One-day training -- Day Two

So I bit the bullet. I staged the potty intervention. Yesterday was Potty Day.

The preparations were extensive. And I followed the book: I had a peeing boy doll, and a dozen "underpants" for him (I just cut up a receiving blanket from the dollar store). I had piles of potty books and videos. I had a treat tray and lots of drinks on hand (even juice boxes, which are pretty much off-limits here, barring special occasions). I decked out the living room to look like a camp site -- complete with faux tent, sleeping bag, picnic table, plastic bugs, and camping stories for us to read. I prepared sticker charts for the doll and my son, I had activities to keep him entertained while he sat on the pot (bubbles, etch-a-sketch, books..), and I wrapped a few presents for him for our end-of-day celebration. And the ice cream cake was ready to go for the celebration too.

I was up doing last-minute preparations Saturday night til I collapsed. My husband thought I was nuts, given that I was so wiped out before the potty day even began! He had a point there. It was sheer exhaustion plus anxiety (will this work?). Oh, plus it was that time of the month. Yeah, I was in fine shape.

Sunday was Potty Day. The day started smashingly. The doll was a huge hit. "Does it talk?" My son instantly named him and took to caring for him. By 9:30am the "training" was officially underway. After reading a potty book to the doll, we took it to the bathroom to use the toy potty chair. The doll peed and we were off! My son was amazed. (I filled the bowl after sending him on an errand.) The doll got a sticker and a treat.

The doll got another treat for staying dry, and my son was VERY into this treat thing. When I went to put a dry diaper on my boy around 10:00 (with this plan, the emphasis is on just the doll's use of the potty in the a.m.), he asked to use the potty for a sticker and a treat. I was thrilled! He had success and there was lots of whooping it up after that. We kept working on the doll -- who had accidents, much to my son's surprise. He really got into correcting the doll and reminding him that we don't pee in our underpants. I figured I had the whole thing in the bag at that point!

My son was completely grossed out by the doll's bowel movement accident (baby prunes). But by the second accident, he pointed out that toys don't go poopy and pee-pee. Mr. Smarty pants.

Shortly after 11, my little boy asked for his Thomas underpants. Woohoo! Here we go. Again, I was thrilled. And by lunchtime, both the doll and my son had had successful trips to the potty, with my lead. It was an excellent morning.

At lunch he had his first accident with underpants. He didn't seem to be bothered by it, but by the second accident, he was telling me he just wanted a clean diaper. He was getting tired of the process, and so was I. But I pumped him back up by bringing in potty chair #2, which I'd forgotten to bring out earlier. It was a different style, and he liked it.

By 2:30, I was exhausted! I wanted him to take a nap, but he wanted to play. I put a pull-up on him for nap-time, where I rested and he played quietly near me. After a 45-minute rest, we were back at it. Videos, books, drinks... At one point when I told my son how proud I was of him, he told me how proud he was of me! Tickle me yellow.

Around 4:30, we went out for a walk and looked for neighbors to invite to our grand finale potty celebration. And at 6pm, we set up ice cream cake on the front lawn, wore party hats and greeted neighbors who stopped by with congratulations. I think we were both high on adrenalin and sugar at that point.

The party was interrupted when my boy screamed and cried from the kitchen. He had run into the house by himself -- maybe an attempt to get to a potty. When I went in, his legs and shoes were covered with brown liquid. A very messy accident. (Too much juice & too many treats!) At that point, I swear I became Hercules. I lifted him and held him away from my body as I carried him upstairs. In the bathroom as I cleaned him up, he just kept telling me "I'm trying my hardest...." Ripped my heart out. Of course I reassured him that he was doing great, and that everyone has accidents when they're learning.

It was around then that I decided this was nuts. It was so intense. Between the preparation and the actual day itself, I was ready to drop to the floor. By the time he went to bed at 8:30, it had been a very full day of potty training. Some success. Some accidents. Lots of practice. Some fun, too, but honestly? I found it pretty stressful. I didn't let him know that. I stayed upbeat and enthusiastic all day long.

And today? I am FRIED.

He's wearing underpants, and sleeping & going out in pull-ups. The diapers are gone. There have been plenty of pee puddles today. Fortunately we have ugly old carpeting in our house! I have plastic training pants on order (because no one has them in-stock locally for a 38-pound tot), along with toilet targets.

We'll keep working on it. Practice practice. And I'm going to check out this book for some follow-up tips. It's dated, but people rave about it.

We have 2 months til preschool.

Something will click, right?

Comments

[Antique Mommy]

I think I'll stick with my potty training plan, which is no plan at all and let him figure it out on his own. Where you wrote that he said, "I'm trying my hardest..." ripped my heart out too. It shouldn't be this traumatic. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[caltechgirl]

Sounds like a good start, seriously. Good luck!

[Jody]

Sounds like he "gets" it. Good job- I probably wouldn't have made it.

[kristi]

Marie-you are super-mom. Good for you for putting so much effort into this. It's clear he's learning, and like anything else, for most kids, potty training takes times! He'll get it. And you get some rest!

[Michele]

Oh. My. Gooodness. They don't come potty trained? Is that common?

You are my hero!

By the way: Is it obvious that I have never had a child? No, really, is it?

[Jill]

Good luck! He'll get it one of these days. And if there is a secret, magic solution, please let me know because The Boy turns 3 this fall and while I'm not pressuring him about anything yet, I think after 3 we'll have to get serious.

[nat]

I think you've had some success already! HANG IN THERE (i'm sure he'll be potty trained before he starts driving.)

[Melody]

Yay good for you Marie!! Good for you!! Wow. I'm in awe. Can you come over and train Monet?

[InterstellarLass]

He'll get it. They all do eventually. If the diapers are gone, that's a start. I couldn't depend on the pull ups. They kept them too dry. Keep enforcing the big boy pants. I also used some things I found called Piddlers. They were shapes that you could put in the toilet and the boys could aim for them. After a few minutes the dissolved and flushed. Cheerios also work. Making it a game rather than a chore helps.

[Bluegrass Mama]

Good luck, Marie! I was fortunate to never have a deadline with my kids. I really think it's less a case of "training" than of recognizing when they're ready. Because it ain't gonna happen till they are!