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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Single Dad needs the loo, what to do?
CSUK · 27/04/2016 22:54
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. 
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.
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