Potty Training...Check!

I am not a fan of potty training!  I was dreading this event.  The funny thing is that my only previous experience in this effort was a little too easy.  I sat Megan down one day when she was 2, explained to her the process, we took many sips of milk and water that day as well as many trips to the toilet.  No accidents the first day.  Second day...one accident.  That was enough for her that she never wanted to have that happen again and she was cured.  It was as simple as that.

My problem and dread with potty training is the love affair children seem to get with toilets once they have "permission" to use them.  Is it just me or does this happen to everyone else.  I mean running their hands around the toilet seat.  Flushing the toilet and sticking their head in the can to watch the water.  Once in a while (when mommy isn't looking) actually reaching in to touch the little waterfall coming in to the toilet.  Let's not forget the obsession with toilet paper on top of that.  Josh seems to think a toilet can not be flushed properly without half a roll of t.p. - even if his business was only #1.  And that's only at the safe toilets in my house.  Don't even get me started with public restrooms.  Ugh!  I've had to explain to Josh that we don't need to get naked in a public restroom to go to the bathroom.  I don't get boys and their need for the least amount of clothing on possible...but that's a whole other story.

So when I took Josh in for a check-up last Spring, the doctor asked if I had started potty training.  I told her I hadn't.  I was about six months pregnant at the time and she recommended that I didn't start until the baby was here and he was well adjusted to the change.  I happily took the doctor's advice.  

So I figured Christmas break would be a good time to start because we'd be spending a lot of time at home.  Josh took to it pretty quickly (although not as quickly as the star student/first born/overachiever/big sister).  But I was impressed with my little guy.  I even took some jokes about my training when my sister and also father of my son noticed that I had taught my son to wipe himself after he was done with the #1 business.  In my defense, I was keeping the bathroom/toilet seat clean and doing a future daughter-in-law some good.  In Josh's defense, I know he would have taken a beating or two in a locker room some day.  So don't worry, I corrected my teaching (I still think if I can teach to be clean, why not).  

I was actually impressed that we took care of the training within weeks...until he decided it was scary and too dangerous to take care of the BIG business (ya, I mean #2) in the toilet.  It has been an inner battle these last few months trying to figure out how to get him to do it.  I seriously had promised him the world for one successful dump.  He didn't take the bait.  Each time I'd put him on the toilet he'd tell me he didn't need to go to the toy store/Chuck E Cheese/big park/John's Incredible Pizza (which is pretty much a Chuck E Cheese on steroids).  I tried talking to him, reading stories and singing songs while he sat on the pot, even having him blow on a "magical flute" that would help him.  Nothing worked. 

I am happy to report that I think we've got it.  He went in to the bathroom by himself while I was changing the baby and very calmly he said, "Mom, I just pooped."  That's one of the best sentences I've heard my son say.  Maybe Mommy needed to relax so he could relax.  It could also be due to the fact that his dad's been slipping some FiberSure into his juice each morning.  But my boy is on a roll.  And the first thing he shouted when he finally did it was that he was going to John's Incredible Pizza.  I'm just glad he didn't shout out Disneyland!

So this is the position I keep finding my son in.  Some may call it lazy, other's may call it creative.  Scott may call it future blackmail.  I'm just happy the pee is going in the toilet!