spark

How can Kat knowing about Alice's issues be worse for her than what is going on? This is a case where

I just can't imagine a respected journalist shifting from true journalism to spectacle😁 (I almost got through that with a straight face). That happens all too common. Compare the class that Johnny Carson had, and the sophistication of Dick Cavett, versus the garbage that infiltrates the media today. Even when somebody has a strong show that is well done, it will become garbage because of the pressures from their producers. Remember when the Travel Channel had travel, the Food Network had cooking, and the History Network taught history. No offense to all of us, but this show marked the start of that decline for Donohue. It was clearly a spectacle, and wasn't meant to be a serious exploration of ABDLs. However, even at his lowest, he couldn't drop as low as Jerry Springer was when he tried to somewhat classy.

Mom clearly has some explaining to do with her family. That clearly would not go over well in my family.

I was proud how that Emily sequence worked out, especially because the proactive timeout prevented a meltdown which helped Emily reset herself. The idea for diaper training came with an interaction of a friend of mine who is nanny who specializes in newborn multiples. Part of the sleep training is getting the newborn used to wet diapers. If you can do that with a newborn, it certainly possible to do with an adult. I think it would be very hard to psychologically resist. It's human nature to want to please parent figure, especially when it's more supportive than adversarial.

First of all, thanks for the compliment. That truly means a lot. This is more of a slog than Eddie was, so I'm working extra hard. Ironically, because it is so hard, I think I'm doing a better job developing the picture than I did with Eddie. The treatment is clearly excessive. There is a lot of structure built into this program, most of which I haven't shared yet, that I think would be successful at an actual college, especially for students who are struggling with the transition from HS to college. For example, they have 2 classes each morning- then lunch, nap, play, and end with a study period before dinner. No classes on Friday, so that's all study, and each BRAT has one person who monitors their classes. It would be an expensive program, but very effective. I don't think being held to a level 5 or 4 standard would be radical on college campus. However- in the story, Dr. Andrews tried that, and it wasn't successful without the little kid element. When I started the story- I intended to be used as threat, but as I've developed it, there is a huge stress reduction elemnt in play. They are stripped of all other stressors other than their class, and provided the structure necessary to do well in their classes. Jamie is an interesting character. I intended him to this obnoxious self-entitled playboy (BTW- that was in the unpublished draft of this story). Instead- he's an extremely sympathetic character. He's very lonely, and the only true connection he had with any person his entire life was a nanny that he ran off when he was five years old. The conflict in this story is 100% within Jamie's mind. There is a conflict between love and acceptance, which he gets in BRAT, and the prestige of being uber wealthy, but very lonely. FTR- I think it's good for him. BTW- did anyone catch my easter egg about Jamie's mom taking a private jet to a climate change conference?

I think I'm a level-2 guy, however, I would likely get in trouble for wandering away from my adult. I haven't introduced one of the biggest differences between level 1 and 2, but preschoolers can walk with their SA to class, provided they hold their hand. Toddlers need to be in a stroller, or a harness. Since i would wander away, I would get put in a stroller (They mess around. BTW- I think I have a thing for strollers, because I always include them in my stories. Level 3 wouldn't be so bad. You still get a little of the warm and fuzziness that the little kids get, but get a little bit of independence (they can walk to class by themselves). They are pretty much like any other student when they are outside of the compound. However- it's not supposed to be a resting spot. I visualize it as a transitional level. They are testing if you're ready to move upstairs, or stay downsides. If you aren't ready, you go back to level 2. Level 5 is a high standard. I don't think I live up to at 50+ years old, and I damn sure couldn't do it when I was in college. I would have been nailed by the underaged drinking rules. But the Residence Hall seems like it would really fun

Thank you. Knowing how I am, I think I would be spending a lot of time in the corner, and probably get a lot of time with a binky in my mouth. I would probably get the binky during every staff meeting. Compliance is very important in this program, especially with the little kids. i have a discussion planned for the next chapter when Stephanie and Tyler talk about avoiding level 0. Stephanie will say, "Just listen to mommy, and stop when she tells you to stop." I've made them creative with the discipline. They may put you in the playpen, but it doesn't mean that you're at level 0. RAs have a lot of discretion with their BRATs, but they have their own consequences when they mess up. It ended up being a much longer chapter than I expected. I try to keep it between 3 and 4k words, but I didn't feel like I had a good stopping point until Jamie went to bed. The pooping scene was about halfway, but it was right in the middle of the conflict. Once I added in Emily's and Tara's backstory, as well Emily's timeout, it ended up being pretty long. BTW- Tara was lucky that she wasn't dropped to level 1 last year. She was late all the time because she was drinking in the residence hall, but was never caught.

