MotherCop

I can remember vividly the first time I experienced it. I’m pretty sure I lost a tad bit of my sanity that day. Visit my blog to read my life-changing experience of the first time I learned of poop-smearing.

It’s often said that when our kids reach the terrible two’s era, that’s when the patience in our parenting skills is really tested. This seems to be the time our little ones begin to explore just about everything—whether it’d be food and nutrition, the love for the wide-open outdoors or just trying to figure out exactly who they are and the people around them. Their darling little personalities begin to form.

My script was written just a slight bit different than the traditional first-time parents. For parents like me that was given the demanding task of being the Mom to a toddler that is diagnosed with low functioning (Level 3) Autism, I am going to shed some light on a specific topic that seems to be unspeakable in today’s society when it comes to raising our loved ones on the Autism spectrum or special needs in general—Faecal smearing!  Yes, I said it!—or as the Doctors, Scientists and Therapists call it—Scatolia.

Scatolia, rectal digging, fecal smearing, or whatever your household decides to call it, is the smearing of feces onto any given surface or even one’s self.        

Scatolia affects at least four families in every city and its malodorous findings have caused parents all over the world extreme withdrawal dilemmas (causing lack of socialization), drastic embarrassment, depression, and even mental breakdowns.    

BUT WHY DO THEY DO IT?!

Before anyone asks the most vital question, “How do we fix it?”—The million-dollar question is always asked first. “Why? Why does he do it?”  The reason behind fecal smearing is vague considering that it’s linked to many different disorders that can interrupt one’s daily operations, such as psychological disorders like Schizophrenia, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) which sometimes trigger PICA or Sensory Processing Disorder and more.

You’d have to be really skilled to get into the mind of a person with psychological challenges like schizophrenia to really understand why they do the stomach-turning act.

However, with persons on the Autism Spectrum, we know that the disorder is a neurological condition that can affect just about anything in one’s brain to cause a long- or short-time developmental delay in one’s physical advancement. While researchers are still putting the pieces together with the new and customary traditions of Autism, PICA is known to be linked to pregnancy and to persons with ASD. It’s an eating disorder caused by a nutrient deficiency. The main nutrient that the body craves when this happens is Iron.

 If you notice that your loved one has a behavior almost similar to an obsession for munching on something she shouldn’t, like her rubber shoes, grass, or even her own poop (coprophagia- see blog for coprophagia experience) you can bet that Iron-deficiency is probably the caused.

The lack of proper nutrient consumption like iron can be established from a sensory disorder (which is also responsible for many other sensory challenges). Some persons on the spectrum refuse to touch, smell or even eat food with different textures, smells, or color that consists of the necessary nutrients and minerals meant to be consumed in order for our bodies to function effectively.

HOW TO CURE RECTAL DIGGING?

So, here’s the deal. Forward to me your shipping address and I’ll send you the magic button that turns off rectal digging to your mail. Don’t you just wish life was that easy? Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. There is no true cure for Scatolia, but there are measures you can take that can assist in preventing it.

• If it’s possible, try your best to discover the root of the problem.
•  Invest in restrictive clothing like onesies and bodysuits that are hard to access. They can’t smear their poop if they can’t get to it.
• Always remember that they don’t really want to play with what comes out of their rear end, they just like the texture, look or smell. Parents are turning to Playdough, slime, paint, shaving cream or anything that can be a substitute for the stinky chocolate.
• Last but not least, PATIENCE. Wait for life to takes it course and allow them to naturally outgrow the yucky habit.