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Potty Training, Act I

“Hey Dominic, do you want to try and go potty?” asks Mommy.

“NO!!!!” replies the defiant 32 month old.

“Okaaay.” Mommy sighs while reaching for another diaper.

End scene.

…..

And that is about as far as I have been taking things.  The boy has no interest, and therefore I have no interest in starting another round of Operation Cruisers Be Gone. 

I know I should just get on with it and enlist my son in a home-based Potty Training Boot Camp. I’ve done it before; my daughter was relatively painless to train.  It is not as if I am licking wounds here from some horrid post traumatic stress event of potty woe. It was in her nature to learn to do everything by herself, and she was keen to prove that I was no longer needed in the wiping of the ass department. 

Certainly after nearly 5 years of handling another person’s feces I am more than happy to be freed.  So what is wrong with this picture?

I just feel like it’s going to be a very different experience this time around. It’s going to be harder. With everything else going on right now (and yes, I realize everything is always going on right now), the thought of taking on this additional challenge is overwhelming.

Then of course there is the fact that he shows no inclination to train in the first place. Bring on the incentives: 

  • Sticker charts!
  • Prizes!
  • Shoot the cheerios?

Great for him, but here’s what’s in it for me:

  • Pleading!
  • Trying not to touch underwear so disgusting it’s better to just throw them away!
  • Ooh look, more and more laundry!
  • We have leakage; quick, get out the upholstery cleaner! 
  • Time to buy more stock in Febreze. 

No thanks.

You know, my grandmother’s couches had cushions on them that were covered in plastic.  Suddenly it all makes sense.

We’ll get there eventually, I know we will.  I’m just not feeling the desire to push him right now when all he wants to do is push back. 

You can't make me.

Perhaps I should just work on my Jedi Mind Trick skills instead…

These aren’t the diapers you’re looking for.

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    July 19th, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , | Category: Post
    • Simone

      When Baby Boo finally got potty trained, she was three. I was thinking it was never going to happen. We tried the rubber pants with the real training pants…within 2 hours and pee and poo 5 times, I was done. The pullups did nothing for her but make her think that she could “hide” the fact that she already went potty.

      I decided that when she was ready, she was ready and then so were we. It sure did save us alot of sanity loss.

      I seriously doubt your little guy will be in Kindergarten before he gets there so relax and don't worry a bit.

    • Mommy on the Spot

      Jedi mind tricks – that hilarious!!

      That's a great pictures of him, too.

      Hang in there!!

    • Bethanycorreia

      My mom (YES SHE IS ALWAYS RIGHT!) says when they are ready it is easy. Yup, all three times it was, when they were ready. I truly had nothing to do with the timing. Good luck!!!

    • Maria

      Thanks everyone. The problem is our daycare wants him trained by September so that they can move him up to the PreK diaper free class. Me thinks they are in for a disappointment.

    • veronica lee

      I didn't potty train my boys. When they were ready, they went straight from nappies to the commode but I used those inner rings that made the seat smaller for their little butts.

      Good Luck and have a lovely day!

    • Elckd

      Kellen & I are in the midst of this now. He's willing to go when I remember to take him, but he won't ask/tell you he needs to go on his own. I don't mind diapers a bit, I find them MUCH easier than always looking for a clean place to take him when we're out, but I really want to get him trained before the new baby comes along.

    • http://pattiesrants.blogspot.com Pattie

      LOL You should definitely try the jedi mind tricks on him. Good luck with the training!

    • Chantel

      Does the Jedi mind move work on husbands??

      Ok….babe-o-rama. I know I'm opinionated. *sigh* However, parenthood is filled SO full with battles you MUST fight….that the ones you can choose…man, they are sweet. I was the executive director over four early learning child development centers for the last 10 years. If the ONLY consequence is him not “moving up”–man, LET IT GO! And pressure on the PARENT is just dead wrong! I have three boys….they ALL potty trained at 3 and a HALF! And yes, I took BUCKETS of crap from in-laws and neighbors and friends. But at the end of this story–honey, I never had a SINGLE wet carseat. Not one dripping cart at the market…..when THEY were ready–not every damn adult that had an agenda–it was an easy weekend deal. No bribes. No tears. No begging. Every family has it's own reasons and over the years I have participated in the “speedy training” for vacations, or at parental decision…..and I would never put my kid or myself through that crap. One of mine wore a pull-up at night for six months or so–he's the one that is 5'3 and 120 lbs and he just turned nine. (his body grew too fast for his nighttime control) but it all balanced out in the end.

      Deep breath. Just decide what is right for YOUR family. If your little man doesn't care about moving to the next class….and the daycare isn't gonna throw you out….let it ride. When it goes from natural maturity to some kind of battle of the wills–everyone looses. Having books on hand that talk about it, leaving a smaller seat out, mentioning to each other–casually, NOT to him but in his hearing–that maybe you can…go to that amusement park or take that trip when ALL of you are out of diapers–these things will encourage him.

      Dag girl, I wish I was there to cheer you and tell off the daycare! lol

      But my experience aside, if this is something you really need to do for your family scheduling or daycare or whatnot–just get everyone on board and try to find another pal of his to turn it into a competition…..boys will compete over boogers, farts, and scabs. Potty training is right there!

    • debbie_suburbsanity

      I always found that fighting and pushing over potty training only frustrated one person – me! What's a few more dirty diapers:)

    • Maria

      Chantel, thank you! I have missed your advice Girl, where you been?!?!?! : )

      It is a tough one. The daycare called me again on Friday stating that they feel he is ready to go cold turkey underwear. He seems to show more interest at school because the other boys are trying as well. At home he can care less what his sister does. I keep putting a bug in his ear about it and he still refuses. We got him some underwear and he seemed a little interested in them, but still refused to go. I told the center that if they wanted to give it a shot we would try (and they were going to start it), but if it isn't working I am not going to push him and stress him and us out. They gave me their word that after a few days if he is still flat out refusing to try we would let it go for a while. I know them- they feel very confident that this will work. Wish me luck!