Now that Abi is 2 ½ people are constantly asking me how potty training is going. Well, it’s not going. Pun intended. When she was about 18 months old she started telling me when she was pooping and if she pooped during her nap it always woke her up. I took this as a sign that she must, of course, be extremely brilliant and advanced. So of course she would potty train early. My excitement was fueled by the fact that we had #2 on the way and I didn’t want to do double-diaper-duty. So we trotted down to Target and bought a potty. We did the usual oooo’s and aaaaa’s when we sat her on it and chatted up being a Big Girl. The result was a lot of time reading books in the bathroom, 58 unraveled rolls of toilet paper and one very large dinosaur turd in the middle of my kitchen floor. She wasn’t ready. We took a nice long break and I didn’t push it. I have so many people tell me, “She’ll do it when she’s ready.” Then I hear stories about people who potty train their 20 month olds over a weekend. Whaaaa???
By now, most of Abi’s friends that are her age are almost or completely potty trained. (jerks) Adam and I always ask her, “Don’t you want to use the Big Girl Potty like *insert friend*??” She always enthusiastically answers, “Yes!” And then sits on the potty and does nothing. My mom got her Minnie Mouse panties for Christmas. When we said, “Don’t you want to pee in the Big Girl Potty so you can wear your Minnie Mouse underwear?” She answered, “No, I want you to change my diaper.” Yes. Don’t I know it. We’ve tried bribery, too. I drive myself crazy trying to decide the best way to approach it. I don’t want to push her too hard and totally turn her off from it. Side story: Once at the store, a total stranger asked me if Abi was potty trained. Despite it being none of her business, I patiently explained that we were working on it but she’s not very interested. This lady proceeded to tell me that I would do “permanent psychological damage” if I pushed her into it. What is WRONG with people that they think they can say stuff like that to strangers!?
I recently spent some time chatting with other moms to discover I am actually NOT the only parent that struggles with a reluctant potty pooper. So I read a few articles by doctors, other moms, and psychologists. But none written by random people at Target. And decided, once again, to take a little break. She doesn’t really show all the readiness signs and according to one article, children’s bladders aren’t really physically capable of “holding it” until almost 3 and that it’s often pointless to start until then unless you want to clean up a lot of accidents. None of this should really be a surprise to me. Abi has always been extremely stubborn strong-willed and never does anything until she’s ready. No matter if we’re ready or not. Sooo I guess I’ll just keep waiting and take my cues from her. I tell myself it will be a much smoother and relaxed process when she is ready in her own time. Even though I fear she may be in Kindergarten. I do know one thing is for sure – I don’t need any more dinosaur turds on my kitchen floor.
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| As a desperate attempt to get Abi to sit still on the potty, Adam resorted to reading soccer plays outloud to her. HA!! |
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