Monday, August 30, 2010

Potty Training Bootcamp Day 2

After the mostly successful Day 1, I was optimistic for at least more of the same, or better from Day 2. But right off the bat, I was proven wrong.

He just was not into it. Sort of the mindset that, "Oh, you expect me to all this again today? Lady, your crazy."

And yes, I felt crazy. Even more crazy was I had to go to work, so it was up to my mom to uphold all the funky quarks and twists it had taken to get Jonah to do it all yesterday. She was up for it. I thanked her. Then left. And breathed a sigh of relief and thanked God I didn't have to do it again today. This is ONE day I was happy to go to work.

I got a phone call, less than 2 hours from the time I left. "i've had to change his pants 3 times already. And this every 15 minutes IS exhausting." I said "I know. I told you....."

This same major resistance proceeded throughout the rest of the day. I wasn't sure if it had anything to do with me being gone. Or if it was him rebeling. But I was happy I went and bought 3 more packs of trainers last night, because it sounded as though my mother desperately needed them.

Everyone survived (maybe just barely, but still...). And on my 30 minute drive home from work I hashed out a new game plan.

I know Jonah. I mean, I am fairly certain I know him better than anyone else in this entire world knows him. And I know he isn't the kind of kid who will conquer the situations he encounters over night. He is a "take his time" kind of kid. He will not be rushed. And if he is, he will make you wish you never crossed him, because he will make you pay. He will rebel. He will fight. He will go crazy. Sooooooooo, it was time for me to

slow.....things......down.

I stopped at Target to get a pack of Pull-Up's.  Toy Story Pull-Up's to be exact (I didn't get the Buzz Lightyear. He forgot about it. Am I a bad Mom?).

I came home and before I even sat my purse down, I had a heart to heart with Jonah. I told him we were going to wear the big boy pull-up's for now. And we are still going to try and go potty, but not as often (I am starting with every hour). And he would still get M&M's and stickers and all that jazz. He was super psyched that the pull-up's had Toy Story on them.

So, for the remainder of the night, I didn't make a big deal out of the pee in the pull-up. And I continue'd to make a big deal, even out of the teeny-tiny tinkles he made in the potty (even though I very well knew he was just peeing enough to get an M&M).

So, baby steps....as it has always been with Jonah. Some kids can accomplish tasks quickly. Jonah is a thinker. and he is serious. And he analyzes. And no matter how badly "I" want him to potty train in a day, I have to be accepting that it's not going to happen like that.

That's the thing with parenting. You CANNOT make them into the person you want them to be. You can give them the tools, but it is ultimately up to them to succeed. A hard pill to swallow sometimes.

Do you have any potty training advice for me? What worked for you? What didn't? I am all ears, just be kind and keep in mind Jonah's personality. Thanks in advance! ;-)

4 comments:

Catherine said...

Ok I think I just finished potty training my daughter who is exactly the same age. I went with nail polish finally and that was magic. She spent time with me putting it on, she was able to brag about it to everyone and it was a cool grownup girl thing she'd never done. Now I know that nail polish won't necessarily work with boys but maybe tattoos.

Unknown said...

Catherine~ That's what I have discovered too, that you have to find that ONE thing they are willing to sell-out for. But man, I can't afford a $50 Buzz Lightyear every day! LOL I need a cheaper bribe! ;-)

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

Advice? Heh. HAHAHAHAHAHA! I hate potty training. So much so that I count that on the list of things to celebrate over the fact that we are now done having kids.

That said. Each kid is SO DIFFERENT. You will kill yourself trying to figure out how to "help" him do this. The fact of the matter is, he'll do it when he wants to do it.

Lots of wine. For you. Maybe him, too? Couldn't hurt... Also, plenty of detergent and towels. Lots and lots of towels.

Cathy said...

We have the same Toy Story Pull-Ups! We use them for overnight and trips out of the house. If we're home or in the yard, though, Seth is in underpants. 5 days untils school starts (no pull-ups allowed), but I think we will be OK.