Chapter 7: Level 0 Once Jamie agreed to stay, Ms. Rachel quickly replied, “Okay, than it’s well past your bedtime. Let’s get you changed and into your crib.” She put a pacifier in his mouth, “Remember, no talking with the binky in your mouth.” The relentless babytalk made him cringe, but Jamie knew he better get used to it. Babytalk is nearly as crucial to the program as the diapers are. The RAs and SAs always speak to BRATs according to their regressed age. While BRATs are not forced to use babytalk, it’s highly encouraged. RAs ignore adult speak, but they always respond to babytalk. Even amongst themselves, BRATs use hushed tones when talking like adults. Jamie was too much in shock to put up any resistance. He didn’t do anything until Ms. Rachel pulled down his Pull-up. He instinctively put his hands over his penis, which caused Ms. Rachel to swat them away, and give him a firm reprimand. “Stop it!” The harsh tone startled him, and he moved his hands out of the way. Ms. Rachel smiled, put her hands up high and exclaimed, “Hands over your head.” She sounded like a nursery schoolteacher, and Jamie complied without realizing what he was doing. Ms. Rachel beamed, “Yay! You did it! Good job. Keep them up until I’m done, okay.” She changed his diaper and then dressed him in beige pajamas that had a fire truck pattern. Jamie couldn’t remember wearing pajamas like that. She took out the stroller and said, “Sit down.” Jamie hesitated a bit, took a deep breath and got in the stroller. Once again, Ms. Rachel praised him, “That’s a good boy, thank you.” Jamie knew it was patronizing, but he couldn’t deny how Ms. Rachel’s constant praise made him feel. It was a stark difference from his parents. His mom neither praised nor scolded him. She never cared enough to do either one. His dad rarely spoke to him; when he did, it was laced with derision. Nobody else ever praised or scolded him. They just weren’t comfortable enough to talk to him that way. Praise plays a vital role, especially for newer BRATs. Newbies are still learning the routines and expectations and need frequent correction. That constant correction erodes their self-confidence, which is detrimental to the ultimate goal. To overcome the negative impact, BRATs are overloaded with positive reinforcement and encouragement. Praise is given generously, even for the smallest accomplishment. They are applauded for listening, doing what they are told, or waiting for somebody to help them. The constant praise increases compliance and fosters a supportive environment. Ms. Hana was relieved when she saw Jamie sitting in his stroller. She always worries when BRATs are unsupervised. On a weekend, she doesn’t sleep until every BRAT is accounted for. She feared the worst when Jamie missed dinner. She argued against giving him free time in the first place, fearing that he might run away. She knew he didn’t have the resources, nor the ability, to take care of himself. Ms. Rachel, despite Ms. Hana's concerns, insisted that Jamie needed free time to reach his own decision. Ms. Hana greeted Jamie with a giant hug; “Jamie, you’re back! I’m so relieved. You had me worried sick. Please don’t ever do that to me again.” Jamie wondered if the concern was real, but it seemed sincere. Once again, this was a new experience for him. He was seldom greeted, and when he was, it was usually with disdain. Ms. Hana finally noticed Jamie’s transformation, and exclaimed, “My God, you’re so adorable.” She turned to Ms. Rachel and said, “You really outdid yourself this time.” Ms. Rachel smiled, “Well, I knew there was a cutie in there, I just needed to bring it out.” She kissed Jamie on the forehead, “Be good for Ms. Hana, okay.” Ms. Hana smiled, “I’m sure he will.” She grabbed Jamie’s hand and waved back, “Say bye-bye, Jamie.” Even though it was nearly two hours past his bedtime, Ms. Hana gave him a bottle. Little kids always get a bottle before their bedtime. Early on, Dr. Andrews discovered that young adults could not maintain the extended sleep patterns required for his program. He firmly believes that BRATs need consistent sleep patterns, with similar bedtimes to young children. However, young adults don’t need that much sleep; especially when they are forced to take a one-hour nap in the afternoon. Forcing them to spend ten hours each night in a crib caused behavioral issues, which were addressed through a series of progressive punishments. That inadvertently created a vicious cycle of increased resistance and discipline. To address the challenge, Dr. Andrews collaborated with the chemistry department to develop a special formula designed to encourage natural sleep rhythms. The formula is so effective that it is commercially available as a sleep-aid. However, its natural diuretics may lead to bedwetting. Dr. Andrews enhanced the formula even further by adding additional diuretics and muscle relaxers, virtually ensuring that a BRAT will wet themselves at night. To address the resistance to pooping in their diaper, he added laxatives and stool softeners, which makes it increasingly difficult for BRATs to avoid messy diapers. The third addition is an extra-large nipple for their bottle that forces BRATs to suck when it is held in their mouth. The act of being bottle-fed adds to the psychological regression, which is critical to the success of the therapy. Ms. Hana guided Jamie to the couch and then rested his head against her chest. He had little choice but to suck when she held the bottle to his mouth. The formula was slightly different than the one he had the previous night. Last night’s mixture had a berry flavor and didn’t contain any laxatives or stool softeners. Ms. Hana added a small dose of