So... I'm a pretty big planner. Very big planner. And I'm a big reader. Very Big Reader. I have been reading about and planning potty training since before the boys were two. We've done everything we "should" do for readiness - keep potties out, encourage potty use, talk about potty actions, read potty books, everything.
Since the boys moved to the 2s room, every day they each sit on the potty four times a day. Eight potty sits a day for 9 months. And not once has either of them produced anything, even by accident. Not once!
We had a one-day booty camp the day after Christmas. It was a complete disaster, with one boy holding his stuff for hours while the other peed and pooped his way through the house. At that point, I decided they are not ready, and if they ever show any signs of readiness at school, then we'll worry about potty training.
In the back of my head, I've been freaking out a little. They can't move to the 3s room unless they are potty trained. They turn 3 in less than 3 months! We (and day care) can't do anything more to encourage them. All around us, other kids have shown signs of training and became trained. Yet for us, not even one little squirt of pee in a potty!
Last night at bedtime, Nate decided he wanted to sit on the potty. He sat and sat, talking and talking all about potty stuff. After awhile, Alex decided he wanted to sit too. After 10 minutes of them talking and laughing, I thought maybe this was their new way of stalling at bedtime, but I didn't want to discourage them when they initiated potty use so I held out. Nate gave up so I got him dressed and I gave Alex a one minute warning. Alex said, "No mommy! I pee on potty!" And then he did!!!
I finally understand why people are so freaking excited when their kid uses a potty. I cheered and danced and clapped. Alex cheered and clapped. We called Jon in Colorado and Alex proudly told him the news. Through all of this, Nate was INSANELY jealous. It was really, really bad. He wanted all the attention and kept talking about how he was going to pee on the potty and he was going to get to flush it and he would get to call daddy. So then Nate took all his clothes off and went to sit on the potty again, because he was determined that he was going to get some attention.
Is it so bad to be hopeful that Nate might potty train himself to get attention?
It took a serious amount of patience and cajoling to get both boys back into pjs and into bed. This morning, Alex woke up whining about his diaper and pj pants. NEVER good. I found him sitting in bed naked. I told him that was very bad, and he said, "I don't want to wear a diaper. I want to pee on the potty!" then he ran off into the bathroom to sit.
In the meantime, Nate did the same thing (to get attention!) and OF COURSE distracted Alex. Alex got off the potty and ended up peeing all over the floor. I couldn't have coffee this morning because I had to go do a blood test, so the morning just felt overwhelming and exhausting. Cleaning up pee, dealing with jealousy, dealing with crankiness. Argh.
I decided that getting two boys ready for school, working on potty training, molar teething + toddler whining, Jon traveling, no coffee, and medical fasting is the worst combination EVER for mommy patience. EVER.
I'm pretty hopeful we may be on the road to getting Alex trained. He proudly told his teacher at school about the potty. He talked about sitting on the potty at school. He talked about wearing underwear at home. It was a big breakthrough.
And before you post a negative comment, I am fully aware potty training is one step forward, two steps back. This is our very first step forward so let me be excited!!!
18 comments:
That's a very big first step and you should take a moment and relish it. I wonder if it might (in some ways) be easier to potty train twins b/c they mind feed off each other to both want to accomplish it. I'm not saying it is going to be easy to PT two at the same time, I guess I just thought it might be a nice advantage for you. And if you ever need to vent to someone who had her little boy in pull-ups until 3 1/2, please feel free to vent away. Trust me I have been there and heard it ALL! Good luck.
That should be they "MIGHT" feed off each other not "mind". LOL! Where is the edit button for comments???
I am SO SO SO excited for you. This sounds like a HUGE step!! YAHOOOOOOOOO!
You get down with your potty dance! The first time(s) are so exciting and you need to celebrate them. My girls are not even 1 yet, but my 4 y/o obviously went through the steps. It's tough, but you get through the messes and I can still remember the excitement (we even took pictures - at the time it seemed like a good idea, now it's just gross to look at)
Congratulations. I had to laugh b/c I too am a big reader. I always have friends call me with random baby questions b/c they figure I have read about it. I think they secretly know that even if I don't have the answer I might hit the web and find info for them :) I like to learn what can I say!
I love the preemptive strike on all the downers :) Be excited. I am just impressed that you lived to tell about all of that without caffeine.
LOL. I really hope that peer pressure is your friend in potty training. If it works, would you mind lending me one of your boys for motivation?
I'm in complete denial about potty training. You know that I'm a big planner and a big reader too right? Well, I haven't even read the back of a potty training book, let along read an entire one.
YAY!!! This is definitely one aspect of parenting I did not expect- the excitement you can feel over your child's bodily functions! I hope everything goes as smoothly as it can for Nate and Alex. For us, potty training was the one thing that went really smoothly for Cooper.
How exciting!!!! And yeah for peer pressure if it leads to something good!
I think you earned a big glass of wine this morning (to be consumed later, obviously). congrats on the first pee!
Go stand at your door and listen to me celebrating for you (as well for as N and A)!!!
Whatever method works run with it and don't look back (unless you are cleaning up a mess)that is
I totally think the peer pressure aspect as well that Ben really wanted Thomas underwear like a friend at school was the catalyst. YEAH!
We would have "Potty Parties" when our girls were training - singing, dancing, treats, and they got to go to the party store and pick out a mylar balloon. Very big deal!
Sounds like they just might make it to the 3's room in time after all! :)
Great news, Laura!
The Twin Package comes with Peer Pressure for a reason. Use it to your advantage and don't look back!
Yay you and your boys!! This is the biggest step in potty training, in my opinion.
We're not all the way there, but we've had a few successfully diaperless days. Yesterday, Melody told me, "I made a little bit mess on the potty but I cleaned it up. It's okay, Mama. I washed my hands with soap three times!" Sure, there was a little urine under the toilet seat insert, but none where you could see it.
Yay!!!! I have always heard not to push it and when THEY are ready it will be SO MUCH EASIER. Here is hoping this is the case for you!! Hopefully Alex will give Nate the little nudge needed to do it too.
I am DREADING potty training. Two at once, Ugh!!!
YAY!! Having Alex excited about it and receiving extra attention will surely motivate Nate! We too have the looming deadline of a preschool that will not take kids that are not potty trained. Looks like your boys will be there in no time! Congrats!!
Yeah! I was so excited about our first peeing, too. And let me say that there were times in the past 2 months (we really didn't start potty training, S started herself) when I thought, why does anyone ever bother with this? It's so much more WORK -- like your description of this morning. But with S, things are a lot easier now and, cheaper! Let's plan fun things to do with extra money when we're no longer buying diapers. Good luck with both of them. This is a place where we can use peer pressure for good. Though J's new thing is saying "I want to use the potty" and when I say "great!" He says "I'm just teasing Mama."
woo wooo laura! big day and VERY exciting.
i just finally got #3 (age 3.75) into dry at NIGHT and into panties! talk about WOO WOO - no more pull ups!...at least for a while anyway. ;)
i am still dreaming of the day my house will be diaper/pull-up free. i'll have a nice chunk of change to maybe get a pedicure or something fun!
I'm very jealous. Jadyn has never produced anything outside of a diaper. Not one accident. Ever. Liana used to go on the potty when she was 2 and then one day stopped and I can't convince her to so much as sit on the fricking thing. I assume they aren't ready yet, which is unbelievable to me. But, whatever ... I've tried every bribe possible and now realize it's just entirely up to them. I give up.
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