Toddler B is now officially two and a half, and this past
weekend we decided to level up and potty train. Since I had 4 days off for the
4th of July weekend, we declared independence from diapers on Friday
and went straight to regular underwear (if there’s anything regular about
underwear with Thomas the Train all over it) without looking back!
I had a three-day plan for potty training, written by a very
reputable mom with a gazillion kids who says she potty-trained all of her
children this way and it worked for every one. I also had a potty-training set
that included a handbook for parents, a board book for a toddler boy, and best
of all- sticker charts. Equipped with the tools of the modern first-time mom, B
and I embarked on our adventure, and I subsequently embarked on cleaning every
floor in the house. And a sofa. And my bed sheets. And his bed sheets. And 16
pairs of tiny Thomas the Train underwear.
Yeah, the first day was a little rough, but what got me
through it (aside from Swiffer wet pads and a bottle of oxy-clean) was B’s
positive attitude. He was such a go-getter and he tried so hard that he earned
a couple of stickers just for his enthusiasm. The following day, we had a couple
of successful trips to the potty! We even had a dry, uninterrupted night’s
sleep. Sunday, we only had a few accidents! And another night of dry,
uninterrupted sleep! Monday was July 4th, and it started out just
fine. But let’s just say we felt more like the British than the Patriots by the
end of the night.
There was an accident immediately after his nap on the
bedroom floor, and another accident during the festivities that evening. When
we returned home an hour past his bedtime, we discovered someone else had an
accident on our bed- the dog. We don’t know if he was afraid of the fireworks
or if he was simply re-claiming all that had been peed on during the past few
days. Either way, between the toddler and the dog and losing count of the loads
of laundry, I was getting defeated. That night B didn’t want to go potty before
bed, and I discovered that no matter how hard you try, you just can’t make
someone do what they don’t want to do. Your only hope is to make them want to
do what you want them to do. He wasn’t having it. Then, at 4am, we all got a
wake-up call. It was Toddler B screaming “I’m peeing!” from his crib.
Today is day 6 of the 3-day potty training plan and after a
rough start to the week I think it’s looking up. He was dry all last night, and
earned another sticker tonight right before bed. I just know he'll get it soon.
As George Washington once said, “Perseverance and spirit
have done wonders in all ages.” Toddler B has both in spades. Even at two and a
half.