laxatives to tonight’s formula. It wasn’t the full dose, which almost certainly would result in a messy diaper in the morning, but it was enough to make it difficult for Jamie to resist pooping in his diaper. The taste reminded him of milk tea, which he preferred to the previous formula. Ms. Hana made sure to praise Jamie when he finished his bottle. She gently patted his back, but it wasn’t enough to force a burp. She helped him climb into his crib and then lifted up the rails. Right before turning out the light, Ms. Hana asked, “Do you need a nite-lite?” This time, Jamie nodded. It wasn’t a lot, but his room wasn’t completely dark. Unfortunately, he could see the rails, and it was obvious that he was sleeping in a crib. The darkened nursery finally allowed Jamie the time to process how drastically his life had changed in the last 36 hours. On Monday, before he left, He never pictured himself wearing diapers, nor sleeping in a crib. He knew there would be differences, but he didn’t care about them. Back then, his main priority was finding the best booze for his party. Now, in what seemed like an instant, everything changed. His friends, as well as his family, abandoned him, and he would become an overgrown toddler for the next three months. Unlike his parents, Ms. Hana and Ms. Rachel truly cared about him, and he didn't want to lose that. Despite the unusual circumstances, Jamie felt comfortable. The other BRATs seem to like each other, and they don’t care what anybody else thinks. Jamie enjoyed spending time with them and looked forward to playing with them again. His old friends were judgmental, and they were merciless whenever someone did anything they deemed uncool. The pressure to conform was always there. In a lot of ways, he was glad to be out of their conditional friendship. The melatonin, combined with the day's emotions, made him drowsy. He was soon soundly sleeping, only to be woken up by the strange sensation of peeing in his diaper. He knew what was happening, but he couldn’t stop it. That was two nights in a row, and other than a drunken night, he hadn’t wet the bed since he was six years old. However, he was barely conscious and went back to sleep, only to be woken up by Ms. Hana in the morning. Ms. Hana felt Jamie’s diaper, “You might need thicker diapers.” Jamie blushed, “I’m sorry.” “Oh honey, don’t be sorry. That’s what the diapers are for. I’m proud of you.” That confused him. Why would she be proud of him for wetting his diaper? He asked, “Why?” “Because that’s what you’re supposed to do. You used your diaper and didn’t hold it. Remember, you aren’t allowed to use the potty. Pee-pee and poo-poo go in your diaper, and you’re not supposed to hold it.” She put the pacifier back in his mouth, and with a cheery voice, replied, “I almost forgot. You’re at level 0, so no more talking.” She felt the diaper again, “it’s pretty wet, but these diapers hold a lot. I won’t change you right now. I’ll wait until you do a poo-poo in your diaper.” Jamie couldn’t believe it, although he shouldn’t have been surprised. He had seen both Stephanie and Tyler poop in their diaper, so why would it be different for him? He spit out his pacifier. “I have to shish,” he was close to dropping an s-bomb. Jamie gathered himself, “poop in a diaper?” Ms. Hana quickly put the pacifier back in his mouth. “Keep the binky in your mouth! No talking!” She let her words sink in before continuing. “To answer your question; yes, you do. Poo-poo and pee-pee goes in your diaper.” Ms. Hana tried to put Jamie in his stroller, but he tugged back. It wasn’t strong, but it was enough for a firm reprimand. “Stop it!” Even though it was firm, it wasn’t loud. “Do what I tell you, without pouting! If you’re fussy, you’ll stay at level 0 for the rest of the week. Is that understood?” Jamie nodded, but Ms. Hana wasn’t satisfied. “Either say you understand or admit that you don't know.” Jamie wasn’t sure what to do. She just told him not to talk, but now she wanted him to answer her question. Ms. Hana clarified, “You may talk, but only to answer my question.” he reached for his pacifier, but she stopped him. “Keep the binky in your mouth.” Jamie put it back, and replied, “Yesh.” Ms. Hana smiled, “That’s wonderful. Let’s hope that’s the last of our problems.” She praised him again after buckling him in his stroller. “Good job. I’m so proud of you. I think you’ll like it here.” Jamie noticed there was another person with them. It was Emily, a level 5 BRAT, who arrived on Tuesday afternoon. Seeing Jamie sitting in his stroller was the first time it registered that there were three diapered little kids in the house. “Wow! Three little kids in diapers!” Ms. Hana grinned, “I warned you. And remember, teenagers are expected to help with the little kids.” It took Emily two years to reach level 5, and most of that time was in diapers. She didn’t get to level 3 until February. Unlike other BRATs, who enjoy the respite from adult life, Emily hated it. Because she hated it so much, she frequently got in trouble and wasn’t promoted to the next level. She thrived as a preteen. Level 4 provided the perfect balance of independence, freedom, and support. While she was excited for the added benefits of level 5; teenagers don’t have a curfew on weekends, and they don’t need permission to leave on weeknights, it comes with added responsibility. One of those responsibilities was diaper duty, which would certainly be required with three little kids in diapers. She pleaded, “I don’t wanna change diapers, mommy. Do I have to?” Ms. Hana couldn’t resist a gentle rub. “I’m afraid so, unless you want to go back to diapers yourself.” Emily didn’t react to Ms. Hana’s teasing; she