Thursday, March 08, 2007

It's Potty Time!

When Jake turned 2 I decided it was time to start potty training. He's 2! It's potty time! After 3 days of accidents which culminated in my yelling and accusing him of "going on purpose!" (No, I am not proud of myself and, although that was 8 years ago, I still feel shame sharing that little tidbit of proud motherhood moments with you" I decided to fuck it all and welcomed Huggies new size 5/6 diapers into my life.

Jake and I decided together that when he was 3 1/2 we'd revisit the situation. If he chose to use it earlier, so be it, but it was up to him. I assumed he'd be using the toilet by kindergarten and that was all that really mattered.

Now, those of you who have boys (or husbands or boyfriends) know that they enjoy nothing more than peeing au naturel in the great outdoors. Both my boys mastered peeing in the bushes wayyy before they tied it to taking off the Power Ranger briefs and running to the bathroom.

I digress.

3 1/2 rolled around and Jake and I went to Target and bought some shiny new boxer briefs (just like Daddy's... and now the Internet knows what kind of underwear my husband wears) in an impossibly ridiculous size.... I should have had a pair bronzed to hang from my Christmas tree... and he was completely trained in 3 days. We're talking overnight, poop, the whole bathroom shebang. Done.

Because I am not a complete moron, I followed this same protocol with Jack and with it, received the same, non-headache producing results.

No car full of changes of clothes. No rushing around parks looking for a non-contaminated toilet seat. No fits of quiet sobbing while applying Urine-B-Gone to my sofa.

Then Eva came along.

Oh, she'll be potty trained by 2! Girls are so easy, they train themselves!

Well, I'm here to tell you: Some don't.

Some, like my daughter, despite the fancy Dora toilet seats and endless 3-packs of Hello Kitty underwear, will tell you, straight to your face, "I don't want to use the potty. Please buy more Princess Pull-ups because I am a big girl and big girls don't wear diapers."

The irony of that statement was lost on her.

However, I have enough friends whose daughters had some serious issues, especially poop-related... that I refused to push her.

And secretly, I find Pull-ups easier. You only change them a handful of times and you don't have to say, every 15 minutes, "Shall we try and go peeps?" You don't have to camp out in the bathroom with your child while they sing songs and look at books and babble about poop and pee.

So that is how we've been rolling... with me saying on a daily basis for the last year, "Let me know when you want to use the big girl potty."

So very zen.

Right?

Until the other night. The other night, after I had changed a dump the size of something that should only be coming out of an adult male with a severe digestive problem, and made me think twice about allowing so much melon at snack time, I informed her that in the morning, we were moving to panties.

And we did.

And she hasn't missed a beat.

Last night, Jack had a haircut at 6:30 pm, and she turned to me and said, "I have to pee" and Jake (bless him) took her down to the bathroom and she peed and potty history was made.

Cue the music.

And so we are off to Target to purchase a long coveted Barbie Mermaid.

And because I am bragging, you just know the demi-gods of potty-karma are plotting a blowout on me in the toy aisle.

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

So good to know. My three (almost four) year old son is finally using the toilet consistently, and now I'm wondering when I should start with my 2 year old daughter. I've heard from most people the "girls are easier" statement too. I'd really like it to be true, but I'm thinking that she may be a bit like your daughter w/ the pull ups. When I ask her if she wants to try underwear, she says "no, I like pull ups". Really, who can blame her. Maybe when it's time, I'll try the Barbie bribe. Sounds reasonable to me.

Jill said...

I love pull ups.... The Boy is not quite 2 1/2 yet and his pre-school is deadset on getting him potty trained tout suite, but he totally freaks out on the potty so I don't push it at home. But he only wears diapers at night now and pull ups the rest of the time! Although, is is me or are the Learning Designs absolutely ridiculous... how is anyone supposed to know the pictures disappear... are you supposed to let your kid run around in his/her skivvies?

Johnny said...

Ahh yes, the guessing game. Still in the middle of it and starting over soon.

Undercover Angel said...

I am so glad my potty training days are over. You must be so proud of her! I'm so glad she got her mermaid barbie as a reward!

Rach said...

Ugh, potty training. We started at 2 and are still working on it! She's okay sitting on the potty for hours on end, but just won't go. I'm praying for no diapers by 3!

Pink Evita said...

What a parenting rite of passage. Can hardly wait to do it all over again with my wee one. Right. Changing a blow out or two sure does wonders to motivate the soul.

Tuesday Girl said...

I made the mistake of thinking my twins would be ready at the same time, my daughter was ready way before my son but they were both trained finally at 3 years and three months.

Mel said...

Oh, god, potty training. I'll tell you - I remember very little of these periods of time in my life; apparently they were so gawdawful that I blocked them completely.

Anonymous said...

Well done! I made the mistake of making a Big Deal out of potty training with my eldest. As a result, he nearly had to wear pull-ups to kindergarten. The zen approach worked much better for my younger two.

OhTheJoys said...

Beware the "revenge poo" - a poo in the pants on purpose to SPITE you. Grrrrrrr.

Anonymous said...

Only you can making peeing so damn funny! Leah potty trained fairly quickly - I am keeping my fingers crossed that number two kid is the same way!
Stephanie
www.forksandchopsticks.wordpress.com

Anonymous said...

Ha! My son was influenced by the "peer pressure" of his school class when 2 1/2. He didn't want anything to do with it until he saw the other kids in the class doing it.

Anonymous said...

I hated potty training. Hated it!!!

Marissa

Mrs. T said...

I used the Barbie mermaid as a bribe once, too!
Both of my girls were late trainers. Lydia was gung ho when she was like 18 months old, and then she lost interest.
Go, Eva!

