Play-Learn-Grow-Repeat

Today, Jack used the potty all by himself without any help from an adult! I never thought this day would come, but with great pride he/we have made yet another milestone.  This includes, pulling his pants down, going to the bathroom, pulling his pants up, flushing the toilet and washing his hands.  I can’t express enough how happy I am about this goal we have finally reached.  With school — where he has to be “fully” potty trained — starting in just four days, my nerves have calmed down. I have been a nervous wreck all summer about it.

I have written a few posts on this blog about Jack and his potty training updates.  I’m hoping this will be the last post I have to write.  It’s been months since we started this adventure, and it has slowly ended with success (as most training does).  All the bribing with candy, stickers and Thomas underwear really paid off. Let’s just hope I am not jinxing it as I write this.

There are dozens of ways to potty train your child. I have friends who used books, videos and methods from their friends. For us, putting him in underwear right away and letting him learn by accidents and accomplishments is what worked.  As a side note, Jack is still wearing a pull up at nap and bedtime. We are working on getting rid of the pull up all together.  Having another baby in diapers now isn’t easy on the bank account.

To everyone out there struggling with potty training: it WILL happen eventually.  I never believed it, but today I am boasting loudly that it’s finally my son’s turn!

Over the last two weeks Jack has made some amazing progress with the potty.  I hope I don’t jinx it by writing this post.  He has been in big boy underwear for almost two weeks with NO accidents.  He still wears a pull up at nap and bed time.  When we are away from home I am a nervous wreck that he is going to have an accident.  He seems to surprise me by always telling me he has to go.  I make sure I pack two outfits everywhere we go.

Everyone told me when we started this process that someday a light switch will go on in his head and he will be trained in a day.  At first, I didn’t believe it because every time I asked he said no and the next second he went in his pants.  Looking back, over the last couple weeks it really seems to be true.  He conquered his fear of pooping on the potty.  Now, it’s no problem for him.  Thank goodness!  With a little bit of time and patience his attitude has completely changed.

I do have questions.  When will he be able to stand up to pee?  Should we be teaching him that now or does that come later once they are a little taller?  He still needs help pulling his pants up and down.  Any tips on how to make this easier for him?  Those out there with kids in pre-school, the first week of school was your child content with having a teacher help him go potty?  Jack still needs some assistance and I’m concerned he’ll regress when I’m not there to help him.

Sorry for the “potty” mouth, but any tips would be greatly appreciated.  Jack is starting a summer pre-school program on June 1^st and with fingers crossed I’m hoping for success!

We are all parents here, I think. So I feel free to post this blog dedicated to a topic close to my heart: poop. My Brady turned FOUR years old on Christmas Eve and he is still pooping in his pants nearly daily. Now don’t get me wrong, there are those WONDERFUL occasions that he does go in the potty (maybe 2-3 times per month). I try to be patient, as I am told kids will go on the potty when they are ready. And let’s be honest, this little guy has had to deal with a lot of change this year. So maybe this is one thing he feels is still in his control.

I have a friend whose daughter told them (at 2); she would poop in the potty when she turned 5. Her 3^rd birthday rolled around and the diapers were still on. She was even held back in the 2 year old room, didn’t bother this little girl. Then she turned 4 and told her parents that she would poop in the potty, but not until she was 5. Fast forward to a few weeks ago (the child’s 5^th birthday), right after the party, she went sat down on the potty and pooped. Her parents mouths dropped as she came out of the bathroom and said “see, I told you all that I would poop on the potty when I turned 5.” And she has been going on the potty every day since.

So, like I said I try not to stress.  I have tried the rewards system, going pull-up free, punishing, etc.. And you know what, my little man is just NOT ready to poop in the potty. 2010 is a new year, right? So I hope it is the year of Potty Training Success!!

I never knew that being a Mom would mean so much talking about poop.  It used to be as simple as asking my husband if the baby pooped. Then it was questions for the doctor about poop and diet. After 2 ½ years we no longer dwell on the frequency, consistency or mass of our son’s dirty diapers. Now Jack tells us when he has pooped, which means he knows when it is happening and can control it. The frustrating thing is that he seems to understand how his body works, but he still chooses not to try the potty. We have spent the last several weeks asking him if he wants (needs) to use the potty.  I haven’t officially told myself that potty training has begun, but the more frustrated I get with it the more I think it has.

I have heard it takes boys longer than girls to catch on or feel comfortable using the potty. I am nervous because we are looking at preschools which require potty trained students. We still have several months to figure out this new and important step. So I can only hope that with time and encouragement,  he will take more interest in the potty and his new big boy underpants.

I know every child is different, and I’m not one to push something too hard. I would just feel better if he at least took an interest in maybe trying to sit on the toilet.  We really JUST began talking about using the potty so I haven’t used or done all the tricks in the books.  For now he will inform us that he has gone in his diaper, but he is scared of the potty and won’t go near it.  I bought a special “Thomas the Tank Engine” seat thinking that would help and unfortunately it hasn’t so far.  I am going to read up on the subject online this week, any links, tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry for all the “poop” talk, but I’m sure being a parent you know just what I’m writing about.