G worked from home on Friday and has tomorrow off for the holiday, so we decided to take advantage of these extra two days and share this very enjoyable parental task: potty training.
Sweet Jesus, I’m exhausted. As I’ve indicated before, we hadn’t really gotten into this process quite yet. And there’s a good reason why this is so.
We are on Day Three and I think we’re regressing. That is, by end-of-day tomorrow, G and I will be hiding in the closet with wet pants, clutching each other and begging for our mommies. If I have to hear myself ask if anyone needs to go pee one more time, I may hurl myself down the stairs. Hell, I might even shave my head and get myself checked into a nice rehab facility.
I know… I’m all mama drama. What the hell is my problem? Parents have done this before. For centuries even. But I am weak and a crybaby. These kids are almost three years old. We think they are ready, but today Buddy seemed to resist more than he did the first day. We had more accidents today then we did the first day. Is that a sign to back off? Do we stop now and try again in a few weeks? Or is this normal? Anyone? Advice?
I think the novelty of Nemo underwear and stickers has worn off. Bribes of ice cream apparently have no meaning these days. More tv time? Late curfews? Cars when they are 16? We are met with an inch more resistence with each suggestion. They sense our desperation, which just makes us more desperate. We even promise not to judge their (totally lame) boy/girlfriends in the future (at least not in front of them). And then offer more (empty) promises that this will be the first and last time we nag them. IN THE NAME OF ANNA NICOLE, WHERE DOES IT END?
I am scared for Tuesday, when G goes back to work (lucky S.O.B… that’s right G, did you hear me grumbling and muttering so passively-aggressively under my breath today?). If you guys don’t hear from me again, call 911. Chances are I am on the bathroom floor, my hands knotted tightly behind my back with a McGyver’d rope (braided with Lightning McQueen and Dora underwear, no doubt), a Buzz Lightyear brief wadded in my mouth, lying in my own pool of urine while my kids raid the kitchen and program the TiVo, all with diapers wrapped perfectly around their rebellious little bodies.
8 Comments
I was very frustrated as well with potty training. When I was researching potty training a common theme seemed to be praise and positive reinforcement. I came across a website called http://www.pottytrainingrewards.com. We hung it in the kitchen and named the little boy on the front of the package, Bobby. My son could not wait to go to the potty so he could push the button, hear the praising message, and get his chocolate reward from, Bobby. It really got my son excited about using the potty himself and it was fun for him. Because he became so involved, potty training was easy. So give it a try.
with only a 14 mo - i do not speak from experience. BUT i think after the new underwear purchase my niece was having “Accidents” just so she could pick another new pair to put on. actually my sister has a post on the potty-training adventure. if i was smart i could link it. but i am not. (remember i do not even know how to get to NJ city).
Wish I had some constructive or helpful advice but we were lucky with our daughter, she was in a daycare setting that helped a lot, she saw all of her friends go through the process and we did the same thing you did, we set aside a weekend to start potty training and the teachers at daycare reinforced it.
However, our son, was over 3 years old before he was trained. At 2 1/2 we tried the same tactics(however, he wasn’t in a daycare) he had zero interest, we tried everything. So we waited, my husband and I went away for weekend, my mother-in-law didn’t tell us she was going to do this but tried potty training and she did it! He was potty trained after 2 days, don’t know if it was a combo of different person doing the begging and he was just ready, whatever it was we are eternally grateful. Otherwise, knowing my extremely stubborn 5 year old son he would still be in diapers. So in other words, just run for the hills and get your in-laws to do the “dirty” work. Hey, I already warned you my advice wasn’t going to be helpful!
karen: thanks for the tip, i’ll check it out!
am: going to find your sister’s blog now. I need all the help I can get.
angela: oh how i wish i could send them to the in-laws! they are pitying us from afar, and i’m sure breathing sighs of relief that they don’t live closer right now. think your m-i-l would want to take on some twins now??
Oh, man, I do not look forward to this. But this picture gives me the giggles - they are so gonna kill you when they’re older! I love how your Bean has her reading material, she’s all good to go (no pun intended. Well, okay, yeah, pun intended!).
I know this sounds gross but if I poop in the bathroom, Em somehow chooses to do it at the same time too (in her diaper, of course). It’s freakish - dunno if it’s the bathroom location, the smell, the fact that I’m telling her what’s going on… but I’m hoping to start potty training around 18 months (or whenever she’s mobile enough to walk to the potty herself). Some mom friends did the poop-together thing with their kids and it seemed to work (coupled with lots of M&Ms). Good luck!
I don’t have any constructive thoughts… but here’s this: almost everyone I know above the age of 5 are potty trained, even those with the least motivated parents. Hence, as logic will serve, potty training apparently happens naturally with some encouragement. (This is what cheers me up after every puddle LN creates after insisting she wants to pee in the potty and taking off her diaper.)
halfmama, i am so sorry. i gave the book back the day before i saw your comment but, i just got off the phone with my friend and have the list of signs that your child is NOT ready…
1. stands at the potty, but P’s on the floor.
2. doesn’t want their diaper taken off and screams if and when you do.
3. same as #1 but with poop
4. struts around with a dirty diaper, sits down and does not appear to be bothered by it at all
5. hides in a corner or closet and can be heard grunting and groaning while pooping
6. says “no, no, no” if parent acknowledges that they are about to poop
7. shows any resistance to using the potty
bridget had 1,3,4,5,6 but started to use the potty anyway. i am convinced it was because i sat her down and told her that it was HER potty and she could use it if she wanted and i wasn’t going to ask her anymore. 2 days after that conversation she told me it was potty day and never looked back.
good luck! its very strange and frustrating and 100% mental. i’m pretty sure it has to be their decision in order for it to happen easily.
great blog, btw.