Dan said...

After reading this post I have this sudden urge to go to the bathroom ...

FENICLE said...

We held "Potty Training Bootcamp" over a 3-day holiday weekend right after our son turned 3. Saturday morning switched everything over to big boy undies...and it worked!! He also was very excited to wear boxers like his dad.

I always heard girls were easier than boys to potty train....but I honestly think each kid is different.

My only goal was to have him potty trained before Kindergarten. Because that would be embarrassing!

Los said...

These are the things I "Can't wait" to go through when I have kids. I know how much of a pain I was when my mom tried to potty train me. She basically told me I couldn't go outside again until I used the toilet ... I didn't take a crap for 3 days ... I'm a stubborn fool.

kitchu said...

This needs to be published. I am dying over here, can't breathe, and my abs were already sore... thanks for totally making my day... you are great with the written word woman!

M3 said...

Woot!!!

carrie said...

Hip, hip horray for Eva!!!!

And bragging is perfectly fine with me.

So is bribing with Target, 'cause guess what 2 weeks of going to bed in her own big girl bed got Katie? Yup, that irritating talking Big Sister Dora doll. . . from Target.

Whatever works!

So glad there will be no more poopie panties in your future!

Well, let's hope not! ;>)

Carrie

Anonymous said...

This post will come back and haunt you. Very soon.... Our son is 3 and now trained but it was a slow process. It took many months which actually wasn't a problem. I found the whole stage very relaxed. Unlike my wife, who has poop fear, I don't mind shit too much. And we also refused to push him after all the bad stories we've heard. He got to do things at his own pace which was fine with u.

Our girl still has 18 months or so to go until the training starts but I'm sure she start earlier. And hopefully my wife will be able to empty the potty by then without barfing.

Nice weekend

dodo said...

ah ha - the poop that broke the camels' back. or something. we called them 'man poo events'

Kristin said...

So far so good... one accident yesterday, but that was probably my fault for not hustling her to the potty!

The Domesticator said...

I hope your trip to Target is blow out free!
:)

Shelley said...

It must be "pee-in-the-potty" season. Charlotte decided to start using the potty too and has been diaper-free for 3 weeks now.

Way to go, Big Girls!

And what a sense of freedom, huh Mom?!

If this is duplicate my apologies - Blogger told me a messed up the first attempt.

Kristi Harrison said...

Oh, it's coming, my friend. The potty rebellion. Our's has been a over a year long. We had Ava mostly trained when she turned 2.

Now she's about to turn 4 and clutching her private parts everytime she has to go to the bathroom, clutching and groaning but standing firmly in place. All four of us start yelling, "GO! HURRY UP! YOU'RE GONNA WET THE CARPET! RUUUUUUUN!"

This is not cool.

Your profile picture, however, is very pretty.

Kevin Charnas said...

"after I had changed a dump the size of something that should only be coming out of an adult male with a severe digestive problem, and made me think twice about allowing so much melon at snack time" -- I am beside myself with laughter. thank you...

And YYYAAAYYYY!!!! for Princess Eva!

Pendullum said...

I know I posted a witty comment and it seems as though Blogger ate it and spewed it somewhere out in cyberspace...

But go Eva!!!

I can not believe that I am wrting this...
But I am kinda sad, my wee gal pal is slowly edging away from the land of Barbie's... She is slowly, being shelved away...

Another chapter is closing...

Now, we are in the land of Littlest Pet Shop and da evil empire of Webkinz...

Gone are the days of dressing like a hooker,oops did I say that?I mean 'Princess', Gone are the days of dresses... traded in for blue jeans, gone are the sparkles and boas...traded for sensible running shoes...

I miss the shopping in the dreaded Barbie aisle...

I am now living vicariously through your Eva... Enjoying your moments of Barbie and Princess magic...
P>S>
And I have giggled over the Jake bronzing of his boxer briefs... If he was upset about the thought of his pic on the internet,,, he is going to give you a major talking down with his poopie post...

Joannah said...

Way to go, Eva! Just like the big girls. ;-)

Sandra said...

Yay for Eva!!!

When my son was potty training it was all about the "Buzz Lightyears" (pull ups). We got lucky and it happened fast.

Glinda said...

**Glinda dancing like M.C. Hammer in her big pink gown**

It's Potty Time...

Way to go Ava!

Glinda said...

Sorry, E-V-A!

C's Mom said...

Thanks for the crack up. Man, am I gonna be in for it one of these days.

Hey, you got it on the guy thing though. I was actually involved with a freak who would walk by a bathroom to go pee off the deck. Zoinks!

Nikki said...

ahhhh - the relief you must feel...no pun intended.

Unknown said...

Congrats Eva! I'm so happy for you! Leah has no interest whatsoever in peeing on her potty. She has done it once or twice and never since. still waiting for her AHA moment lol.

Christina_the_wench said...

Bawahahah. I sure don't miss those days.

Go Eva, go Eva, go Eva...

Lisa said...

You changed your pic! I Love it.

You know that whole potty training thing is tricky. I think the hardest part is trying to find your kids' "groove" (which often doesn't coincide with mom's). heehee.

My son will do anything for my mom. And while on a kidless vaca, my mom potty trained him. After trhee months of ME trying to get him trained, it took my mom 3 days!

CONGRATS to you and the little woman!

Lisa said...

Your photo? Is GEORGOUS!
YOU ARE HOT, lady!

metro mama said...

Cakes is 22 months, and showing lots of signs of getting ready for this soon. But, I don't know-diapers are so easy!

I have a post coming on this soon.