ignored the comment, turned to Stephanie and said, “Hold my hand, Stephy.” Ms. Hana tightened the straps tighter than Ms. Rachel did, which caused Jamie to squirm. She warned, “Settle down, or I’ll use a harness.” Jamie was confused, but Tyler was holding Ms. Samara’s hand nearby. He whispered, “That’s like a leash, and you don’t want that.” Some of the big kids were back, so there were more people in the dining room. There were now five BRATs in highchairs, including a girl that Jamie didn’t recognize. Her RA was feeding her, which meant she was at level 0. Jamie reluctantly accepted his fate. He was scolded a few times that morning, and he didn’t want another one. Ms. Hana was playful when she fed him. She made train sounds each time she brought the spoon to his mouth and then praised him after he swallowed it. No matter what, she always had another spoonful waiting for him. He ate most of it, but a lot of it got on his face. However, he thought she missed on purpose. After the last spoonful, she lifted her hands and cheered, “All done! Yay. Good job, that was a lot of oatmeal.” She wiped his face, “you were a little messy, but not bad for the first time.” Stephanie was done before Ms. Hana finished feeding Jamie. She tried to be patient, but that’s hard for her. Eventually she begged, “Mommy can I be excused? I want to play!” Ms. Hana shook her head, “Not yet sweetie. I just finished feeding Jamie, and now I have to eat my breakfast. Just be patient, honey. I won’t take long, I promise.” Stephanie let out an exasperated sigh but stopped herself before having a tantrum. BRATs are remarkably similar to their regressed ages. Little kids tend to pout, especially near their bedtime or naptime. Preteens can be impulsive, while teenagers are frequently moody. Despite that, Stephanie was old enough to understand why Ms. Hana wasn’t finished eating, and why she had to wait a few more minutes. It’s the major difference between BRATs, and an actual child. Nonetheless, Ms. Hana made sure to praise Stephanie after she finished. “Thank you for being a big girl and waiting. I’m proud of you.” Jamie and Tyler looked up with pleading eyes; both of them wondered why Stephanie was praised, but they weren’t. Ms. Hana smiled, “Yes, I didn’t forget about you. I’m proud of all you.” Jamie knew it was patronizing, but he craved her attention. After breakfast, they went back to their house for some quiet playtime. It’s also when most BRATs do their morning poo, so it’s a good time to change their diaper. Ms. Hana generally waits to change their nighttime diaper until they poop in it, which usually happens after breakfast. Jamie felt the effect of the laxatives, but he didn’t want to poo in his diaper. On the other hand, Stephanie didn’t care. It was natural for her, and she started pooping before they got to their house. It wasn’t as easy for Tyler. He had to squat, and he waited to do his business in the corner. Even if he wanted, Jamie couldn’t do it in the corner. He was stuck in his playpen and looked for other ways to relieve the pressure. Farting helped, but not a lot. Emily hightailed it upstairs as soon as they walked through the door. She told Ms. Hana that she wanted to play on her phone, but mostly, she didn’t want to change diapers. There would soon be three poopy diapers, and Emily didn’t want to change any of them. She dreaded the idea of changing diapers, let alone poopy diapers. In reality, she didn’t have anything to worry about. Tyler was still adjusting to his diapers, and Jamie wasn’t diaper trained. Even for Stephanie, the morning diaper change plays a vital role in building trust and connection. The process of changing diapers is more than just a routine; it is a critical bonding experience, especially when a BRAT isn’t used to using their diaper. Diaper training is the opposite of potty training. While young children are taught to wait until they get to the potty, BRATs are encouraged to use their diaper whenever they feel the urge. Nobody is better than Ms. Hana for that. For example, Emily was so used to using her diaper that it took a few months before she was comfortable wearing panties again, and she still wets her bed. As part of their training, RAs and SAs spend a week in diapers during the summer. Some of them get so used to their diapers that it can take two weeks for them to get back to normal, especially when it’s Ms. Hana that takes care of them. When she was in high school, Ms. Hana helped her mother at a daycare facility. She helped potty train a lot of toddlers, and even though their goals are different, the methods are similar. At the daycare, young children are praised when they use the potty. She does the same thing with BRATs when she checks their diaper. She can also read body language. She knows when a child has to use the potty and prompts them when they do. The same is true with BRATs, except she gently reminds them that pee-pee and poo-poo go in their diaper. In both cases, there is always an ample amount of praise. While she never scolds a child when they have an accident, she doesn’t hide her disappointment. However, she won’t hesitate to put a BRAT in timeout when she thinks they’ve waited too long, or they’re deliberately holding it in. BRATs aren’t supposed to ask to have their diaper changed or even indicate when they need one. For the most part, that’s done by ignoring them. Sometimes BRATs will tell an adult about the condition of their diaper, but it is usually treated as unintelligible babble. If it persist, the binky stops it. Sometimes BRATs use body language, but that varies from BRAT to BRAT. Stephanie would likely stay in a soggy diaper until it falls off without showing any