Anal retentiveness? Is this what is meant? What would you make of this? Possible TMI alert!

[2sugars]

dd2 (just) 8 was miserable when she got home from school yesterday. Asked if she was tired or hungry, she replied 'tired'. Told her she should have a nice early night, gave her some supper and she just sat at the kitchen table, head in hands, and ate a shred of lettuce.

Anyhow, to cut a long story short, it seems she had a runny poo at school and got to the loo just in time. What's bothering me more though is that she said she really needed one last night, but she was going to hold it in because it would come out all squidgy and if she held it in long enough it would go hard. Managed to get her to go after sitting with her for about 1/2 hour and it was indeed squidgy but not diareahhy.

Bathed her, put her to bed, she got up to do a wee and there was a poo stain in her knickers and she freaked. Whether or not she has a stomach bug or not, I'm really concerned by her attitude towards it.

Any thoughts?

Oh try not to worry. I remember being around that age and having a similar thing happen, it freaked me out too, it was just because I'd never had it happen before and felt scared that I was incontinent or something.

She probably just ate something that didn't agree. Reassure her and try not to show you're anxious yourself. She is quite normal!!!

I used to 'hold it in' as well because I didn't like to 'go' at school, plus I was scared of the monsters who lived behind the toilets and would watch me through the little frosted window above the cistern

Yes I know, probably not the most qualified person to say she is normal!!!

If she is afraid of it happening again at school, just let her have a day off till things are back to normal. It will make her feel safer

...and the phrase 'anal retentiveness' is very old fashioned and I don't know what it meant, but no, this is not it!

I have a feeling it was a misguided label for something anyway. It now means someone who is unhealthily pedantic and repressed, I think?

this explains a bit. Nothing to do with your daughter's experience!

Thanks Columbia, I know you're right.

And as for a voice of reason, you are certainly more qualified than me. Here speaks the person who used to tell her boss she'd left the iron on at home and had to go and turn it off, just so I didn't have to use those echoey, all in a line office loos! And I was 33 when I left work!

Bloody hell, Columbia. I know what it means for someone to be anally retentive now, but that bit about "efforts at excretionary control" is a bit, erm, close to the mark! So to speak ......

I didn't read the whole thing but I imagine they are talking about little kids doing that. Don't worry. She was just anxious. No need to worry!