Aussie mum's 'revolting' toilet training act at playground outrages onlookers

"I can't imagine ever doing that in a million years," one commenter wrote, but others defended the woman, saying "Context is important here."

Bondi Beach Playground. Image: Moduplay

As parents, we've all faced moments that test our patience and improvisation skills, especially if you've gone through the toilet training stage. 

A recent story shared in the Eastern Suburbs Mums Group on Facebook has brought to light one such moment, which sparked a range of opinions from commenters.

An anonymous woman took to the page to share a recent incident she witnessed in a Bondi park, where a mum allowed her son to poo on the ground near a busy playground. 

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. 

Bondi Beach Playground. Image: Moduplay

RELATED: If my kid ‘loses’ stuff at school, it’s on the other parent to return it

"Faceces smeared all around on the ground"

The post read: "So I just witnessed a mother encouraging her son to take a poop inside the Bondi Beach playground. She took off his pants and he walked across the playground naked from the waist down before stopping under a tree and squatting down to poop. The child was perhaps three-four years old.

"The mother then casually came over and gave him a quick wipe before attempting to pick up the poop with the baby wipe, however, it didn't look like a clean one and basically left faeces smeared all around on the ground," it continued.

The poster says she was left shocked and "genuinely revolted" after seeing this, as were other playground-goers.

One other person even tried to speak to the mum but she rolled her eyes and waved them away.

She then admits that while she's not at the toilet training stage yet herself, she wouldn't fathom letting her child defecate inside a playground "where other kids are likely to step in it, pick it up or get sick from it."

RELATED: Mum cops it over common cafe act while dining out with kids

"I am also not okay with this"

The comments mainly echoed the poster's concerns, as people were quick to condemn the behaviour. 

"My vibe on this is what the actual f**k yuck," one person wrote.

Another said, "Wee and poo in a public playground is not hygienic or okay. I have also seen many boys being encouraged to wee in parks when there is a public toilet right next to it. I don’t think it’s sending a very good message that they should be going in the toilet."

And a third added, "I'm also not okay with this - I've never seen anyone do this before - THANK THE GODS!"

People argued that "context" is important

However, other parents wanted to give the mum the benefit of the doubt. 

"There's a lot of judgment on this post. We really have no idea why this happened or what was going on in this mum's life. Jeez, we all beat ourselves up enough with mum guilt," wrote one.

Then another person emphasised that "context" is everything.

"Initially that sounds bizarre, but who knows the context? Let's hope there is context, because that is revolting. You at least clean it up," they said. 

And another person concluded, "My initial reaction is that it's pretty gross, but it reminded me of a similar situation I had where my borderline toilet-trained three-year-old said he needed to poo at a playground but there were no toilets. It crossed my mind to let him go in the bushes, but ultimately I made him go in his pants knowing I had a change of clothes handy."

Originally published as Aussie mum's 'revolting' toilet training act at playground outrages onlookers