The Potty Training Saga

Last week I decided to tackle the ever-looming potty training issue with Emma. I thought she was more than ready as she would often bring us a diaper to change her when she was dirty. She could say "poo poo" and "tee tee" and was very interested when anyone would use the potty, especially her friends. Also, with her baby sister being born in just 5 weeks I thought it might be nice to have just one in diapers.

I had prepared a bit for the big day - I had Elmo (her favorite, of course) rings to put on the big potty, pull ups for bedtime, M & M's as reward for her successes, and also read a short book about how to train your child in just three days. We planned to go cold turkey and put her big girl underwear on throughout the day (no pullups) and then to use the pull ups at night. Wednesday came and I eagerly raced upstairs to get Emma out of bed. I had her help me "throw away" (technically we saved them for her baby sister) all of her diapers. Then we went downstairs and immediately sat on the potty and talked about how much of a big girl she was. I let her pick out her "big girl underwear" to put on and of course she chose Dora. I told her over and over to tell mommy when she had to go potty and that Dora wanted to stay dry. Let's just say we had one success that day and about 10 or 12 accidents. All I heard all day long was "Dora's all wet" and "Dora's sad." Mom was frustrated at the lack of success on day one.

Day two comes with renewed enthusiasm. However, the results are more of the same. One success with 10-12 accidents. Mom gets sick of hearing about Dora and Mickey Mouse being "all wet". Emma starts crying when I try to take her in to the bathroom to go potty. She also starts having temper tantrums and crying for no reason throughout the day, which is very unlike my normal happy child. I realize that this is a lot for a two year old to take in, but don't want her to feel like going on the potty is punishment. It should be exciting and rewarding for her. Lots of people, including the book I read, said that it often times just happens on day 3. Emma had tested my patience to the limit that day, especially at bed time. She fought me tooth and nail to put her pj's on, then screamed when I tried to brush her hair, and wouldn't let me brush her teeth. Mom lost it (I will admit - normally I have a lot of patience but tonight I lost it) and hollered at her to get in her damn bed and we will NOT be reading a book tonight. I walk downstairs and all I hear on the baby monitor in a sobbing voice "Read book, read book, read book." I have to go outside to calm my nerves and let her fall asleep. I go to bed exhausted, tired of cleaning up messes, and feeling sick of being homebound for 2 entire days. I will admit that I like to get out of the house everyday.

Day three arrives with skeptical enthusiasm as to whether this concept will magically sink in for Emma today. It doesn't. Not one success today. Lots and lots of crying when I try to take her to the bathroom. I even begin to try and bribe her with the M&M's (which I read you shouldn't do, but at this point I could care less). Mom has definately lost her patience as not only is Emma not successful, but she throws more temper tantrums for no reason. Dad gets home from work and he senses my frustration and tells me to leave the house. I happily oblige. It was like heaven to leave the house that night. I had come up with a new plan - I was going to Target to buy a little potty seat (instead of just having the rings to put on the big toilet) and try it out the next day. I had resisted buying these because I think cleaning them out is gross. I know millions of moms have done it before me, but I thought I could do it without the little potty seat. If she still threw temper tantrums with the new seat and cried at having to go potty then I was going to bag the whole concept until after baby was born. I didn't want Emma to associate potty training with punshment and I couldn't take much more.

Day four arrives and I immediately march Emma into the bathroom and show off the new "froggie" potty seat that I bought. She laughed and giggled and said "froggie" over and over. We sat on it and she immediately went tee tee! She loved it! We were successful 8 times on day four with just 2 accidents!! Hallelujah! She even came to me a couple times to tell me that she had to go potty. We got out of the house that day and went to the pool with friends, which was good for both mommy and Emma's sanity. I think she was also getting tired of being couped up in the house.

Things have been going well ever since we introduced froggie. She has a couple accidents a day. Mom had to scold dad yesterday because he yelled at her when she had her first accident at about 6pm. I had to tell him that she is just learning a big concept and she is going to have accidents. Daddy apologized to her and admitted it was probably a good thing mom was in charge of the potty training. He couldn't handle cleaning up the messes all day and couldn't understand why Dora has to be wet all day!

All in all we are coming along. I am still amazed at how naive I was thinking this would be easy. I guess you live and you learn! I am also having a hard time at not being able to get out of the house much. She is still in the early stages with accidents everyday and I am nervous to take her out and about yet. I know eventually I will need to just get over my fears. We did go to the neighbors for a short time yesterday and promptly returned home because she had an accident there (sorry Kim!!) I will keep you updated on her progress. So long for now.