At the far end of town where the grickle grass grows...

Little Moo is quite taken by the Lorax. He reads it EVERY night with Zippercow and the two of them are often heard reciting it to each other when they are together. It's pretty cute to say the least. Zippercow shared this story with me and I thought it was too cute. Apparently while I was at work and they were eating lunch Zippercow was telling Little Moo that after I got home we were going to go to the store to pick out "big boy" underwear and Little Moo said he would like Lorax underwear. Zippercow told him that he didn't think there were any like that and Little Moo got quiet and then after a moment said "if there was, it would be my favorite". Too cute! Also, he is wanting to be a Barbaloot for Halloween this year. Hmm....

Potty Training Adventures: Day 3

Using the toilet we definitely take for granted. You hear about how difficult potty training can be but much like most aspects of parenting, you never really know until you are doing it yourself. Unless you are one of those people who tout your awesomeness by proudly claiming you just put underwear on your kid and they only had one or two accidents since. You don't count, and stop acting so smug, you aren't responsible for that, it is all your child's doing. Anyhow, we are on day 3 of our potty training adventure with Little Moo. We went out briefly to the dentist and he stayed dry. And actually he's only had one accident so far today (whereas he's had 4 or more by this time the last couple days) but I still am not sure he's getting it. He is dry, but only because we go in every 30 minutes and "try" and he goes. However I have waited a few minutes past that to see if he will go on his own (or at the very least tell me) and he just stands and pees...in the middle of the living room. So again, I'm not sure he is really getting it, or if it has just been luck.

Here is what we tried:
Prep: talking about Monday ( a couple days, tomorrow, etc.) we are going to start wearing big boy underwear and the day before we started we let him pick out big boy underwear in the store. He was really excited.

Day 1: Put him straight into underwear in the morning, told him we have to use the potty and that we don't want to go in our pants because it feels yucky. He had 6 accidents but pooped in the toilet. We offer praise, high fives and a "potty treat" (butter mints, he really likes them) and for poops in the toilet we told him he would be allowed to color with his newly purchase markers (for this purpose) We might rethink that because it doesn't seem to act as a constant reminder of his accomplishment. We did put him in a diaper at nap time and bed time because he simply doesn't wake up. Our goal is to have him daytime trained. You can't push the other.

Day 2: Just as many accidents. They seem to be clustered between snack and lunch time. I'm not sure if he is just playing too intently or what, but it seems to be the worst time of day. I have forgotten a couple treats in the painstaking "wash your hands after we go potty" craziness. I think I need to be better about this, but since he forgets, I forget. He poops in his underwear and in his naptime diaper...twice. I'm really thinking the marker thing isn't going to cut it. He pees on me and the couch while I was reading him a story and didn't say anything. I just noticed he and I were wet.

Day 3:We had an early dentist appointment so we were careful to go right before we left, right when we got to the dentist and then again before we left the dentist. I never really knew how un-child friendly public restrooms are. The mall I could see, but at a pediatric dentist office they couldn't at least have a stool for washing hands for goodness sake! He has mostly been dry but he still isn't telling me he has to go and if I ask him he says "no" then a few minutes later goes in his pants. I suppose this only happened once today, but still frustrating.

I really don't want to be a parent who complains about all the difficult stages because obviously I very much wanted children, but you have got to vent somehow and it is highly counterproductive to yell at your child when they've peed in their pants for the third time in an hour (and lets face it, just plain mean!) so I am posting my experience for others who share my same frustration and sense of failure as a parent. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong or if it will just take a few more days for it to "click" for him. Obviously he will eventually get it and I should know better than to think that I can convince him he wants to do it when he doesn't. It is like a game, he is very smart but won't do anything until it is an interest to him, so we'll keep trying.

Some Mommy potty training tips:

Don't ever stand in front of your son in a stall, no matter the size (need I explain?) this is actually on the advice of a friend, but I will definitely remember it!

Find something comfortable to sit on in the bathroom while they are going. I have spent many hours on the floor and it gets pretty uncomfortable

Don't attempt to try training if you are cutting out caffeine, PMSing, or on a new diet. Trust me.

Always potty your child before you yourself goes potty, they always have to go while you are.

We praise children for going potty and often give rewards, candies, toys, stickers, etc. Well find a prize yourself! Whether throughout the day or at the end when your child is asleep, reward yourself, you deserve it!