“Potty Privacy” is a term we use a lot. We started using it when Honeybun started finding her own way around the house and was constantly barging into the bathroom. We started telling Honeybun “please give Daddy/Mommy/Grandma potty privacy” and she learned quickly that that meant stay out of the bathroom.
Both of my girls now demand potty privacy of their own. I’ll never forget the first time I heard Honeybun use it for herself. She was early in her potty training and I had left her on the potty to do her business while I changed Sugarplum ‘s diaper in the next room. All of a sudden I heard Honeybun screaming “No! Get out of here! Monk, I need my potty privacy!” Monk is one of our cats.
As a stay-at-home mommy, privacy in the bathroom is not something I’ve ever gotten regularly. I’ve always taken my kids into the bathroom with me unless they are sleeping or happily playing in a safe place. It’s never really bothered me to have them with me but I do appreciate the alone time I get when another adult is around to watch the kids.
I got really excited when the girls got big enough for me to be able to have some potty privacy as well. Our new house is all on one level and so I don’t have to worry about the girls playing on the stairs or trying to come see me (our Dublin house only had bathrooms on the upper floors). They’re also big enough to entertain themselves nicely for a few minutes, and most of the time without even fighting!
I know that my private potty time is limited with another on the way but nonetheless I still take advantage of every private moment I can get. Now if only I could get Monk to leave me alone too! She now knows it’s my alone time without the girls and runs into the bathroom after me to get some nice lovings. Oh well, maybe in another few years I’ll get some real potty privacy!
