So I have to admit it...... I am terrified of potty training. Most people can't wait can't they?? They count the days till they can have their child out of diapers don't they? I mean it makes sense right? No more diapers to carry around, no more luggage to go to the grocery store, no more 20 dollars out of pocket every other week, no more midnight poopy changings. It sounds like eutopia doesn't it?
But I watched Scrubs the other night. And I have to admit I identified. Dr. Cox and Jordan were potty training their little boy. And he was doing a pretty good job. And they were feeling so proud and puffed up that they had finally gotten through the "hardest part of parenting". When, believe it or not, they found out in spite of TWO vasectamies, they were pregnant again. But as they were finding out, the little boy knocks on the bathroom door and says "I just made poopy in my bed so I put it on the TV".
Granted Jeremy and I laughed. It was one of the funniest things we'd ever seen. But at the same time, It was laughter laced with dread. See, when one of my nephews (who will remain unnamed) was around 3 and in the potty training stages, I remember babysitting. Somehow the child went to the bathroom and was gone a long time. This was not out of the ordinary. So I was not concerned. However when he returned, I knew I had met my doom. Fear was in his eyes as he confessed that he hadn't made it all the way to the potty. At 17, this was my worst fear confirmed. I went to the bathroom to assess the damage, and what I saw caused me to gag. He hadn't only not made it to the potty, but he had somehow managed to spread it all over the walls, shower door, potty and floor. And it was green. Luckily I was babysitting with a friend, and he was so kind and gentle to take over the clean up as I fainted in the other room.
So I'm afraid.. I'm afraid of the dirty underwear. I'm afraid of the multitudes of sheets I'll change, I'm afraid of the poop on the walls or the beds or the TV. I'm afraid of traumatizing him because I don't go about it the "right way". I'm afraid of the "pull ups vs. underroos", or of picking the wrong training potty. I'm afraid of the endless stopped up toilets and the floods in the bathroom every day. I'm afraid of the hiding to poop in your pants instead of the toilet. I'm afraid of the creative "poop artwork". I'm afraid.
Any encouragement?
6 comments:
You forgott about the poop on the walls when we didn't get him out of the crib on time. Just remember one day you will read something like this abour "your" child and laugh till you pee your own pants....... We still love Taylor dont we??????
Did you pee your pants... really?
We're just trying to be really layed back about it. I ask Ethan several times a day if he needs to go to the potty. If he's interested, he'll sign potty, and if he's not he runs away. So, I sit him on the potty with his potty book I got him from Walmart (it makes flushing sounds.) We read the book a few times, or do various other things to keep him entertained so he'll sit there a little longer. When he gets tired of sitting there I let him down. He'll pee, but he isn't really interested in pooping on the potty yet. He waits until I get his diaper back on, hides behind the furniture, poops, then runs out with a smile.
I'm trying not to worry about it. I know it will happen eventually. I don't know if this is encouraging in any way. I guess all I was trying to do is let you know that you're not alone, and I know you'll do a great job.
By the way, I've read several helpful articles on BabyCenter.com if you are interested. (You know that I can't do anything without research...I know, I'm such a dork.) They also have a lot of potty training stuff in their store with tons of reviews to help you with your decisions. Something you might get a kick out of is an item they have called Peter Potty. Let me know what you think.
By the way, about the standing up to pee thing. It shouldn't matter this early in the process which of the two of you do the potty training. Most of what I've read has said not to worry about teaching boys to stand until they are completely potty trained. Supposedly it's less confusing and a lot cleaner.
I'm just saying that is what I have read, but your sister would be a good resource having raised 3 boys. Personally, I don't think I would trust Ethan to stand to pee any time soon. Although, once he did climb out of his little bathtub into the big bathtub, stood next to the little tub, peed into it, and then climbed back in! You've just got to love that crazy kid.
Okay, I know I wrote way too much, but I'm really done now.
Love ya!
gina, i had no idea you were still doing you blog. i'm glad. i've been thinking of mine lately, poor neglected thing.
i have no words of advice, but i do have a copy of "potty training for dummies" if you want to borrow it. the primary theme seemed to schedule, schedule, schedule. like, every hour, have a potty sit, and if you get anything praise and reward likc crazy.
(i suspect you are curious, so i'll tell you. i have th book because i needed it with one of my students. he actually go pretty reliable, as long as he didn't have a seizure).
my mom potty trained my sister and i both by clearing the house of people and sitting us on the potty seat with lots of toys. i have no idea how she got us to STAY there all day, but we did, and whenever we made a little tinkle, she gave us an m&m. she said we were pretty reliable after one day...but...i don't know...that seems so easy compared to the stories i hear!
michelle
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