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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To think that this Rainbow leader should be asked to step down?

57 replies

Lauresbadhairday · 10/08/2019 16:06

My friend's daughter is a Rainbow Guide. She recently attended an evening activity with her pack which took place at a local park where there are no public toilets and lasted for 1.5hrs. The leader took a potty for the girls to use in case they were desperate for the loo. Towards the end of the activity the leader then asked all the girls if any of them needed a wee. Of course several of the girls decided they did even though none of them had mentioned that they needed to go beforehand. They then used the potty one after the other and the leader did not wipe or clean the potty between uses. Also some of the girls were told to go with the young leader (age 14/15) to 'try out' a shee-wee.

My friend was horrified when her daughter told her this and has since raised it as a concern with the district commissioner. She does not feel that it has been taken very seriously even though there are other adult helpers there who can verify the story. I was really shocked when she told me and feel that the leader should be asked to step down. Or AIBU?

OP posts:
Elliebellbell · 10/08/2019 16:31

That's great op, you're all ready to take over when this other woman has her reputation trashed.

AngelasAshes · 10/08/2019 16:31

I think the Rainbow leader was doing her job. A potty is a good idea if no toilet facilities. There is no reason to clean between each use because urine is sterile. Besides, if there are no toilet facilities, there would be no running water or tap to use to clean it either. She did right thing by asking before the end..it was thoughtful and probably to prevent any accidents or emergencies in the car on way home.

Original poster
Lauresbadhairday · 10/08/2019 16:34

I have asked MNHQ to remove this thread. In retrospect I don't think I should have started it given the nature of the topic.

OP posts:
IceRebel · 10/08/2019 16:35

I can't imagine children aged 5-7 being happy to use a potty, assuming you mean a babies potty. The whole situation just sounds so far fetched. Confused

AngelasAshes · 10/08/2019 16:37

It’s a good way to introduce outdoor wee-ing for girl guides. Especially if they have any interest in camping and wild craft/survival. I was an outdoorsy girl and in girl guides and such. I was in outdoor clubs as a teen and then joined the forces. Didn’t always have access to a toilet (flushing or otherwise).

mcmooberry · 10/08/2019 16:37

I have a daughter in Rainbows and this absolutely wouldn't bother me at all. If they had all pooed then yes but normal urine is sterile.
Who would be a volunteer with this kind of policing.

underneaththeash · 10/08/2019 16:45

What did you expect the leader to do OP?

I just get mine to wee in a bush if they're absolutely desperate.

Lazydaisies · 10/08/2019 16:50

We have those horrible outdoor potty/toilet things for guide camp. They are admittedly in a tent pit hygiene wise they’d be no better or worse than the potty. Sharing the thing is yuck if it was actually mandated by a leader.

Lazydaisies · 10/08/2019 16:50
  • thing
Lazydaisies · 10/08/2019 16:51

Jesus and again shewee keep deleting

WhyBirdStop · 10/08/2019 16:55

I've used cardboard she wees at a festival are your sure the girls weren't given one each to try? The potty thing wouldn't bother me really, it's only wee and I'm assuming emptied between girls so it didn't overflow. Really at that age they should be able to last ninety minutes though

SD1978 · 10/08/2019 16:57

So have any of the adults confirmed this with the mother concerned? Are any of the kids upset? The she pee thing is odd- I wouldn't see that as a shareable object, but the potty thing- meh- probably easier than peeing on the ground. I'd be fully clarifying my info and asking the volunteer
involved though before going off.

PeriComoToes · 10/08/2019 16:59

Is urine sterile? Why do we wash our hands after going for a wee then?

DrCoconut · 10/08/2019 17:04

This whole thing is very confusing. Surely (assuming no additional needs) children can wait for 1.5 hours? Confused My 3 year old has a bladder of steel and rainbows are a lot older.

PullingMySocksUp · 10/08/2019 17:09

I’d expect them to be told to go behind a bush if they said they were desperate. I think the potty is pretty odd.

Namechangeymcnamechange11 · 10/08/2019 17:15

I'd be telling my rainbows to hold it for an hour and a half 🤷 or in a bush if desperate.
I doubt that the leader was giving a baby potty and not emptying it 🙄 it'd be all over the floor.
As you're a guide leader, you should have a bit more empathy and not kicking off because she clearly tried to be too accomodating. Why don't you offer to help run her unit rather than oppose her?

Groovee · 10/08/2019 17:16

I don't think she should be asked to step down but this may have been on her risk assessment.

I'd leave it up to the DC.

Gruntvsgunt · 10/08/2019 17:20

I’m not sure what the problem is? What am I missing?

CoolWivesClub2019 · 10/08/2019 17:25

I think it’s really odd to take a potty at all.

Would it not be better to just get the girls to pee behind a bush if needed? Or have I just spent too long raising boys? 🤔

PancakeAndKeith · 10/08/2019 17:36

I think it’s odd to take a potty.

Make sure everyone has had a wee before you go, tell them that there is no toilet there, then never mention needing a wee or say the word toilet.

BeanBag7 · 10/08/2019 18:14

The probably shouldn't have asked if anyone needed a wee. In my experience (Brownies) nobody needs to go until you ask and then suddenly they allllll are desperate.

SoyDora · 10/08/2019 18:17

Ours did a two hour picnic on a field recently and just wee’d in a bush if needed, according to DD!
What do you think they should have done OP?

Nomoremilk · 10/08/2019 18:26

Urine is not sterile! It's sterile while in the bladder, as soon as it leaves it is not sterile. What an idiotic thing to say.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 10/08/2019 18:40
Envy
Vasya · 10/08/2019 18:49

I honestly just wouldn't care. Not sure if that makes me scummy 😬