Three months ago, in a fit of pique (or defensiveness, take your pick), I listed all the potty-training methods that were not working on Opie.
Today, I am happy to report that we are halfway there. As in, he is now a champion toilet-pee-er. OK, maybe not “champion” if we are judging on accuracy of aim; but in ability to not soak his pants, gold star. He even stays dry all night long which, to me, is nothing short of miraculous.
We are, uh, still working on what our former dogwalker called “the solid treatment.” The current incentive is a Cars skateboard, spotted at W@lmart, immediately coveted, and therefore immediately seized upon by the parents as a Potty Prize. The deal is he must go seven consecutive days without an accident. So far, seven days he can do. But seven in a row? Not so much.
I think the accidents happen when he’s just busy or distracted. So the answer should be to remind him to go regularly, right? But the catch is he absolutely hates to be reminded (and yes, we’ve tried the timer and his response is the same). He will swear up and down that he doesn’t have to go, then have an accident just minutes later.
But the difference from three months ago is huge, even though it doesn’t feel that way when I am washing out a totally gross pair of underwear. (Even this has been alleviated a bit by Swistle’s awesome commentary on the subject of throwing away undies: “I buy ugly cheap children’s underwear on clearance. That way it isn’t painful to throw away a pair that got pooped in, and in fact it can be a real pleasure. See ya, ugly stupid animated character I hate!”
Now that is an attitude to be imitated.
Does this smell blog-blasty? You’re right! It’s in support of the Pull-Ups Potty Project–which truly is cute. Worth a click if you’re in the throes.
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Progress! And congrats also on finding a prize. If we told Q-ster about any incentive, he’d immediately say that he wasn’t interested in whatever previously prized item it was.
Now that the weather is warmer and I can put away the heavy blankets, I think it’s time for the little dude to try staying dry at night. We’ll see what he thinks.
Yay! we finally just got over the toilet training hump recently with Andrew. He’s dry at night now, too and the rest. It’s such a great feeling!
Yours is the only blog blast I read (so far) this week. I kind of shied away from this, um, “solid” subject. Here’s hoping he scores the skateboard soon!
Glad to hear it. Even if it does mean that my daughter (who remains potty-less) is THE MOST STUBBORN CHILD in the known universe. T minus 21 days until she is 4.