12 Most Important Reasons Boys Need To Pee In The Woods
Sometimes, mothers (not fathers!) are horrified to discover that their young boys are quite content to skip the whole “come inside to use the bathroom” deal, and just unzip and let ‘er rip in the woods. Such a reaction is hardly warranted, however – boys pee in the bushes or in the trees just as certainly as night follows day. Here’s why you should just go with the flow.
1. It’s natural
Have you ever seen a toilet growing in the wild? Didn’t think so.
2. It’s efficient
It’s important for all kids to learn optimal resource utilization at a young age. Not only is the young fellow saving time by cutting out a round trip indoors, there is also significant water savings. The planet will thank you.
3. It’s fun
You’ll never see a boy (even the adult kind) scowling during this activity. If you catch them in the act, you’ll see a smile curling across their relieved face.
4. Boys need to break the rules
Save any hissy fits for acts of vandalism or arson. Encourage good bathroom behavior, but nobody gets hurt sprinkling the ground. Except the odd anthill now and then.
5. Dogs do it
You know – marking territory. Let the kid leave his mark. It’ll evaporate soon enough!
6. It’s a teachable moment
A life lesson on the water cycle, without introducing plumbing concepts. What’s not to like?
7. Boys aren’t sterile
Gross, dirty, and uncivilized are three important words in the development of a young male. A quick pee in the woods gives vent to his inner slob. Leave at least some civilizing work to his future spouse.
8. It’s one less set of tracks in and out of the house
There’s enough stuff to clean up. Just think what you might be avoiding here – mud, ticks, dried worms…
9. The “drippies” stay outside
Would you rather have them on the bowl, or worse, on the toilet seat?
10. It’s part of the “code”
Boys have an unspoken code. It involves setting small fires with a magnifying glass, stomping on ants, and taking a free-range whiz when there’s a chance you might get caught. It’s genetic.
11. It’s early military training
Boys are fascinated with things that shoot. Practice is more fun when not confined to oval porcelain receptacles.
12. It’s the call of the wild
We live in a far too civilized world. The woods beckon. And kids need to respond with a bit of wildness to the call of nature!
Every boy needs some space. Bathrooms are pretty confining places. So if your kid lets it fly outside here and there, just turn the other cheek. And smile with him.
Featured image courtesy of Melissa Wise licensed via creative commons.
Steve Woodruff
Steve Woodruff is the Connection Agent. An entrepreneur and marketer, he specializes in building opportunity networks that bring together trusted people and businesses through a win-win referral model. He also serves as a "brand therapist" for those seeking to understand their professional identity and message. Steve is very active on social networks, and is also the co-founder of Leadership Chat (Tuesday nights on Twitter).
Did you ever have a peeing contest off the side of a steep mountain in the Alps to see whose could go the furthest? A fond childhood memory :-)
My latest conversation: 12 Most Crucial Rules for Content Sharing
Hilarious! And yet very sensible! : )
ROFL! Thank You for putting a smile on my face.
I would add that the training one could be expanded to include lessons for future drinking in the woods.
I'm married to a boy who pees in the woods. (We live in the woods.) You should mention that writing one's name in the snow is a good distraction from the stresses of work-at-home. (In case you're wondering, his name only has four letters, and he's still working on perfecting the technique.)
Fun stuff here. My son calls this "pee like a dog." Usually, this occurs for us when we are on a long car trip and there is no rest stop in sight.
lol this is funny but I wonder what the reaction would be if it were about girls... not too funny then I'm guessing hah
StephRWong Sounds like a post that you need to write! Girl power... I think...
BobbyClubbs I think everyone would agree that peeing in the woods or in the public should be left to the boys haha.
Quite the post we have here brilliant Steve. This is a male boy human behavior manifesto for certain. I think your words are spurring new innovation as I write. Some of the best ideas are found from hanging outdoors. Travel is good for the soul - even if only in your backyard.
Enjoyable read. Thanks for being you!
Define, woods. A tree in the cul-de-sac? Not okay. Remote camping with the family? All in...On the subject of boys, I learned a new term this week, "crop dusting." Next up - 12 Most Efficient Environments for Proper Crop Dusting? Ew.
