The time has come for me to bite the bullet and crack on with potty training Big E. I know he’s ready, has been for a while. I wasn’t……
I would’ve liked to tackle the issue when I was pregnant with Little E but laziness fate put paid to that. I had terrible SPD (Symphisis Pubis Dysfunction not to be confused with Single Parent Dad). I was 34 weeks pregnant. Big E was eager to climb the stairs to sit on the loo every 15 minutes. I was physically unable. Daddy would take him up on an evening but the hit and miss approach confused him.
He wouldn’t so much as look at a potty, it had to be the real toilet. If I had £1 for every time I bought a new potty in the hope he’d want to use it I’d have, well, only £4, but four potties is exactly three too many. We were at a stalemate.
Once Little E made her grand entrance, as all the parenting books predicted, he regressed and stopped asking to go to the toilet. He would refuse and tantrum when asked. I just didn’t have the energy to start from square one. It’s time consuming enough dealing with a newborn and toddler without the added complication of potty training.
So, the summer weeks have passed. Every day that went by I knew I was going to have to make some headway before the cooler months took away the opportunity for me to let him run around in just his underpants. On a whim, in the spur of the moment (and without much thought or preparation) I decided that yesterday was THE day.
No more Mrs Nice Mummy.
Off came the utterly useless pull ups and on went the Thomas and Friends underpants. He was under instructions that when he felt the urge he had to tell Mummy and we would use the….da da daaaaaaaa POTTY! He was not impressed but went along with it…….kind of.
So far the scores are:
Carpet 5 – Potty 3
Joy.
If I hear myself say the words, “Do you need a wee?” one more time I may actually spontaneously combust.
Tomorrow, as they say, is another day…..
Image courtesy of SXC
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I feel for you! My posts from our potty training days may help… You just search "potty" and lots of entries come up! Pretty much all of Nov 2007 revolved around pee, poop and potties…
http://bit.ly/i603p
At least the potty got some points today!!
Feeling your pain! It does get easier though so stick at it and 3 home strikes on the potty on the first day is very good, well done big E.
Eeek potty training. Toddler was showing signs that he wanted to start training but like you say, as soon as baby girl arrived the poo hit the fan! Not literally, thankfully. He is only just 2 tho so not to bothered but it is hard with the 2 of them! Thanks for the comments on my blog btw, how is your little E getting on? x
ah the joys of potty training! I'm in the middle of night time potty training. OOOOH SO MUCH FUN!!!
Potty training is so much fun
I am still working on it with my three year old. He is very reliable with #1. But he is afraid to do #2 on the potty. We are almost through it! Good luck!
Good luck, it's hard work! When all else failed I bribed with chocolate buttons (that's my one bit of 'useful advice' to anyone potty training!).
we are potty training Ollie too. there have been pub=ddles but after about a week I think he is improving, he loves taking the weewee to the toilet and then pulling pushing the button! We also got a poo (by making him blow bubbles on his potty!
Oh its kind of very hard work……haaa you must be athlete (Running over kids)…
jolliees:-)
I could have written this exact same post about a year ago!! Without trying to sound patronising, I have found that the best thing to do is relax and let him go at his own pace.
Oh and wood floors are the best when you're potty training! x
Good luck with that! It is very difficult with a toddler and a new baby, I agree. You need lots of patience. (Are you SURE you don't need a wee?!)