discomfort, while Emily tugs at her diaper at the first sign of wetness. During the early stages of diaper training, they tend to push the diaper longer than they normally would. The nighttime diapers are thick and only need to be changed every 12 hours. Daytime diapers aren’t as thick and need to be changed every 2 to 3 hours. During diaper training, they only use nighttime diapers and only change them a few times each day. That way they get used to wet diapers. However, poopy diapers are changed as soon as possible. Ms. Hana happily changed both Tyler’s and Stephanie’s diaper, making sure to praise them for using it. Meanwhile, Jamie whimpered in his playpen as his stomach cramped. He really had to poo, but he didn’t want to do it in his diaper. Ms. Samara quietly said, “Jamie, just go. You’ll feel better afterward.” Jamie didn’t want to pee in his diaper either, even though it was already wet. With the combination of both urges, he was close to crying. Stephanie got close to him and discretely whispered, “I know it’s hard, but you’ve got to do it eventually.” Tyler wasn’t as close, and he was louder than Stephanie. “Jamie, don’t wait. If you hold it much longer, Ms. Hana is going to flush you out. Trust me, you don’t want that.” Ms. Hana quickly scolded him. “Tyler! You know better than that. You can’t talk to him when he is in the playpen. Go to the corner, now!” Tyler pointed at Stephanie. “But she talked to him first.” Ms. Hana considered putting Stephanie in timeout, but she didn’t want to encourage tattling. Toddlers don’t deserve explanations. She pointed to the corner, and with a firm voice, said, “Go!” She waited until Tyler got to the corner, and was facing the wall, “Thank you, honey. I’ll let you out in just a little while.” By this point, Jamie decided to poo, but he struggled with it. It was hard to poop while he was sitting in the playpen. Ms. Hana realized he needed some coaching, “it is easier if you squat, sweetie.” Jamie reluctantly squatted and pushed a large poo into his diaper. It was right in the middle of the room, and everybody watched, but he didn’t have a choice. Ms. Hana didn’t say anything for a while. She knew how traumatic it was to poop in a diaper for the first time; it almost made her quit. After a few minutes, she pulled Jamie’s diaper back; “That’s a good one. Good job, but I bet there is more in your tummy. Let’s see if you can push a little more, and then I’ll get you a nice clean diaper.” Jamie pushed a few more logs out. Ms. Hana waited a few minutes after he stopped grunting, and then checked his diaper again, even though she didn’t need to. This wasn’t just Jamie’s first messy diaper; it was the first time he went from a messy diaper to a clean one, and she wanted to make it special. Unfortunately, this wasn’t a baby poo. It was a grown man’s poo, and Jamie’s diet wasn’t very good. It was mostly fast food, with very little fiber. He only pooped a few times a week, and there is no way to sugar coat just how foul this diaper was. If she noticed, Ms. Hana didn’t let him know. She didn’t wince, hold her nose, or show any disgust. In fact, she praised him for putting so much poo in his diaper. She cleaned the poop and kept wiping until the wipes were clean. After that, she overloaded lotion and baby powder before putting the new diaper on him. The final touch, just before dressing him in a onesie, was blowing a raspberry into his tummy. Jamie did his best to stay still, and he earned a big hug after Ms. Hana finished. “Thank you for being such a good boy.” It was a good time to remind him of the rules. Ms. Hana said, “I know it’s hard, but you have to use your diaper. Pee-pee and poo-poo go in your diaper. You only have three rules. #1: Use your diaper, not the potty. #2: Don’t touch your diaper and don’t ask to be changed. #3: Be good. Don’t pout and listen to adults.” Stephanie felt sorry when Ms. Hana put Jamie in the playpen. She asked, “Mommy, can I give Jamie a stuffy? He looks lonely.” Ms. Hana smiled, “Oh baby, that’s so nice. Yes, go ahead.” Stephanie handed him a worn down stuffed bear. “This is Oscar. He’s my favorite, but you can have him. He can keep you company while you are in the playpen.” Playtime seemed to last forever. Stephanie and Tyler happily played on the floor, but Jamie could only sit and watch. He clutched Oscar, which helped with the monotony. Finally, it was time to go outside. Jamie wanted to play on the Pirate Ship, but that wasn’t allowed. Instead, they put him in the same jumper Tyler used. The seat was sturdy, and he couldn’t use his upper body. After it was raised, he could barely touch the ground with his toes, and once released, he couldn't control the bounce. The repeated bouncing caused him to wet his diaper, which he didn’t want to do. However, he wondered if things were worse for the other girl. There wasn’t another jumper, so she had to sit on a blanket at her RAs feet. Jamie was close enough to hear what the RAs were saying. Ms. Lisa, the RA for house 3, looked at the girl on the blanket and asked, “Level 0 again? How many times is that for her?” Ms. Tracy, the girl’s RA, replied, “I think it’s her seventh time.” The girl flashed six fingers, indicating it was only her sixth time at level 0. For most BRATs, one day at level 0 was enough to stop repeated misbehavior, but Tara wasn’t like the other BRATs. Ms. Tracy acknowledged the sign, “Oh, excuse me, the sixth time. Honestly, I lost count.” Ms. Leah asked, “Was it curfew again?” Ms. Tracy shook her head, “Not this time. She didn’t have one. We promoted her to teenager, but she’s not one anymore. She was dropped back to level 1 last night.” “What happened?” Ms. Tracy shook her head. “She came