Sunday morning Pear woke up wearing diapers. Sunday afternoon we changed that. I had been planning on potty training a few weeks ago but something always came up. Actually, I tried potty training 2 months ago, when Pear just turned two but after 2 days of peeing on the floor and not the slightest acknowledgement from her that she knew what she was doing or expressing any excitement to wear panties or go on the potty (she was actually very stubborn and demanded that I put a diaper back on her), I threw in the towel and decided to wait a month or so. Well it had been a month or so and things weren't getting any less busy so I put Pear and Jovie in the new minivan (yes, we got a minivan much to my dismay but I LOVE IT!) and we headed over to TOYS R US to get some big girl panties and a little potty of Pear's very own. Pear was very excited to use her potty, and even more to wear her princess panties!
I decided to go cold turkey. No training pants, no turning back, this is it. Some people say this is the three day method, it took me more than three days so I'll just stick with cold turkey. So, Pear was sporting her panties and telling and showing everyone (sorry Doug and Wyatt) in our house. We sat, and sat, and sat on the potty. We read book after book. Played with toys yet, as soon as we got up or I turned my back, I'd find a puddle on the floor. You may think "oh, she just wasn't paying attention," not so. Stephen will attest to this. I have spent EVERY minute possible with her.
For my reference, I'm going to break this up a little.Day 1: Sunday, April 26, 2009
Learning to relax on the potty and let "peeps and poops" go in the potty. How? Being with her every minute to catch her when she begins to pee and set her on the potty. I followed her everywhere, carrying her potty from room to room.
Success:
NONE!
Peeps on potty=0
Poops on potty=1
Peeps on floor=3
Day 2: Monday, April 27, 2009
Still learning to relax on the potty and let "peeps and poops" go in the potty. Continuing to be with her every minute and following from room to room with potty.
Success:
Feels like NONE!
Peeps on potty=1
Poops on potty=3
Peeps on floor=5
Day 3: Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Learning to recognize the feeling before "peeps" comes. Still with her EVERY waking minute and following from room to room with potty. Now we just have to make it to the potty.
Success:
We've got the "poops" thing down. We're able to relax on the potty a little. If I catch her midstream, she'll finish the job on the potty. Granted, it's hard to put her on the potty midstream without making a disastrous mess on the floor. I am very frustrated at this point, in tears and feeling like it shouldn't be this hard.
Peeps on potty=2
Poops on potty=1
Peeps on floor=4
Day 4: Wednesday, April 29, 2009
We're able to relax on the potty, now we need to recognize the feeling and make it to the potty and learn to tell mommy that " I have to go potty".
Success:
She might be catching on, yet the next time I feel like she has no clue! I am very tired of spending every waking minute next to a little potty and not getting any housework done.
Peeps on potty=2
Poops on potty=1
Peeps on floor=3
Day 5: Thursday, April 30, 2009
She still hasn't told me when she has to go. I am still following her closely trying to catch her before she goes so that she makes it to the potty. Basically, we're are getting closer but not there yet.
Success:
We finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel! She told me once before she had to go. She made it on the potty without peeing on the floor almost every time!
Peeps on potty=4
Poops on potty=2
Peeps on floor=1
Day 6: Friday, May 1, 2009
So far, she has told me every time she has had to go (twice) and we've made it to the potty without any accidents. The potty is now staying in the same place (no longer following her around with it) and we are able to make it. I think we're potty trained!
Ahhhh. These were the hardest 5 days I have ever spent (next to the sleepless nights when Jovie was first born)! I have spent time crying, praying, venting to my mom, venting to Stephen, counting to ten in order to react in a positive way when we didn't make it to the potty again. HOURS have been spent cleaning floors and doing laundry, and DAYS, yes, literally probably 40 hours have been spent sitting next to a sweet little girl patiently waiting and trying to be a big girl.
The feelings I felt while going through this:
I don't want any more kids!
I hate this!
Why is this so darn hard?
The feelings I now feel that we're pretty much over it?
What relief!
We did it!
I can do this again.
I still want more kids.
8 comments:
Oh my oh my, I felt your pain and frustration. We as Mom's have had moments with sleep, naps, and nursing. Those moments, days and seasons are so darn hard. But when on the other side of things its much easier to relax!!! Thank you so so much for being so honest and sharing your week with us. I will be going back to this post later when I am here where you are!!
Hi Paige,
I loved this post, and your blog for that matter! The place of priority that you've placed your family in is a beautiful thing to see, thanks for sharing your adventures here.
I remember meeting you at homeschool-skating when you were pregnant with Jovie... how could I not, you definitely had that glow!
It is so nice to be able to see your pictures of her, she is ADORABLE, just like her big sister.
Keep on doing what you're doing... you make motherhood look delightfuly momentous!
God bless you,
Michelle
WAY TO STICK WITH IT PAIGE!!!! And way to go Pear! (Keep telling Mommy...) -Biz Scheid
What an ordeal! I keep going back and forth about when and how to toilet train Paige. Good job!
Our moving day is the 26th of this month. It's coming up so soon! I should have a pretty wide-open schedule before the move, other than some other dentist appointments. So we would love to have you any time!
it is hard for sure. It is also impressive that she is going poopoo's in the potty, because that typically comes later.
One thing that we did in the beginning of potty training which helped me is we had scheduled times to go potty, because most kids don't want to stop playing to go potty. Typical set times are when they wake up and after meals. I also think it helped my sanity to be okay with accidents and treat it like any other accident. When I start getting stressed or upset by Veronica having an accident I forget to see the progress or make myself feel like I'm failing. Hope that helps a bit.
My hope for Cadence is that Veronica will teach her to potty train!
Paige; yea! You graduated from potty training 101,
you will find potty training 102 is much eaisier and you will have a masters in potty training by the time you go through potty training 108?? ;0)
the trials and tribulations help us grow in wisdom and strength,
Look how wise and strong you are!
James 1:2
oops I used Pipers ID
Definitely a HUGE congratulations on the potty training, but WOOT-WOOT for the minivan!!! Don't you just love it? We got one a couple months ago and it's revolutionized the Furubotten household. I never wanted one either...but I'm so glad to have come around.
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