This one is for Kim.
When Lily was first learning to use the potty we had a bit of trouble. She refused until she was about 3 1/2. I tried many methods, read many books, had a lot of messes to clean up. It was summer in Misawa, no A/C and 100% humidity. None of the pee spots would dry, I would try to clean and rinse but that would just add more liquid and result in more not drying. Everything was wet, the furniture, beds, carpet. It all smelled bad and I was so overwhelmed with frustration. I put the diaper back on Lily and decided I would never mention the word potty to her again.
I taught her how to go to the bathroom and take off her pull-up, throw it in the trash and put on a new pull-up all by herself. I taught her how to wash and dry her hands, to dress and undress, to turn on the light. So Lily would take care of changing her own diaper and I would give her a lot of praise. I never mentioned the potty. After a couple of weeks she decided to start using her potty instead of changing her own diaper and that was that. In fact she even did her poop in the potty and slept through the night, only a couple of accidents since then.
The going poop part has been hard for Lily. She doesn't especially like to sit still. She would have the hardest time sitting on the potty waiting for the poop to come. TMI (sorry). So I started teaching her to count. First to 10. Then to 20. One thing led to another and she was counting to 100. She loved it so much that now every time she gets on the potty to poop, she calls me into the bathroom and I count to 100 and she counts to 100. Now we even play a game where, when we are counting we purposely skip numbers and see if the other person can catch us. Lily always catches me. She is going through that bossy little girls stage and correcting my counting gives her so much pleasure I just love that smug little smile. Mommy, you forgot the 26, try again.
This is the story of how Lily learned to poop in the potty and count to 100. There wasn't a plan or anything, it just happened to happen. I keep meaning to take a video of her counting to 100 so you can enjoy it with me. Riveting. You will watch it over and over.
Kim-it all comes together in unexpected ways, your the best mom ever, I share your pain.
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3 comments:
My DS didn't want to learn how to use the potty either. I tried and tried for a while and then decided it wasn't worth it. I looked around at all the adults in the world and didn't see too many in diapers, so I knew it would happen eventually so I stopped worrying about it. One day he just decided, hey, I'm going to use the toilet. And that was that. No fuss, no muss, no hassle, no worry. It happens when it happens, just let the kids decide when they're ready and everyone will have an easier time of the transition. I think he was almost 3 1/2 when he decided he was ready.
Thanks Marsha for think of me and my pain! Jake actually pooped in the potty last night. Dad is working on it with him. I am not longer in the picture for this part. Bob is so much calmer and patient then I, so hopefully Jake will do it again today, but if not that is okay, I will do as you all say and let nature take its course, so to speak!
You are one very smart mommy...even if you 'forgot' 26.
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