On the Joys of Potty Training

Just kidding. Potty training is not joyful! The only joy that comes from this extremely stressful parental duty is when the child is actually potty-trained.

I realized last week Little Man will be 3 in September and it's time. I was waiting for more signs he is ready. We have attempted this project several times and each time it ended with him being very interested at first and then a day later the novelty of it has worn off. Anyway, he started waking up dry and peeing in the morning. Ba-da-bing! There we go! If I can get him to take that first piddle in the morning in the toilet, we'll be golden! Or so I thought....

So Sunday I started the potty training. For a reward for his potty achievements, he got a temporary tattoo. By noon, he looked like a biker dude. But he was very excited and proud of his tattoos and we only had to change 3 pull ups. It was very exciting.

Then Monday he was not so interested in getting the tattoos anymore, so the whole reward system went out the window. He doesn't tell me when he needs to go pee, but he's pretty good at taking off his poopy diaper and bringing it over to me and announcing "POOPY!" I also caught him emptying his poopy diaper in the toilet yesterday. At least he gets the concept. Right? Right?!

Every time he pees or poops in the toilet he expects me to do the "Yay! Pee-pee/poopy in the potty!" dance. He finds this hysterically funny as I dance around the bath room shouting his achievements. Too bad it's not enough to get him to go in the toilet every time!

One thing I can say is that I am surprised at how successful the project is so far. I mean, at least he still goes to the potty sometimes. It's frustrating at times. What bugs me the most is not the pee on the floor or the poop in the closet (it's kind of like having a puppy. I sort of want to put newspaper down or take him outside. Also, it's like a game - will i step in pee when i go in this room? where will we find the poop?), it's the 20 minutes we spend in the bathroom while he decides whether he wants his Cars toilet seat or if he wants to just sit on the actual toilet. Or if he wants to stand. Him standing to pee is kind of funny. Anyway, spending 20 minutes in the bathroom is not my idea of a glorious time.

What's more is Little Man is quite the stubborn creature - as most men are. He is very quirky too. Things have to be a certain way and go a certain way for him to cooperate. Today I am thinking he'd prefer his privacy in the bathroom since he runs from me every time I ask if he needs to potty. I should offer him a newspaper or book next time he goes.....