Monday, September 26, 2011

potty training knowledge eternal

Poor little neglected blog readers (I still have some, right?).  Did ya know I actually had to schedule time to update.  I had ignore my new accounts on pinterest and facebook (I know, I know, I eventually caved under the pressure of joining the 21st century), the laundry, the dishes, my hair, my children (what, you don't neglect your children for the sake of the blog? goody two shoes.), unfinished sewing, the tempting haystacks the kids and I made last night (although I can't promise you there isn't peanut butter smudges on the keyboard.  sorry, spence.), etc, etc, etc.


I hope you feel special.

Now...onto the post.

yay! yay!, I have a new formspring question to answer!

HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE TRYING TO POTTY TRAIN A VERY STUBBORN, ALMOST 3 YEAR OLD GIRL? (SINCE I KNOW YOU HAVE TWO GIRLS). :)

I wish I was the holder of potty training knowledge eternal, but alas, I am not.  I've managed to potty train 3 stubborn little hooligans, but a lot of it was luck rather then knowledge.  That being said, I'll share whatever little insight I've gained with you.



The single most important thing I've found is that they have to be ready.  When they're truly ready, things go smoothly.  If they aren't, they'll fight it every friggin' step of the way.  You can read book after book on the signs that a child is ready to potty-train, but in the end only they can decide to do it.

That being said, here's a few things I've used with varying degrees of success:
-potty sticker charts (Georgia)
-potty candy (Scarlett-that girl will do most anything for a sugar rush)
-toy rewards (Ezra)
-having to clean up their own messes (Georgia)
-pull-ups (Georgia)
-potty-seat insert (all 3)

As you can tell from the list, Georgia took the most work.  Ezra and Scarlett were significantly easier.  Miss G, however took a very. long. time. to potty train (we're talking well over half a year).  It was messy and difficult and not fun at all.  Again, readiness was an issue there, mixed with a big ol' dose of stubbornness.  Which leads me to my last nugget of advice...

In the words of Mr. Churchill, "never, never, never give up."  That's not to say there's not times when it's best to retreat and regroup...just that potty training sucks but you'll get through it.  Stick with it.  I suggest giving every serious effort a week to two weeks to take effect before taking a breather (and by effect, I don't mean 100% success.  Scarlett has been in panties for nearly a year and still has accidents frequently).  It might take a long time (heaven knows, 2 of my 3 kids still wear pull-ups at nights, so I'm not even done with them), but it's worth it to give each effort a good, hard try because each retreat takes it's toll.  It won't be quick, it won't be easy, and it DEFINITELY won't be clean, so be prepared for that.

So, when it looks like you'll be sending your girl to the prom in diapers, just remember that every mother since the dawn of time has gone through this and has succeeded and you will too.

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I was going to post other goings-on, but it'll have to wait.  It's almost time to pick up Ezra from kindergarten and Georgia from preschool and my hair is not done nor makeup on (remember the previously mentioned neglect?).  I'll update again soon, though.  I promise.

thanks for hanging in there.

8 comments:

Jeff & Erin said...

Ugh. This is where I am at with Jenna. She will be 3 in November and has ZERO interest in being potty trained. I keep thinking that soon enough she will be ready and want to, but I am anxious to get it done already! I have tried all different kinds of bribes without success. When we tell her she can do something (like go camping with grandpa) when she goes potty in the toilet, she says "I did it one time!" She thinks that should be good enough! It is much more convenient for her to wear diapers!

Annie said...

I'm in the same boat with Owen. He'll be 3 in December and also has no interest in using the potty. You'd think with 2 older brothers he'd want to do what they do, but he could care less if his diaper is dirty. We've even told him he could pick out new Legos when he uses the potty. Guess he doesn't care yet.

Kim said...

Come on, Whitney. You already have 2 blogs, plus you follow like 100 fantastic blogs that I sometimes like to stalk. Why on earth would you share the fabulousness of your pinterest with us also? I waste enough time here...sigh. But I guess I'll forgive you this time cause, I mean, I really do love the items you're pinterested in...and some day your good taste will come in handy to me... ;)

Anonymous said...

After training three kids, all I can muster is a "good luck". All of mine were so different and the last (a girl) was truly the hardest. The myth that girls are easier is so. not. true. Alas, you're right Whit. I haven't seen one girl ask her girlfriend if that diaper "makes her butt look big" in her prom dress. Rest assured they will figure it out, messy, icky and inconvenient as it may get, the training will eventually be mastered.

holyoak said...

I have nothing to add to the potty training stuff. It all was just too crappy for me. I'd rather be up to my arm pits in other forms of the stuffff ; )

But as I read down through your initial list of to dos, I was reminded of two talks. Elder Dallin Oaks, on Good, Better, Best and Pres. Uchtdorf's of last Saturday on knowing which sacrifice is best for you. Perhaps, a few of those things may need to be carried up Mount Moriah to see if they should be left there on the sacrificial alter or if a ram will be there as a substitute. Your call.
For me, I really don't have time to check FB; Twitter is for frittering away way too much information and time, and I don't know and have yet to care about those other two. Sorry daughters, if it's not in a voice call, text, an email, or on your blogs, which I try hard to check, I will be miserably outdated on the family happnens... I know, you're saying, "What else in new!"

I love you dearly!

holyoak said...

AND, I WANT one of those haystacks!!

Hellobridgett said...

This is all good info. I know the Phoebs isn't even 1 yet, but I'm already stressed just thinking about potty training her.

Aubrey said...

Thanks for listening to me complain about potty training - I sometimes really convince myself that I wasn't made for potty training. I will remember to never give up...

However, I'm still liking my idea to let society embarrass my kids into potty training.