A Child Smeared Poop in Our Home; Should I Tell Her Parents?
Dear Raising a Stink,
How upsetting to make such a discovery! It is unusual, developmentally, for an 8-year-old to smear feces on the wall, though I would hesitate to jump to the conclusion of mental health issues or other concerns without having more information.
It doesn’t sound as if there has been a lot of open communication between your families historically. If that is the case, I can understand your hesitation. It sounds as if you are trying to be sensitive to their feelings, which is admirable. If, however, there are some developmental or behavioral concerns, it is important that her parents are fully informed so that they can take appropriate steps to get her the support she needs.
My recommendation would be to share the information in as nonjudgmental a way as possible. You can mention what you found, express that it puzzled you, and that you just wanted them to be aware.
My recommendation would be to share the information in as nonjudgmental a way as possible. You can mention what you found, express that it puzzled you, and that you just wanted them to be aware. Be sure to avoid jumping to conclusions or making accusations about intent. Sticking to the facts can make it easier to present difficult information. You said she “seems like a nice girl otherwise”—she likely IS a nice girl, and while it may be difficult to fathom what led to her actions, the simplest way to find out what happened is to ask.
It might be an awkward conversation. The parents might react defensively or with embarrassment. They may also appreciate knowing. What does your husband think? It is his sister and her family, after all. Does he have suggestions on what approach might work best? Would it be easier if the information came from him?
You also may want to consider what you would want if the roles were reversed. If it were your child, would you rather find out right away, thus allowing you the opportunity to respond to your child’s needs? Think about what it might be like the next time they visit. Would you feel comfortable putting her in the guest room again? Chances are, this incident would come up, and then the embarrassment and awkwardness could be coupled with frustration at not having heard about it before.
Best of luck,
Erika
Erika Myers
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Stephanie
October 9th, 2015 at 8:18 AMI am sure that while the conversation will be uncomfortable, I am a parent would want to know and I would assume that these parents would want to know too
Adam
October 9th, 2015 at 10:46 AMWell that’s one talk that I would NOT want to have to have!
steven
October 10th, 2015 at 8:49 AMLook, it is obvious from this type of behavior that the child needs some help. Will it be pleasant to tell the parents? No it will not. But you have to do it. This is a child who has something going on in life that she doesn’t know how to talk about so there you go, acting out. I am sure that the parents want nothing but the best for them and that they would appreciate your willingness to help in any way that you can.
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