Potty training....

[PrincessFiona]

is over....done....finito....completely a disaster.

And it started out so well. For a couple of weeks he only had a total of 2 accidents...then I was admitted for that week and my dad/Rose and Thomas stuck with diapers and pretty much wouldn't take him to the potty because...it was "boring" to sit and read to him while he went.

In case you're wondering, this IS my attempt to assign blame :>

Since then, it's been touch and go..... but today I think I'm officially throwing in the towel...if it isn't his idea, I'm going to let it go.....The entire time that we were at the holiday inn he asked to go to the potty.....then we got home this afternoon and he made it obvious that he had to go...when I suggested that we run to the potty, he screamed "NO" and proceeded to hide in the living room and "go"......

I don't want to push the isuse because I still think he's on the young side...but...I'm bummed because it did seem so easy at first!!!!!

kris

Oh, I would definitely be assigning blame.

I'm sorry. I hope he finds the inspiration again soon. Seemed like he really liked the reading. Maybe he will come around.

[PrincessFiona]

Hey....they tried to tell me it was because he was having accidents if they put him in his 'big boy pants' and that if they took him to the potty all he wanted to do was read and play.

I explained multiple times that for the 'big stuff' he asked to go...but just for urinating that you had to ask him every hour and he would say yes or no. When he was with me, he had 2 accidents. How hard could it be???

So they told me it was the 'mommy effect' and it apparently only worked for me. But Thomas later confessed that they pretty much just put him in diapers the whole time because it was too much trouble.

kris

I'd be a little frustrated!

Maybe you can work your "mommy effect" magic over the next few days. At least when he is ready again, he has it figured out? Sorry.

[planet]

So sorry Kris. It seems that you often have a window for these things when it all works smoothly. Maybe another window will come your way soon. It is so frustrating given everything you do that somehow they couldn't put out that extra effort to help with the potty training. I'd like to think it is because they don't understand the timing and opportunity and/or limitations of kids in diapers, ie the 'well its no big deal' effect.

[PrincessFiona]

Well...I'm not sure of where to go with it. After going into the living room to 'hide', he wouldn't let me come and change him...and within about 15 minutes, he fell asleep on the sofa. He woke up about 2 hours later and started crying and crying...and just wouldn't stop. I held him for at least 20 minutes and then he told me that his butt hurt. I completely had forgotten about it...and I told him I would change him and it was ok and everyone has accidents sometimes....he cried on and on and told me "Molly pooped on me" (fyi, molly is our dog)....so I just said "oh, that silly Molly....well let's change you"...it was just a teeny amount in there (he also wasn't red or anything)and when I changed him he said "gusting, gusting" (for disgusting). So...I told him it wasn't disgusting, reassured him basically that these things happen and that it was ok. He then proceeded to walk by Molly and say "bad Molly you pooped on me".

It kind of bothered me that he was so upset about it that he would assign blame to the dog...I don't know if that is 'normal', actually. I have never put pressure on him to potty train...though I did heap on a lot of praise...I don't want him to feel like his...self-worth .... is tied up in his pottying or something. I know that sounds silly, but...I think about those things. Hmmm...Kelly...if you end up reading this...did you think he was ok about the whole potty thing when you were here?

So...I *think* I will just nonchalantly make the offer to him tomorrow to use the potty every so often...and if he accepts fine...if not...also fine.

Do you think that the whole...blame the dog thing is...normal? Itsn't it funny that he is baby #4 and I'm still having these questions? You'd think I'd know the answers to these things by now...but every child is different and it seems like the farther along I get in this parenting gig....the less I seem to know.

kris

He then proceeded to walk by Molly and say "bad Molly you pooped on me".

Poor guy! I don't know if that is normal or not but I have a feeling that it isn't your fault. Ya know?

I think you have a good game plan. Maybe he needs some successes with the "mommy effect" to get back on track. I don't think you pushed or pressured him at all -- it struck me as being his initiative quite a bit.