My bed-wetting dream I wrote about yesterday reminded me of Ass Burger Boy and his very brief adventure in bed-wetting. This taught me a lot about how his mind works.

He was about the same age, five, when I remarried. Soon after we moved into a new house, the nightly watering began.

After a week or two of this, I matter-of-factly explained to him that I was getting tired of washing bedding that smelled like pee every day, and that he would now be shown what would be expected of him each day he woke up with wet bedding.

The first thing I showed him was how to strip the bed, and carry the bedding to the laundry room. I then showed him the settings on the washing machine, how to load detergent and bedding, and how to know when the load was done.

When the load was done, I taught him how to hang the bedding out on the line. I informed him that this was the procedure for laundry, and that now it would be his procedure when his bedding was wet.

He never wet the bed again.

I was willing to help him each day with this process, but I was absolutely going to have his participation.

I think he decided it was much less work to actually get up and go to the bathroom.

From hindsight, I can see that the bedwetting was most likely a reaction to the new stepfather in the new house, but we’re talking practicalities here.

I did learn that he responded very well to natural consequences. You had better believe I used that lesson well.

A spill? No problem. Here’s the floor rag, we just clean it up like so. I never stepped in a surprise puddle of anything after that. He just quietly cleaned his spills up. Still does.

Now, if only I could get him to put his dirty dishes in the dishwasher instead of the sink…

I realize that I am pushy and make you guys work, but I would be absolutely thrilled if you would subscribe to my RSS feed. It still isn’t at a number high enough to be displayed. With your help, it’s moving in that direction. Really, if you read a lot of blogs, it’s the best way to get your updates.