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Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Raising the White Flag


So last week we embarked on Lora Jensen’s 3 Day Potty Training.  Micah was telling us about his bodily functions, eager to sit on the potty, saying potty and going to the toilet and he’d lift his shirt up stick his belly out and pretend he was doing something and get a really proud look on his face.  So we decided to give this a go, because my language doesn’t start back up until September and I had some time.

Well Day One, was the worst.  I may have gone a little crazy and broken down in tears. Day one might have also evoked a little marital strain.  Because cleaning up pee all day long isn’t fun and you will feel crazy when you’ve said, “Tell Mommy when you have to go potty” for the 15,000th time that day.


This program is also about staying positive after 32 accidents I’m not sure it’s possible to still be positive.  I had to balance staying with him all day long with dashing to throw pee soaked undies and various other pee soaked things in the wash before he had another accident, so these undies would dry in time before we ran out. (Remember we don’t have a dryer, so it was the power of wind and sunshine to get these babies dry.)

He’s shown signs that maybe it’s going to click, but then 2 minutes later he’ll be going in his pants without even knowing something’s happening.  He’s been dry in the mornings and after naps, but then he refuses to go when he wakes up, resulting in lots of accidents in the subsequent emptying of the bladder.

It has been beyond frustrating.

Plus the boy is stubborn.  I mean, really, really, really strong willed.  So if it’s not something he’s deemed interesting, he’s not doing it, period.

The other thing working against him is his ease of distractibility.  Seriously if he hears, sees, smells, touches something, the teachable moment is over.  He’s now fascinated with a bath mat, a remodeling noise coming from upstairs, dinner that he’s smelling, not on the pee that is in his undies and surrounding him on the floor.

So I’m giving up. Because it’s not worth it to have a stressed out momma, all the time, and because I want to leave the house in the next month.  I just don’t think he’s cognitively ready.  I guess we’ll try this potty training thing again come Christmas break, more than likely with a different method.  Hopefully he’ll be ready then.

So bring it diaper changing wrestling matches
Bring it ladies who like to ask questions to shame you “oh your child is still in pampers?”. 

Yes he is, it’s the best alternative to the 1,000 loads of laundry each week and a clearly not very encouraging and positive supportive mother. 

I’m looking forward to actually just being with my kids and enjoying them, rather than obsessing over bodily functions.  I think it’s best to abandon ship. 

My white flag is raised.

6 comments:

Michelle said...

Oh, I'm sorry he didn't get it. =( Did you try letting him go without any pants or underwear on? That's what we did with Lane...no bottoms at all for a week or two, then underwear. I think it's easier for girls, though, because when they pee it runs down their legs, whereas with boys...it's a bit different. Good luck with it, whenever it happens.

Love the new blog design, by the way!

Erica said...

Michelle, he was in underwear. However the next morning he was completely dry and asked to use the potty and did it. He will do things in his own timing. Since we ended the potty training pressure he's asked to go several times, something he never did all 8 days of training. I think I'm going to do it like I did Calvin and give him lots of practice before we make the plunge to undies only.

DeWeese Fam of Four said...

So I know I've just potty trained the one child. But can I just say I feel your pain!! Hudson took over 2 solid months of lots of accidents. He was over 3 years old. And (a year and a half later) we still have a sticker chart for successful #2 in the potty! My son just doesn't care if he's dirty/wet, doesn't want to stop playing and is stubborn. We did the 3 days training and everything. Worst child-raising issue yet!! And that was with first world conveniences!
Just know you are not alone in the horrid battle of potty training. Sigh.....

DeWeese Fam of Four said...

So I know I've just potty trained the one child. But can I just say I feel your pain!! Hudson took over 2 solid months of lots of accidents. He was over 3 years old. And (a year and a half later) we still have a sticker chart for successful #2 in the potty! My son just doesn't care if he's dirty/wet, doesn't want to stop playing and is stubborn. We did the 3 days training and everything. Worst child-raising issue yet!! And that was with first world conveniences!
Just know you are not alone in the horrid battle of potty training. Sigh.....

Becky Kosmicki said...

Sorry to hear it didn't work. I was really hoping you were onto something, and you know I feel your pain! I console myself by thinking about the fact that Kade won't walk down the aisle to get married in diapers....hopefully. :) And I'm with you on it not being worth a worn-out mama. Life is too short to focus on such little things. Here's to hoping both Kade and Micah are trained by the time we see each other again! LOL

April said...

Erica! I just started with Graham this week and was ready to give up Day 1. Ugh. It was.so.hard! Things have been easier since the first day but I haven't left the house until tonight to go to community group where he promptly had an accident. Told the girls here that he might be in diapers his entire life. ;) good for you for going with your momma instinct! Love ya girl.