home drunk. Ironically, she got home before midnight, so she wouldn’t have missed the preteen curfew. Unfortunately, she doesn’t turn 21 until Halloween.” Ms. Hana sighed, “Underage drinking; that seems to happen every year.” For Tara, it was especially disappointing. Even though it was her fourth year in BRAT, it was the second time she was demoted to level 1. Such demotions are rare; other than underage drinking, there aren’t many ways for a BRAT to be demoted to toddler status. Little kids aren’t allowed to leave the compound without supervision, and most big kids are old enough to drink. Tara graduated from high school at 16 and joined BRAT a year later. She was promoted to level 4 just after her 19th birthday but immediately went back to level 1 after she went to one of Jamie’s parties in the residence hall. She rarely gets in trouble when she’s a little kid, so she was a big kid again the next year. However, she missed curfew five times and spent a full day at level 0 each time. It also took three weeks to become a big kid again, with two weeks in diapers. In most cases, making the same mistake over and over again is a sign of immaturity. However, in all other aspects, Tara is a model student. Ms. Rachel didn’t think it was fair to put her back in diapers. Since teenagers don’t have curfews on the weekend, she decided to promote her to level 5. If Tara had stayed with her friends, she wouldn’t be in this predicament. Her friends knew she would get in major trouble for drinking, and staying out all night was the better option. At most, she might get in trouble for not checking in, but that's only a minor infraction for a teenager. She didn’t even have to call; she could’ve texted Ms. Tracy, and nobody would know that she was drunk. Instead, Tara forgot that she didn’t have a curfew. She insisted on coming home. She made it back before midnight, which was her old curfew, but was slurring her words and could barely walk. Ms. Hana smiled and said, "She's a handful, but she is a sweetie when she is a baby." Ms. Tracy laughed, “The kid is brilliant. She’s as smart as Stephanie and is an absolute angel when she is a little kid. She just isn’t mature enough to be a big kid.” Ms. Hana lamented, “That means both you and I have three in diapers! I guess we drew the short straw.” Ms. Lisa replied, “There are 10 BRATs in diapers; somebody has to get three. It’s split as evenly as possible. You and Tracy have three, Leah and I have two. Let’s just hope none of the big kids give us any problems.” The rest of the RAs nodded; “I hear that!” Ms. Leah remarked, “I think we may have another perma-child in our ranks.” “We do?” “Yeah, I think Becky is one.” Ms. Hana asked, “Why do you think she’s a perma-child?” “It’s just an inclination. To be honest, it’s not surprising. I saw some signs of it last year. On Monday night, she told me that she didn’t deserve to be a big kid, so I dropped her to level 1. Since then, she uses her diaper without any issue. She doesn’t fuss when she poops, and she’s always wet when I check.” Ms. Lisa, remarked, “That makes three of those, doesn’t it?” Ms. Tracy rolled her eyes, “At least, it’s probably more.” After they finished with the playground, it was time for lunch. They had chicken fingers, fries and coleslaw. The other BRATs got to enjoy it as it was served, but Jamie and Tara had their chicken and fries mashed into a paste. Jamie liked the coleslaw and thought the mashed-up chicken and fries tasted okay, but he didn’t like the mushy texture. Since naptime followed lunch, Stephanie didn’t rush through her meal. She dawdled the entire time and was the last to finish. Ms. Hana eventually warned her. “Stephanie, hurry up. If you don’t finish in the next two minutes, I’m putting you in a highchair and feeding it to you.” For Jamie, there wasn’t much difference between naptime and playtime. He was confined to his playpen during playtime, and he couldn’t leave his crib during naptime. If anything, naptime was better than playtime. To pass the time, Jamie imagined ways to get revenge on his dad, but eventually the darkness and boredom overcame him. After a while, Ms. Hana woke him up by checking his diaper. Unfortunately, he hadn’t peed since lunch, which earned a slight reprimand. “Pee-pee goes in your diaper honey. Don’t hold it. I’m going to check again in a few minutes, and I want to see some pee-pee in your diaper.” He didn’t want to be scolded again, so he peed a little. It wasn’t a lot, but Ms. Hana beamed when she checked his diaper. “Good job, honey! That’s what you’re supposed to do. I’m not going to change you right now. I want you to pee some more. If I need to change your diaper before dinner, I’ll give you some ice cream for dessert.” Little kids aren’t given any privacy. Their diapers are changed in the living room, with absolutely no regard for their dignity. Tyler blushed when Ms. Hana checked his diaper, “I think a little boy needs his diaper changed.” Tyler protested; “Not yet, mommy.” He was playing with toy cars and didn’t want to be disturbed. “Tyler! You know better than that. Your diaper is changed when we say it is.” “I’m sorry.” Ms. Hana hugged him, “I know you are, honey. You just needed a reminder. Now come on, let’s get that diaper changed. You can go back to playing with your cars after I’m done.” Stephanie and Emily were playing a game. Suddenly, Stephanie wriggled and then grunted. Everyone but Jamie knew what was happening. Emily asked, “You didn’t, did you?” Stephanie didn’t say anything, but the blush on her face answered the question. Emily yelled out, “Mommy, Stephy has a poopy diaper!” Ms. Hana sighed. It was the fifth messy diaper of the day, and there were a few