. That is gross.

Totally agree about the hiking shitters. We hiked in a very remote area. The number of rocks with paper streamers was Shock. Right by the path too.

PortiaCastis · 25/09/2016 20:09

Bishop Op may not have a contract with turd talk Grin

riceuten · 25/09/2016 20:10

Write this one off, but if he didn't realise he did wrong, there's pause for thought

pollymere · 25/09/2016 20:13

Happened to us too...

apringle · 25/09/2016 20:17

Wow! Sorry people are being so mean to you! Sounds like a one off by a really young boy. Don't sweat it. I see dog poo all over this city, which is even dirtier. And I came here from Hong Kong where I had to witness mums holding their kids over garbage bins crapping, too lazy to just walk to the toilets!

Beeziekn33ze · 25/09/2016 20:42

He may for some reason not be happy to poo in school loos or worried about coming out of school late. Obviously it would have been better if you'd had a plastic bag, wipes or tissues handy but you hadn't. I hope I would have gone back to clean up. I certainly don't think your son was disgusting, or you, maybe you were a little thoughtless, that's all.