Wednesday

Don't Forget to Flush

My 8 year old daughter and almost 6 year old son, share a bathroom, much to my daughter's chagrin.


On a weekly basis, I hear my daughter complain about my son's non-flushing habits.  

And hey- I can't blame her, really.  It's just something you never get used to.  But, lately, all her complaining about his failure to remember has driven me batty.

We've reminded my son, prodded, corrected, rewarded - bribed.  Nothing has worked.

So. My daughter took matters into her own hands.  After my kids left for school last week, I was straightening upstairs and this is what I saw:


and 


I laughed and I left it there.  Because, frankly, I thought it was brilliant and I wanted to see if it worked. 

The complaints ceased because there was flushing, people.  Much flushing.

We now have a true, card-carrying, flusher, thanks to my daughter's idea.

Helpful Tip:  Put Masking Tape in the Perfect Place to Produce Perfect Potty Protocol!

I'm now applying tape to all sorts of places!  I just finished "If your going to wet your tooth brush, you might as well Use it!" Oh, and I'm not afraid to draw pictures on the masking tape for the non-readers in my home!

For more helpful tips, visit Works for Me Wednesday

And if you like photos that aren't of commodes, visit Wordless Wednesday.

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P.S.  I have a great Mother's Day giveaway going on right now!  You still have time to enter before the contest closes tonight at 10 pm (CST.)     P.S.S.  It's jewelry.  

57 comments:

Mycrazylife said...

I think she's a genius and I am thinking of all kinds of possibilities for a roll of tape and a marker!

Anonymous said...

Oh thats just too cute!

Anonymous said...

A girl after my own heart! There are post it notes all over my house telling other people what to do. It just works.

Anonymous said...

What a great idea! Good for her!

Anonymous said...

This is fabulous. I am just waiting for the one that says, "Put the seat down!!"

Anonymous said...

What a creative kid! She's learning young that nagging doesn't work - you have to get creative. :)

I used permanent marker to write "Close lid before flushing" on the inside of my toilet lid. It worked for my three guys.

Anonymous said...

Way to handle it herself and with such maturity! Nice job big sister!!

Mama Duck said...

LOL now too bad my little guy can't read yet! ;)

Unknown said...

WOW I'm going to have to use her great idea over here!!! LOL

Anonymous said...

Very good idea!

Jamie said...

That is too cute. You've got a creative thinker on your hands.

Anonymous said...

That's great! I need to add some tape and notes around the house for some of the things our kids forget to do. :)

Rebecca said...

Yep, your daughter is a girl after my heart, too!

I love the comment about writing "put the seat down" under the lid. I might try that one here!!! We girls are a little out-numbered here, and I HATE to be "caught off balance" (if ya know what I mean) if I get up to go potty in the middle of the night.

Milk Mama said...

I tried that with my husband's brothers... but it didn't work. Sadly, they're in their twenties!!! Argh!

Anonymous said...

What a smart cookie! glad it worked too. Wish I had thought of that when my ex still lived here. Hmmm all the places I would have put the tape...

Laura said...

I am going to try this. I have a non-flusher in the house too.

Susan said...

Brilliant!

heather said...

This is hilarious!!

marky said...

I love the way that girl thinks!! She is pure genius!

Anonymous said...

How cute! I think that is one smart chick.

Anonymous said...

This is great! I love it!

Mama Smurf said...

That's great! I think I need to do that! My kids all share their bathroom and I'm rarely in there as that bathroom is their cleaning responsibility. Every now and then I'll pay them a visit and be overwhelmed with the rank smell of old peepee...they don't flush. I think I need a sign.

Valarie Lea said...

Oh, I think this might work on my son, I am gonna have to go make some signs now. :)

Quiskaeya said...

Gotta love how kids work things out. Pretty creative :) Happy WW

Anonymous said...

I love this!!! I am trying it at my house. Only mine will say Flaush the toilet and PUT THE SEAT DOWN!!! My daughter will be thrilled if it worksK!

Melissa said...

What a cute idea she had! We have that issue here too. Might have to try that one out. :)

Cascia said...

That is so funny! Thank you for sharing. I might have to try that one. Your daughter is very clever! Happy WW!

Cascia @ Healthy Moms

Michelle@Life with Three said...

We'll definitely be giving that one a try! My daughter always forgets to flush -- and we've tried everything! Your daughter is pretty clever for coming up with such an ingenious solution!

Anonymous said...

Wow! Is she smart or what?! I've been racking my brain, trying to come up with a way to get my two non-flushers to remember to do it in a way that doesn't involve me yelling from across the house for the whole neighborhood to hear. Brilliant!! Tell your daughter she just might have found the answer to World Peace... okay, HOME peace at least. lol.

Thanks for the fabulous tip.

Heather J. said...

See we both had potty posts...yours an actual potty and mine from my potty mind!

That daughter of yours is a GENIUS!

Happy Mommy said...

I love tape! Great idea!

Jenny said...

That is too funny! You have a very clever girl on your hands!

Anonymous said...

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World's Greatest Mommy said...

Okay, I'm trying this on my toilets. With 3 boys who don't know how to flush, I'm hoping this will help!

My daughter used to get mad that her brothers would come in her room and mess it up. She put a sign on her door that said, "No Room Ruiners Allowed".

Cassie said...

That is SO funny! When I was in college I had a roommate who would NEVER close any of the cabinet doors in the kitchen--so we taped messages to the inside of each one. Unfortunately, she never really paid attention to the messages, b/c she still didn't close the doors!

Anonymous said...

That's funny! Clever girl. :)

ZONE F DG TEAM said...

That made me laugh. My husbands step dad hates dumping the honey bucket on the trailer and so he has duct tabe taped to the tank that says... If you crap, flush, if you pee, don't flush. MAJOR GROSS!!!

Carissa(GoodnCrazy) said...

Oh my holy wow, that's funny.

A girl's gotta stand up for herself!

Suzie said...

Smart idea. Good flushing to you

polkadot said...

you'd better patent that idea!

Darla said...

That is absolutely HIGH-STERICAL!

Tonya said...

What a brilliant daughter you have! I can't stand it when my kids don't flush either...maybe I will try that too!

Unknown said...

What a smart girl! Heck, I should do that for my 5 yr old daughter.
She told me she "tries to remember" but she just can't.

Hmmmm, for someone that remembers a fight I had with my husband THREE years ago? Can we say LAZY!

Colleen - Mommy Always Wins said...

What a genius that gal is!

Toni said...

Sounds like you have one smart daughter!!!

Jessie said...

That is so funny!

Growin' with it said...

I'm surrounded by 3 non-flushers and my sticker is gonna say..."AIM AND DON'T MISS!!"

cre8tivkj said...

Oh that's too cute! I can completely understand the lack of toilet issues, I have six kids...I am sure you can imagine!

Missy said...

Ya think it'll work with husbands too? ;)

Mel said...

So funny! Props to your daughter for being a problem solver. Happy WW.

Kimberly said...

Hilarious!! And genius!!

Bunny B said...

LOL! What a smart girl :)

Kendra said...

That is just too funny.
I may have to try it myself. My 7year old son has the worst habit of not flushing and it drives me nuts! Especially since his 2year old brother thinks it is funny to throw things in the toilet. lol
Such a smart little girl!

Stephanie said...

I love her! That made me laugh out loud.

Land of Lovings said...

Brilliant! I am going to try that tonight!

Anonymous said...

I put a note on the wall behind each of my kid's bath towels that said, "(Name of child), if you can read this note, then your towel is not hung up." It helped a bit...

Anonymous said...

lol now thats funny