Friday, March 27, 2009

Potty training saga

I've tried to keep this blog about my creativity-ness and things like that. But when it's something in my life...I don't know, I just have to talk about it or I'll go crazy. So I apologize to my daughter(s) who will, in the future, Google themselves (or use whatever is available then) and find that mommy talked about how stubborn Katie is. Bear with me, crafty readers. Most of you are mommies, and have been through this, so maybe you'll get a chuckle out of this. And please, if you remember the experience being as difficult as it feels right now, don't tell me - that means it's just going to get worse!!! ;) FYI - Katie is 3 years 8 months and 13 days old. Her sister was fully day trained by 3 years 6 months.

I'm trying the 3-day potty training method that Heather sent me. I started with tons of encouragement and a lot of excitement. Day 1 saw Katie go potty on the potty twice - both only when I told her (the whole idea of this system is that the kid learns to tell you when they have to go - which is much better to me). Day 2 in the morning saw Katie standing next to the couch, listening to me remind her to tell me when she has to go potty, and peeing on the floor. Day 2 after nap I started bribing her with chocolate chips, which seemed to work. Day 3, she has started to roll her eyes when I remind her to tell me when she has to go potty. And when I ask if her panties are dry, she says "I'll tell you when I have to go potty, Mama" - which, I've learned means "No, my panties are not dry".

DH seems convinced that she'll get it on Day 5 of the 3 day plan. Of course, he's 500 miles away, and is trying to keep me calm on the phone. I'm willing to stick to the "Pull Ups are no longer an option" during the day, but I think after this weekend, we'll go back to Pull Ups at night, because I think she's really just a hard sleeper and doesn't wake up enough to get out of bed and go potty at night. I can deal with that. Although I woke her up this morning and she was mostly dry.

Through the wonderful worlds of blogging, Facebook and cell phones, I've gotten a lot of encouragement and support from moms all over the country (probably all over the world). I spent about 45 minutes on the phone with my best friend, who told me it's okay to tote a stubborn wet child around Walmart or Costco. I try really hard not to wish this part of my life away, but can I please just fast forward a little? Just skip to where she's ready to "get it"? And is everything in her life going to be this hard? Oh, dear Lord, please return before she gets to high school!

1 comment:

Tangled Stitch said...

Bless you Drea! When my son(who is now a senior in high school) was learning to do #2 he learned how to hold it in and didn't do #2 for 2 weeks not to have to go potty. Finally his pediatrician and some laxative and stool softener did the trick. Hope I made you laugh and hope your potty training goes much better.