Is this normal?! I feel bad for the kid...?

Question

Few hours ago, I went to this Chinese buffet, and afterwards, I went to use the restroom to wash my hands.

There was this Chinese lady in front of me (how did I know, well, she spoke Chinese), who was washing her hand, and there was her child, about 3 year old, standing next to her.

I was patiently waiting for that lady, since there was only one sink, and I though she would be over after she washed her hand. But then, she drops her child's pants and underwear down to the knee, picks her up, opens her leg wide, waiting for her to urinate to the sink!!

I thought that was ridiculous! It's where people washes their hand! I mean, there were bathrooms open! Is this normal for a parent to do in public? I really feel bad for the kid...

Answer 1

(can't stop laughing---edit yes it is disgusting, but the absurdities of life just make me want to laugh sometimes) You see?? THAT'S why I carry Purelle!! I carry little antibacterial hand towelettes with me everywhere I go----and my husband calls me obsessive compulsive!

The kid is definitely old enough to feel the pangs of embarrassment, if she isn't already so desensitized to this treatment. No, it is not normal---and like what someone said, it defies rational explanation.

Answer 2

No, this isn't normal in the US or Europe, but I must admit I don't know anything about Chinese habits with small children... and if she spoke Chinese, perhaps she was a tourist/visitor and not an immigrant (who should at least try to learn local habits)? I'd probably have tried pointing her to the toilets in spite of the language barrier (simply pointing often works :)), but beside that I wouldn't worry about it too much.... urine rinses off well and coming out it's sterile. Just let the water run for a bit & don't rub your hands over the bottom of the sink (which I don't think you'd normally do anyhow).

Answer 3

In her home country, something similar to that might have been the norm. Like someone else said, some other countries have open drains (or something of the like) for people to do their business in. But if she's in America (I'm assuming that's where you're from), she needs to learn how we do things here. That might sound a little harsh, but they would ask the same of us if we were to move to their country. And really, it's not a bad thing. When you move to another country, you must learn how things are done there and respect them.

Besides, she shouldn't be doing that where people are washing their hands. That's just gross. I would have definitely told the manager or an employee so that they could go in there and sanitize the sink.

Answer 4

I don't know about China in particular, but in many parts of Asia, there are holes and/or trenches and you need to squat over them, legs wide, to do your business. It takes some practice to do it right without falling and without soiling yourself. I can see how children would need help learning the technique.

I'm not sure what was going on, but perhaps the woman and her child had very recently come from Asia and it was easier for the woman to have the child pee in the way that most familiar to them.

Also, I have seen the mess that people who are unfamiliar with American style public toilets leave behind sometimes, and believe me, I would take a child successfully urinating into the sink over leaving a toilet in disgusting shape ANY DAY.

Answer 5

Well, thats just gross, but maybe she is too little for the toilet, but still. Seeing that there was like only ONE sink, thats gross. I don't know if thats how they pottty train in China, but that is so germy. I know urine is sterile and everything, but that is just wrong. She may have been a tourist or something, but I would think they would have known what we do here.

Answer 6

Ew, yuck! How disgusting! If I was there, I'd leave, mention it to management and have someone immediately clean the bathroom. I don't know if that's a Chinese culture thing or what, but I'm disgusted by it!

Answer 7

Maybe, just maybe, the lady was visiting from a small village where running water/toilets are not accessible. So *maybe* just *maybe* she was confused as what to do with the child....

I don't know, I am trying to figure out why someone would do that.

I would have tapped her on the shoulder and pointed to the toilet.

Answer 8

ohhhh yuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really hope your joking???? was the toilet busy? thats pretty rude. the only thing i could think is that the child was potty training and couldnt get to the toilet in time????? thats still disgusting but mabey she diddnt bring a change of clothes and was desperate. I really cant think of any outher reason why a child would pee in a sink.

Answer 9

No this is not normal,in fact I'm sure it violates any health and safety codes for your community. If you ever see anything like this happen again, report it to owner/manager and if they don't address the issue, report it to the proper authorities.

Answer 10

When people do things like that, it turns on a green light for me to let a wise crack go, "Hey I don't wash my hands in your toilet, don't piss in my sink", YOU GO NOW !