Boys aren't sticklers for definition (or privacy). We have a great video of one of our sons, in much younger years, just dropping the bathing suit and letting it fly right on a public beach. lgail
Luv when toddlers pitch soggy diapers and take off nekked down the beach!...I have sisters, but remember my son's first time. Didn't think he would make it inside, so told him to go in the bushes. Shock, then sheer delight :) SteveWoodruff
Growing up, I can remember we used to have contests to see who could "pee" their whole name in the snow...Please note: I did say "growing up", will not define age bracket :) Cheers! John
Guys do outgrow that by approximately age 85... JohnFeskorn
Agreed and I agree with MySpinPlates my daughter also pees outdoors. For many of the same reasons you listed.
Oh and pee is sterile actually (unless you have a massive infection), until it stays on the ground and starts to smell :)
:-))) I never thought this may be an interesting topic to read about. And yet... :-)
As a mother of 3 boys, I can relate. My first born son was potty trained by age 2 or so we thought. Living in the jungles of Costa Rica was a boys paradise and peeing in the woods is an understatement. It was trickier back in the states we soon discovered. While visiting the Grandparents, my son decided the plants in the far corner of the sunroom was a good place to pee!
"Woods" can have multiple meanings - your results may vary! :>}
With a boy and a girl and a big love of hiking/camping, it was important that both my kids learned how to pee outside. It's harder to teach a girl, but she caught on.
Gotta be careful though. When I was 16, my buddies and I drove from Rochester, NY to Myrtle Beach, SC. We left late at night and had a lot of coffee. Long story short, we had to pull over to "pee in the woods" if you will somewhere in PA. The gas station we stopped at did not have a public restroom and the next closest was 5 miles up the road. We could not wait. Hit the alley. All the sudden, we hear, "Hey. What are you doing? Come on out of there."
PoPo.
Lucky we didn't get arrested.
Had to pull over on the Pennsylvania Turnpike yesterday for a quick visit to the trees when the rest areas simply weren't conveniently placed. After a refreshing free-range whiz, it was fun realizing that all those strangers whizzing by knew exactly what the deal was....!
It is a blessing from god not to have to be confined to the inner throne.
Great job! I have a bush in my yard I'm trying to kill so all the boys know where to go when the urge hits. ;)
Sean McGinnis When ever I see a grown man peeing in the street, I think to myself, well now there's a little boy who wasn't allowed to pee in the woods.
Can we include 6 foot 200 lb boys in this equation? I don't think this ever changes.
I love this post though - it is sort of a great metaphor to so many things (I'll let you all decide to what individually)
Steve, thanks for a bit of humor to end my week. Cheers!
danielnewmanUV "boys" here implies all males up to and including age 95. :>}
SteveWoodruff well in that case I support this 100%
Mothers are often more horrified to discover that the oldest child living under their roof, not only encourages this behavior, but is also an active participant.
iannarino It's called Mentoring. Modeling. Important male involvement in making sure the next generation is suitably prepared.
Sean McGinnis iannarino Indeed! LOL. As the mom of 2 boys, I can appreciate this!
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@PaulBiedermann LOL, no doubt right? #12Most
@swoodruff I never saw that post before, Steve. Well done. It's also why little boys grow up to become golfers. :) @alliworthington
@joecascio :>}
danperezfilms iannarino Actually, this is the best one yet. lol
TeriLizakowski I beg to differ. Found it rather lame. Sorry. iannarino #12Most
danperezfilms If I got you another cup of coffee this morning, would that help? lol
TeriLizakowski Haven't had my 1st yet (that may be part of the problem) :)
danperezfilms Just realized--90+pple got blown away in Oslo ystrday. I was ripe 4 something really off-the-wall silly. #timingiseverything
danperezfilms TeriLizakowski Inspiration? stevewoodruff has five boys; Mrs. Woodruff is raising six! #12most
youternmark You know, some lead-ins just grab your attention.
angelamaiers seanmcginnis a great Friday night smile
angelamaiers That's just weird.
iannarino Only 12 reasons? I was with 200 cub scouts in the woods today fr ome kind of camp jamboree day.I can assure you, there's more.
zenpundit Too much coca-cola?
lttlewys seanmcginnis They need a reason? ;)
tedcoine seanmcginnis lol It's good to know so I'll let my son do it.
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Look for a follow up post from the girls perspective next week.
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