others that were just wet. With Ms. Samara out for the afternoon, it was just her and Emily taking care of the little kids. However, Emily hadn’t changed a single diaper all day. On top of that, she had been a bit of a brat. While it wasn’t enough to warrant a punishment, Ms. Hana definitely noticed the attitude. The expectation is clear: teenagers are supposed to help take care of the little kids, and as helpers, they aren’t allowed to respond to messy diapers like that. Ms. Hana remarked, “I believe it’s your turn, honey.” “What? I don’t want to do that!” “I’m sorry, but you’re a teenager, and that means you help with the little kids. The rule in this house is: if you spot it, you change it.” Emily whined, “Please, mommy. I don’t want to change her diaper; it smells!” That was a definite no-no! They made an SA wear diapers for two weeks after she did that. Ms. Hana firmly replied, “It’s either that, or you’ll go back to diapers.” It was an idol threat. While Ms. Hana had the justification to do it, she didn’t want another BRAT in diapers. However, Emily didn’t take it as an idol threat. She didn’t want to go back to being a baby, even if it was only temporary. She cried, “Please! Don’t!” And then stomped her foot, “that’s not fair!” Ms. Hana saw that Emily was on the verge of a tantrum, which would mean a week at level 1. Given her history, there would likely be more tantrums, which would mean even more time in diapers. Without any hesitation, Ms. Hana grabbed a pacifier and said, “Open up. That’s about enough out of you.” Emily accepted the pacifier, and Ms. Hana told her, “Go stand in the corner. I want you to think about what it means to be a big girl. We can talk after I change Stephanie’s diaper.” Teenagers are rarely put in timeout. By the time they reach level 5, they know how to avoid trouble. In the past, Emily might have pouted even further, which would have gotten her in deeper trouble. Instead, she accepted her fate, walked to the corner and patiently waited for Ms. Hana to let her out. Ms. Hana didn’t leave her there very long. She waited a few minutes after finishing with Stephanie and then walked to the corner. Emily immediately apologized, “I’m sorry, mommy. I didn’t mean to be bad.” She spoke with a childlike tone; it was the same tone little kids use when they are in trouble. Ms. Hana hugged her, “It’s okay, honey. I put you in timeout because I didn’t want you to throw a tantrum. You’re at level 5 now, and you can’t act like that anymore. You need to be a better role model for the little kids.” Emily nodded, “I know. I’m sorry.” “I know you are. Remember, we don’t talk that way about little kid’s diapers. It’s not nice. I’m sure you remember what that was like, so you should’ve known better. I’m going to put you at level 3 for the rest of the day. If you are good, I’ll let you try again tomorrow.” That was the best consequence Emily could hope for. Usually, big kids are put in a playpen after getting put in timeout, which comes with a temporary drop to level 1. It can take a few weeks to get back to their true level. Because of the drop, she wasn't allowed to leave the compound and had to go to bed early. However, she only needed to wear a diaper at night. She truly regretted her comment about Stephanie’s diaper. She and Stephanie spent a lot of time together, mostly in diapers. They are like twin sisters, and she couldn’t imagine getting through it without Stephanie’s help. She kneeled at Stephanie’s side, “I’m sorry. I was mean. I shouldn’t have said that.” Stephanie meekly replied, “It’s okay.” Emily took the role of the big sister and said, “No, it wasn’t. Did I hurt your feelings?” Stephanie spread her fingers apart, “A little.” Emily wrapped her arms around her, “I’m so sorry. It won’t happen again, I promise.” For Jamie, it was a long and boring day. He was stuck in his playpen all day long, he wasn’t allowed to speak, and nobody could talk to him. Oscar was his only companion; Stephanie was right: Oscar is a good friend. His dinner was mashed into a paste, which Ms. Hana fed to him. Despite his best efforts, Ms. Hana got as much food on his face as in his mouth. The day mercifully came to an end after dinner, with Jamie’s bedtime routine beginning after they returned from the dining room. Since Jamie didn’t get a bath the day before, Ms. Hana gave him a full bath that night. As he gazed wistfully at the bath toys, Ms. Hana gently explained, “I’m sorry, honey, no bath toys. Those are only for toddlers and preschoolers.” After his bath, it was time for his bottle. Ms. Hana explained, “You haven’t pooped since breakfast. Poo-poo goes in your diaper, and you aren’t supposed to hold it. I’m going to give you some medicine to help you go poo-poo in your diaper.” Jamie had barely shown any resistance the entire day, but he couldn’t help himself. He kept the pacifier in his mouth, holding back his emotions and cried, “I don’t want to poop in mmm diaper.” The words were caught in his throat; he almost said, ‘my diaper,’ but he didn’t want to admit that it was his diaper. Ms. Hana understood how Jamie felt, and instead of scolding him, she comforted him. She held him tight, “I know, but you have to. Pee-pee and poo-poo goes in your diaper.” She waited until his breathing slowed and then put the bottle in his mouth. With no other choice, Jamie sucked on it. After a few moments, she softly rubbed his back, “I want you to know that I’m very proud of you. Tomorrow you’ll be with everyone else, so it should be easier for you.” Once Jamie finished his bottle, she carefully helped him into his crib. She kissed him tenderly on the forehead and then raised the bars. “It’s nite-nite time, so go to sleep.”

