Here's a story that will totally piss off anyone who has tried to potty train a toddler (pun totally intended). Philadelphia mom Caroline Robboy was given both a ticket and a lecture by a police officer this past Sunday evening because her 2-year-old potty-training son, Nathaniel, couldn't hold it.
I kid you not. She told NBC10 that they were in a store with her two other children and elderly in-laws when the toddler said he needed to go. She asked if they could use the restroom, and they were "told no." Upon exiting the store the boy couldn't hold it and ran over to a pole on the sidewalk to get some relief.
When she saw what was happening, she tried to at least get him to move to a grassy patch, but it was too late. A police officer saw it and busted them, issuing her a $50 ticket for public urination.
She told the station, “He said, ‘I’m doing this for your own protection' because God forbid there might have been a pervert out there looking at my son."
Unbelievable, right?
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When a 2-year-old needs to go, a 2-year-old needs to go, and while outside on a public street isn't ideal, sometimes that's what needs to happen. Dogs do it all the time, so it's not that big of a deal. I wouldn't encourage my son to do so except in an emergency, but there were plenty of times that we had no other choice than to go in a corner of a parking garage or at a park. It happens.
As for any perverts, in the heat of the moment, I'd be pretty willing to take my chances that one didn't just happen to be standing there for the two seconds it takes for a kid to go. Talk about paranoia. Besides, the street seems a lot less sketchy than public restrooms in that regard.
Robboy says she plans to fight the ticket, as she should.
It’s not about the $50. I want a place that feels friendly to me where my children feel safe and have positive experiences with police officers.
Hopefully she'll get some justice. Here she is talking more about the incident.
Do find it outrageous that this mother was ticketed because her 2-year-old peed on the street?
Image via NBC Philadelphia
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Comments 120
I read an article about this on another site, they had eaten at a restaurant across the street from the dept. store and were going to go back there to use the restroom when the boy said he couldn't hold it. Supposedly the mom TOLD him to pee on the grassy patch.
I went everywhere with a potty chair in the back of my van when I was potty training my son. This allowed him to use the potty when none was available and provided for privacy. I kept paper towels, spray cleaner and plastic bags as well for clean up. Soak up the urine with the paper towels, secure them in a plastic bag and using more paper towels and the spray cleaner, clean the potty chair. We also used training undies in case of an extreme emergency. He never wet the training pants and never urinated in/on anything other than a toilet or his potty chair. I think its really gross to have anyone pee in public. Some people really have no consideration of other people.
I agree with Mutts. He had to go, he went and she should pay the fine. What if she were speeding to a gas station? Would she say to the officer? Her son had to go to the bathroom and hope to get out of the ticket.
I also don't wan to walk in urine. Right in front of a public place? ICK!
I'm sorry, but that is frickin disgusting.
I think it'd be more taboo if it was a little girl, in any case I don't know about a ticket. Maybe just go speak with the mom and help to block the view of on lookers if there were any.
You should be ashamed of yourself Gene. I hope nobody ever breaks onto your house or you have a heart attack and need a police officer. Shame on you.