Aibu to ask how you'd handle this?

[catsatonthemat]

Parenting question really.

When DS was four he went through a phase of deliberately weeing on my bathroom floor next to the loo on the floor/wall. He only ever did it when he was unhappy about something else and couldn't articulate himself. He doesn't open up well when feeling stressed or anxious.

Anyway, he stopped doing it. But last week (now 5 1/2) he did it again. It was (I think) in reaction to wanting my attention and being asked to wait five minutes. But he has done it a couple more times since.

He doesn't tell me he has done it, he doesn't brag about it and he does apologise for it. But I am really fed up of it. I'm sure it's another phase but how do I deal with it? When he was younger I tried to be understanding about it being because he was upset about something. But now, he is old enough to know not to do it.

I've tried getting him to help clean up (which he does), I've taken toys away, I've put him on time out etc. Can I stop it? I don't want to have to go to the toilet with him every time. It's not practical. But i may have to. He quite often asks me to go with him to the toilet. Which is annoying in itself when it's just a wee.

Not really a aibu but posting for traffic.

I would wonder whether there is something going on making him stressed and anxious again, maybe at school.

It's possible but I can't think what.

My 6yo does this sometimes and it's infuriating. In his case it's pure distraction. We will then make him sit down for wees and that seems to help him focus.

Have you said explicitly to him "You weed on the floor again. You only do this when you're upset. Is there something upsetting happening?" ?

I think I'd want to work out better strategies with him to communicate when he's unhappy. Something non verbal if he's not good at articulating his emotions yet (normal at 5 imo).

Making it clear it's ok to be sad, angry, frustrated etc, but it's not ok to deliberately wee on the floor or wall.