Mom is not the most forgiving person, and she specifically told Alice not to drink. That does not bode well for Alice.

Much like @diapereddaddy1922, I've word diapers to work for 4+ years, and never been asked about. And I wear Crinklz, with two boosters, and a waterproof cover. I honestly don't know if anybody knows. Maybe they think I'm carrying a healthy package (I'm not), and have a big ass. I don't pee a lot in it, but it is usually wet when I get home.

FYI; I hate when authors go a few weeks without updating their stories, so I wanted to provide everyone with a progress update. I wanted to complete my next chapter today, but it's a lot longer (6K words!) than I expected. It's not ready for the big time yet. I'm still on the revision stage, but it's getting closer to being ready for publication. I'm hoping it will come on Saturday, but I might need to wait until Sunday.

I had a similar thing happen to me in class. It was not going to be pretty, and I was alone (no other adult). I called for another adult, they came, and it's a short walk to bathroom. Let's just say the bomb door opened once my butt hit toilet seat.

I take real life inspiration, but it isn't recognizable to what actually happened in real life. For example, I once lost track of my mother at a store while we were travelling. I was early teen, so I wasn't that young, but my mom was very upset about it. In real life she called for me over the intercom, but she would put me in a stroller in one of my stories. My mom is the inspiration for every primary care giver, but she didn't have the control issues that Eddie's mom had, nor was she as strict as Aunt Amanda.

Mom is extremely evil. I wouldn't be surprised if this was some kind of psychological game to her. It would be one thing if she acted like Alice was a toddler through the whole time, but she constantly let's Alice to fall to her toddler like status. Even though Alice is forced into this, she is also allowing it to happen.

Those are some of the nicest words anybody has said to me on this board. Thank you very. I'm touched. The process of building a spreadsheet, and have it sparse data is very reward. For me, it's more about the journey than the product. With stories, it's not just the process. Taking that idea to a final product is so rewarding, and I keep working on it to make as good as it can be.