My thoughts on potty training:
I don't want to bore you with my child's bowel habits, or his irregularity, or his messes and accidents. Because lets be honest, you don't care. But these are my thoughts and lessons learned so far in this "fun" process.
**Just a side note. Emmett is 100% potty trained going #1 and ZERO percent potty trained going #2. **
- I've learned the hard way that positive reinforcement is much more effective than negative.
- It's one of the big stresses of my life right now. Sometimes I feel like ripping my hair out, and then other times I'm so tired of it I want to surrender and just go back to diapers. (Which I can't because that would mean un-training him with #1 again).
- Its been 3 months. I know that doesn't sound very long (or maybe it does?), but I feel like we've hit a roadblock and I wonder if there ever be a successful end to this. Everyday he sits on the potty I think to myself "Maybe today will be the day?"
- Emmett's bathroom has never been so sprinkled with poop and pee. And me being the germaphobe that I am, drives me cRaZy to clean it every. single. day. And I've always hated cleaning bathrooms in general.
- I feel like my hands are never clean. I can't tell you how fast we go through handsoap.
- We are on the short list of preferred customers for the Pull Ups Corporation .
- Rewards, presents, treats don't work anymore. It got us past training for #1. But we hit a road block going #2 and there's nothing good enough that can convince him to do it.
- Suppositories don't produce results when he's constipated and only make him cry.
- A mild laxative on the other hand (added to a beverage) does help, as do fiber gummies (that he calls gummy bears).
- I have to tell myself that he WILL get this someday. And he won't go to college still un-potty trained.
- I know its not easy for him either. He cries and gets frustrated just like we do.
My mom sent me an article on potty training 101 in an email the other day, here is a snippet:
On being patient:
....what it takes to do the training:
1) a dump load of PATIENCE. 2) Diligence & follow through. 3) More Patience. 4) Willingness to find creative ways & rewards 5) Did I mention PATIENCE? 6) Thick skin to put up with those friends who never fail to mention how their kid was potty trained in 1 day. 6) Umm did I mention PATIENCE!!!! OK....good cause your gonna need a mine full of it and when you hit China...turn around and dig for more.
I'm digging real deep right now!
8 comments:
Potty training and driver's training are/were the two worst parent experiences of training for me. I feel your pain.
You're right. Kids seldom have a pampers in their lunch box. He'll get it.
I did miss his wink in the top picture. Don't tell me he's outgrown that?!
Hang in there Lisa! He will get it and it will be a day when you least expect it!
He sounds a lot like Danika! I told her we were just going to quit and try again in a few months...the next day she went in the potty and we haven't had an accident since!
He will do it when HE is ready! Until then I will pray for patience for you!
That picture cracks me up! You should have also posted one of you pulling your hair out.
This too shall pass...wether its in the toilet or in a pull-up.
Hang in there. You have no other choice:)
Ditto on everything already said... in the meantime, chocolate for mama is the cure all. Do I need to send you some???
i do NOT look forward to this!
I feel for you! Hang in there and I thought the quote your mom sent was excellent. I need to get going with my second son.
Hey Lisa!! I wish you could have walked with us too... it was life changing and so awesome!!! We MISS YOU!!!
Hey Lisa, Understand the frustration. All I can say is he will do it when he wants to. I know it may not be as early as you would like but I learned with my first that the stress and frustration just isn't worth it. We worked with Coop (my oldest) but he just didn't seem to care. Then he all of a sudden turned 3. He woke up the next day told us he didn't want to wear diapers anymore and we haven't looked back. I can count on 1 hand the number of accidents he has had and none of them have been at nighttime. Be patient and know that he will do it when he's ready to.
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