The Potty Miracle

"I'm just not sure what to do."

I have found myself saying that a lot lately.  I have done it before, twice in fact, but as I explained the details to friends they were left scratching their heads unsure what to tell me.  "I've done it several times before too, but I have no idea what to tell you" was often their response to me.

There are some things in motherhood that can just leave you feeling totally inadequate, totally unsure of what to do.  Totally questioning your ability, your patience.... leave you questioning what you have gotten yourself into.

Potty training.

Oh how I hate you.

He would just sit in wet underwear, seemingly unaware or just totally unconcerned by the fact that he is wet.  This is what I was dealing with.  So I decided to hold off for a while... but how long could I wait?

Ryder turned three in May... he is 3 1/2.  

My friends were all supportive and great, 'he will get it', 'don't worry he probably just isn't ready'.... but I felt it, a totally self imposed pressure for him to be potty trained.

The last package of his diapers were getting used up.  I told him when they were all gone, no more diapers.

So we began.  He was happy to go sit on the potty, but nothing would come.  He would come and sit again on the potty... but nothing would come.   Then he would pee all over the floor.

I was setting the timer, taking him into the bathroom all day long.. but no success, only peeing on the toilet once a day at best.  He was more than happy to try it just was not happening.  Do you know how hard it is to get anything done during a day when it is broken up in 20 minute segments?

But I was not going to give up.

Last Thursday when he first woke up I took him to the bathroom, and he did it!  We danced and cheered and I let him choose a piece of candy from my bag of candy.  I even braved keeping him in underwear for school drop off.  He stayed dry and it just clicked.  That entire day he only had one accident and went on the toilet a bunch of times.

Image from here

Since then he has only had about one accident a day (including one that was a big mess in his underwear that literally clogged the toilet).  He still needs me to remind him to take a potty break, has not once initiated it on his own, but there is hope!  There is light at the end of the tunnel!

Potty training- I got this.