Potty Training is going to be the Death Of Me

So I am undertaking the humungo, painful task of training my soon to be 4 year old. I had vowed to myself.. that he would not turn 1 with a bottle, 3 with a pacifier and 4 in diapers. The bottle and pacifier are long forgotten but the diapers are another story. We have gone done this road before (and here) but he was never really ready. I truly think he isn’t sure if he wants to be a big kid yet. I think I have to make the whole idea of being a big kid very exciting. We’ll see how it goes.

I went out on Sunday to purchase a bazillion pairs of underwear. When I got home I handed him the bag. He took it and said, ”for me?” I told him, “yes, they are for you. Here are your big boy underwear.”

Monday, I asked him if he wanted to put them on he said no! Very firmly I might add. I didn’t push it figuring I would try again tomorrow (Tuesday).

Tuesday I took a different approach; as I was dressing him for the day I put the underwear on instead of diapers. I told him that he was getting to be such a big boy and that it was time to start going to the bathroom like Mommy and Daddy. He started his mantra, he has been saying it for about three months now, “Mommies, go potty, Daddy’s go potty, Nicholas goes potty, the Wiggles go potty, hippopotamuses go potty.” I always follow with “yes, everyone goes potty and soon you will too.”

Tuesday being our first official day of potty training. We had two accidents. Why, well mostly because the damn kid flat out refuses to sit on the toilet. How can I get him to potty train if he doesn’t sit on the damn toilet? When he did he gave me about a teaspoon of urine before he said he was done. I think he was just freaked out about seeing it happen. He held out for 6 hours without going and finally the flood gates let loose and he soaked himself and everything around him. He was literally dripping from his pants as he cried in actual pain. He has severe excemza and has a lot of open sores on his legs from scratching himself until he bleeds. We cleaned him up and told him he just has to tell us he wants to go and we will take him.

He sat on the potty Wednesday, we had 2 pee accidents and 1 poop accident. He did sit on the toilet three times but never did go. I haven’t rushed t0 clean him when he has an accident. I know it hurts his legs. He cries in pain and as much as it pains me, I am hoping that he associates not going on the potty with pain. I don’t leave him long probably about 2 minutes instead of immediately.

Thursday, yesterday we had 2 more pee accidents and 1 poop accident. Oh well, it’s only the third day right? This is going to take a while and patience is very necessary.
Today, he sat on the toilet in the morning. Nothing. He had an accident about an hour later. He sat on the toilet about 2 times between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Around 11:00 a.m. he asked to go downstairs. I told him that he could go if he went to the bathroom first. He did and peed about a tablespoon of urine. I high fived, low fived, middle fived, foot fived. Jumped up and down and stood on my head celebrated. I was thrilled. I told him he was a big boy and told him he could go downstairs. He cried out 2 minutes later that he was wet. Another accident. What the F man!?

He sat down 2 times after and did pee on the toilet. I am so happy. I can’t even explain how proud I am. I know that I will be cleaning up a lot of accidents in the next few weeks but I am hoping to have this thing down by the end of the summer.

Looking on the bright side…I am just thrilled that after 2 days I can finally get him on the toilet without a tantrum.

Jesse, you are such a big boy, getting bigger everyday. I am so proud of you. You are the sweetest boy, so spirited and funny. How did I ever get so lucky to be chosen as your momma? I love you sweet baby boy. You are my heart on legs and I couldn’t breathe without you. I love how you hug me and caress my face. I love how you ask me if I want to read (be still my heart). I love how you look for your sister when she isn’t in view. I love to hear you sing. Your sweet little voice makes me smile from ear to ear. I love everything about you sweetie. Love, Mommy