tips and tricks
The Potty Training Initiative: Transformerations
On Friday we kicked off The Potty Training Initiative. With much fear and trepidation, we made the switch from pull-ups to underwear.
To kick off our grand plan, I went to Target and bought some poster-board, stickers, markers, and some tiny Transformers for which CJ is DESPERATE. And wah-la, we had a system! Each time he pees in the toilet, he gets a sticker. After five stickers, he gets a Transformer. For pooping on the toilet (a feat he has yet to master), we will drive to Target and get a BIG HUGE TRANSFORMER.
Right away he was all about peeing, and he had that first Transformer in a matter of hours. (will-power is not something that this child lacks)
But… within 6 hours we had a case of poop in the underwear to deal with. Horrifying, really. I will spare you the details. Potty training attempt #32 was going right down the, err, toilet… just like all of our previous attempts.
Desperately, I turned to the Internet, searching for words of wisdom that would show me the way to dry underwear bliss.
My search turned up much that I’d read before, but I did find a couple of nuggets of wisdom that stood out.
1) sometimes kids just need some privacy
2) reserve special toys for playing with on the toilet. This transforms the toilet from a scary, uncomfortable, and slightly embarrassing place to a treasure trove of delight.
So… I pulled out one of the Transformers, handed it to CJ with the instructions that he could ONLY play with it while sitting on the toilet (unless he pooped, in which case I would give him ANYTHING in the universe), then vacated the premises.
And within 20 minutes, we had success!! I have never been so excited by something so small yet stinky. Ah, the lows of parenting.
CJ said to me last night when I was putting him to bed (his BIG HUGE ridiculously overpriced Transformer snuggled at his side), “I’m a big boy, aren’t I mom?” Yes, you’re a big boy. Sigh. I could see the wheels turning in his head and sure enough, a few minutes later he popped out with, “Next time I go poopy on the toilet, I’m going to get a BIG RED Transformer.” Oh dear, what have we done?
Discussion
No comments for “The Potty Training Initiative: Transformerations”
Post a comment