Our dear, sweet Gavin is now over two and a half years old. With that, comes the joyous responsibility of teaching him how to use the potty. This has always been one of my most dreaded tasks as a mother. However, if you would've asked me three years ago after I trained Cameron, I would've told you it was a piece of cake and that those other moms that were having difficulties must be doing something wrong. With Cameron I think I cleaned up one poopy pair of underwear (I honestly don't know how anyone uses cloth diapers), and he never had any other accidents. I never read any books on potty training and didn't have any of those silly childrens books about going potty. I now realize that I was extrememly fortunate and that Cameron basically trained himself, and I should receive zero credit. Well I can now tell you that I have done all of those things I didn't do with Cameron, I've read books and sought out advice from anyone and everyone willing to give it. We've checked out hoards of those silly books with everything from jungle animals that sit on the potty, to a train that says "chugga chugga poo poo" to ones that show animated drawings of poop and pee. We've tried stickers and candy incentives, songs and silly dances, special Mickey mouse underwear, and even a coveted lawn mower as the final reward once he has mastered this feat. All to little avail! He will pee on the toilet every time I take him (drag him kicking and screaming), but he never tells me when he needs to go and refuses to poop anywhere except on those new Mickey Mouse undies that have now been washed a zillion times. Who knew it could be so much work? I've been tempted to throw in the towel, but I know he can do it and it is all just a power struggle between the two of us. I cannot, I will not give up! This will be the event that I bring up as a guilt trip when he is older. Some moms make a big deal out of carrying their children for nine months and then enduring a horrifying labor, that was a snap for me, especially his delivery, but potty training has been miserable, and I don't see an end too soon in sight. I am seriously tempted to fly to Chicago for this program. A woman that makes a living from teaching kids how to use the toilet in her "Booty Camp." It's only $250 and in one day she has a 98% success rate!
8 comments:
Are you going to hate my advice? Probably. But I will give it anyway. Take a break for a bit...give him a few months to forget about the struggle and reintroduce the idea in the fall (when Cameron is a school all day!). You will be amazed how much easier it will be. It worked for me a few times...
Hang in there Erika! We're all rooting for you!
Oh man, that sounds like no fun. Loved your entertaining post though! :)
Oh, don't tell me that. I am so not looking forward to this for Jonathan. That's so awful. I wish I had some magic advice, but we just had to put Ethan back into pull-ups at night because after 2 years, he has been reverting back to wetting the bed 3-4 times a week. Be strong...
I struggled a lot with Emma, first when she was 2, then 2 1/2, thought she would never do it and finally realized she just wasn't ready like other kids her age were. I tried again later when she seemed more interested, and she was trained in less than a week, including nigthtime. She was 3yrs. and 4 mos. old. I guess each child is ready in their own time. Good luck. :)
You can do it, Erika! And you too, Gavin! I'm already dreading the day I begin training Truman and he's only 11 months old.
i am working on the potty training thing with jackson too. He was great the first two weeks, and since it has been up and down. I think it is almost worse knowing that he can actually tell me he has to go, but somedays he just doesnt! They all learn it eventually i guess.
I've been trying to introduce this all to Collin and he is my only child who won't even look at the potty. Hates it! I sat him on it for awhile and he refused to even pee in it. I thought after two boys that my third would be way easier....boy was I wrong. Let me know if you end up sending him to Chicago...might go with ya!!
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