Hello everyone - I recently became a single Dad and I have a shared living arrangement, so my Son spends half his time living with me - He is 2 years old.
I seem to be coping well with most aspects of the lifestyle, but I am having a real issue with what to do, when I need to take a leak.
I try my hardest to wait until nap times and things, but with all the holding it in one can do, sometimes you just got to go!
I can leave him behind the stairgate at the top of the stairs with all the room doors closed, but he just cries, like I am leaving him - He can be clingy, with us separating.
I don't want him to be upset, I have tried telling him I am going to the loo, that doesn't help.
I leave the bathroom door open when he is behind the stairgate, but as he cannot see me, hearing me is not enough to keep him calm.
He is a very inquisitive young man, likes to explore and if I take him into the bathroom with me, I have to close the door as the stairgate does not fit across the stairs.
I have only taken him into the bathroom with me once, since his Mom left and once before.
On one of these occasions he tried to put his hand under the flow/stream, if you know what I am saying, the more recent time he watched intently - he has recently learned how to say his colours and was telling me what colour my wee was.
It's all a bit awkward and weird and I really have no idea how to handle the situation.
My own Dad was not around growing up - but I did have an older brother who was not much older than me and so I remember him going with me when I was very young.
Any ideas on what's best for me to do when this happens?
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Parenting
Single Dad needs the loo, what to do?
CSUK · 27/04/2016 22:54
I also agree with you sitting down to pee (think of it as a 'luxury wee', as my DH calls it), and sitting your DS on a potty next to you. Nothing to feel weird about, you are modelling how to use the toilet - a very important life skill! Also I'm not sure it's initially great for him to think you need to wee standing up anyhow, that way many puddles lie. Although DD did manage to do an impressively large wee standing up into her potty last week without a miss! DH and I were 
We've not taught her that (obviously!), I think she must have seen the boys at the child-minder doing it.
It's completely normal for them to be curious; DD often tries to prize my legs apart and wipe for me... She also says "Oooo poo-poos! Well done Mummy!" 
I'd prefer to pee in peace too, but hey ho it's not forever.
Im a SAHD too, and I just take my 20mo in with me. I tell him that daddy needs a wee, I sit down on the seat, and he watches with interest. I've got both hands free so it's quite easy to stop him grabbing at the stream of wee. It's nothing to be ashamed of and something all children need to understand, so I think it's actually important for them to see. Def not worth creating an embarrassment issue around it. Actually by this point DS is getting bored of the whole thing and finds it far more entertaining to run off with the hand towel while I'm washing my hands.
Take him with you....my DD is a year old and very clingy. She freaks out if I leave the room, and cries if I sit on the toilet without her being on my lap 
I tried everything....box of toys, letting her sit on the bathroom floor where she can see me etc. Not good enough. She wanted to be on my lap. I'm taking this as a good thing - at least she's hopefully becoming interested in what the toilet is for, and knows that she should sit on it
Only weird if you make it weird - to him it's just life! Remember: if you show that you're embarrassed then he'll learn to be embarrassed too. Just respond calmly and factually to any comments ('Yes, Daddy wee-wee is yellow') and carry on as normal.
Maybe something like 'You must stand back, or wee-wee might get on your hand. We don't touch wee-wee, it's dirty' might help - establish a system where he is allowed to stand next to you or by the door or something (out of range!) and praise him when he follows the system.
My DC (both boys) have always come in when I pee. At least you don't to bat his hand away from sanitary towels or explain why you have a 'little nappy' with blood on ah, the joys.
You'll be fine op!
Just take him with you, I'd would be good for when he is potty/toilet training to see what to do and know what "wee" is, and could soon recognise himself that he is having a wee when he feels it in his nappy, wish my dp would do this with my ds tbh, he learns quickly from being shown what to do lol , might take the awkward feeling away too if you feel it is teaching him about seeing lol hope that makes sense and I'm not just rambling
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I second wee sitting down! Or keep him in the bathroom with you and give him some bath toys to play with or something - stand him in the bath?
DS once stuck his head between DH's legs to look at the wee and got a wet head we used to keep a plastic box of interesting things in the bathroom: plastic bracelet, kinder egg case, small car, bits and bobs that'd distract him. I often had DS sitting on my lap while i was going about my daily business still do he is 4.4
It is sweet that they are curious. I let DS count put the squares of loo roll for me
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