Potty training woes are back in the news. After a mom was berated online for the story of her potty training her toddlers in a restaurant, another mom has made headlines for a potty training lesson gone awry. Philadelphia mom Caroline Robboy was fined $50 and fussed at by police after her 2-year-old, Nathaniel, relieved himself on the sidewalk.
The ticket for public urination came after Nathaniel and mom were told they could not use the restroom in a store they were shopping in with Nathaniel’s two siblings and grandparents on his father’s side. After they left the store, the toddler couldn’t hold it anymore and used the restroom on the sidewalk. Caroline tried to move her toddler to a more private area, but a cop had already caught the child in the act.
Nathaniel was potty trained, but most parents understand that when a child has to go, they really have to go. Seeing as how he was not allowed to use the restroom in the store, he did the next best thing in his mind: go where he had the opportunity.
BMWK – Do you think the police was too harsh and not understanding enough? Do you think Caroline deserved a $50 ticket?
teresa says
I don’t think she should have gotten a ticket. And besides he’s 2 yrs old wtf . I have 4 grown boys now and looking back I’m sure they would have done the same if you gotta go you gotta go no matter where you are….
Cheryl says
While one would hope that a store you were spending money in would have some mercy on a 2 year old, it is definitely not a requirement, and it is probably against their rules. There are liability issues that have to be taken into consideration. Shopping and going out and about with a potty training little one, you have to make sure you are mindful of where public bathrooms are. That said, I think the officer was mean to give her a ticket. I wonder what kind of conversation went on between her and the officer? I find it hard to believe he just saw the baby peeing and whipped out the ticket book…
-Reese- says
I’m a potty training mother… If my son has to go and can’t hold it, I’m not going to reprimand him for going on the street and I don’t believe law enforcement should step in. That’s ridiculous. I would try to take him to the most private area we can find but sometimes children cannot wait and just go for what they feel is best which as a child is whatever brings relief to them. I know of grown men who have been faced with the same issue of not being close to a toilet and so went into some random corner to urinate. The article clearly states that the mother did try to move her but it was too late, and I’m sure the child wasn’t concerned about privacy, probably more concerned about the embarrassment of wetting . It is NOT as serious as a fine.
LADY 123 says
Ok YOU ALL KNOW THAT SHE HAD NO BUISNESS LETTING THAT LITTLE FOOL RELIEVE HIMSELF IN FRONT OF ALL THOSE PEOPLE A CHILD WILL LET YOU KNOW MORE THAN ONCE THAT THEY HAVE TO USE THE RESTROOM NO STORE IS OBLIGATED TO LET YOU OR YOUR CHILDREN URINATE ALL OVER THERE RESTROOM THATS WHY YOU HAVE A HOME FOR THAT….INSTEAD OF LETTING HIM REVEAL AND RELEASE HIMSELF IN FRONT OF POTENTIAL MOLESTERS WOULD IT HAVE KILLED YOU TO FIND A MORE PRIVATE PLACE FOR HIM TO DO THIS BUT HEY PARENTS TODAY ARE RAISING THESE CHILDREN JUST LIKE DOGS AND ITS SAD……SCREW YOUR HEADS ON STRAIGHT THIS WOMAN DESERVES A TICKET LETTING THAT LITTLE BOY DO ALL THAT IN THE PUBLIC AND WHATS WORSE AROUND OTHER CHILDREN AND BABIES!!!! YOU ALL ARE SICK TO THINK SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN A TICKET…..I WONDER WOULD YOUR RESPONSES BE DIFFERENT IF THE LITTLE BRAT JUST RELEIVE HIMSELF ALL OVER YOUR FRONT PORCH!!!! LEARN SOME DECENCY AND TEACH YOUR KIDS
Gil says
You are absolutely right I have a home and if I need something that your store sells, I’d order it from Amazon first. Like I told you before under your other name Lady, if you expect people to come into your store and patronize you and help you pay your bills you better recognize that we are human beings and we have needs (and medical conditions) that sometime do not make going back home from your establishment an option. However, that is moot because I would not go to your store, because although you may try to hide it when I walk in I think your nastiness and selfishness would show in your attitude and the attitudes of your employees and I would walk right out. Then who knows maybe me just being me I might go and blow your business up on Facebook and YouTube and it may go viral you may go out of business and be forced to live under a bridge and scrape tuna out of cans someone else threw away like the troll you are! Glad there’s Amazon.com and Macy’s and Target, and Sears and Kmart and even Walmart. Then you hear people complaining about how these big chains are putting the small business owner out of business and they are evil conglomerates. No the truth is what’s good for business is their bottom line and their decisions are made by committee, not just one asshole who thinks a bathroom is a convenience for their customers. No instead you got these small businesses on a strip and they got nasty attitudes towards their (usually former) customers like they have no choice but to patronize you. No where I shop I have a choice, now whether or not I have to pee, that I have no choice about! …smh@once again wow! #PleasePutYourMoneyhereYourMouthIsAndGiveUsAllTheNameAndAddressofYourEstablishmentAndSeeHowManyCustomersYouLose
LADY 123 says
GIL YOU MAKE NO SENSE I WILL NOT MISS ONE DIME CAUSE BIRD BRAIN PEOPLE FEEL OBLIGATED TO USE MY FACILITIES WHICH ARE NOT PUBLIC! DO YOUR SHOPPING AT HOME AND LEAVE US BUISNESS PEOPLE TO OUR BUISNESS WHICH IS SELLING GOODS TO THE PUBLIC NOT LETTING LITTLE PISS ANTS WHO CANT CANT CONTROL THEIR BODILY FUNCTIONS USE MY FACILITIES….THUS PEOPLE ATE SOOOO NASTY NOWADAYS PUBLIC RESTROOMS SMELL AND LOOK WORSER THAN A ZOO AND WHO HAS TO CLEAN IT UP???!!! NOT YOU OR YOUR PISSY CHILDREN WHO HAVE NO HOME TRAINING SO SAVE IT NO MEANS NO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE IF YOU DONT LIKE IT
LADY 123 says
OH AND FOR THE RECORD I AM FRANCHISED WITH NEIMAN & MARCU IN THREE STATES AND LOSING YOU BROKIES WILL NOT DENT MY POCKETS…PEACE