For my absolute insanity yesterday. Obviously I need to get a grip. The day went from bad, when I posted, to worse throughout the evening and well into the night. Now that both boys are sleeping and all I hear is the incessant clock ticking, I'm feeling better and realizing that he will not be pooping his pants when I send him to school.
Your reassurance and suggestions are helpful. I think MO is right, that his sphincter muscles may not be developed yet. I think MW is right, that he's conditioned himself to poo in his nap diaper like Pavlov's dog's. And AK is right, it's just going to take more time than I want (or have).
It's probably not fair that he's a twin and M breezed through this potty training and he's struggling. This may be my first lesson in teaching twins. I've had "indivIidualization in education" pounded into my head quite thoroughly for 11 years now, but it takes a very personal situation to understand its importance at the cellular level. Obviously, my kids learn differently, despite their being twins. Clearly, my stressing out is not going to help N learn this new skill. Therefore, I need to relax and re-strategize. I'd start with a glass of wine, but since I can't do that, a chocolate pop-tart and a glass of milk will have to do.
Showing posts with label Operation Potty Training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Operation Potty Training. Show all posts
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Potty Help Please!
Disclaimer: this entry is full of poop. Read on if you dare.
Tomorrow marks six weeks since we began Operation Potty Training. Here's the good news: aside from sleep-times, I think M is 99% potty trained. And he's really improving in that department, waking up dry from naps sometimes, so if he were the only one being potty trained, I'd be throwing a freaking parade in his honor and thinking that I was a potty training champion mommy.
However, I'm pulling my hair out.
N can mostly stay dry when it comes to pee, and he KNOWS he's supposed to poop in the potty. But there is some sort of brain-bottom disconnect happening and I'm at my wit's end trying to help him. Here's what happened again, for the third day in a row - and it's severely affecting naptime, the two hours of the day I get to either accomplish some kind of chore (like meals or laundry) and/or put my swelling feet up (I'm 30 weeks prego tomorrow and finally beginning to feel it), and since this is day three of pretty much no nap, I'm desperate, and calling on you moms who've gone before; HELP!
I think he feels it coming - he either has a little smear and runs to the bathroom, or just "feels" it. Then he pees and jumps up, thinking he's done. Since he's been a naptime pooper for years now, I've been making him stay put before nap - for a LONG time. Reading stories, the whole thing. Today the boys and I were in there from 12:30-1:00, just trying to go poo.
As soon as we gave up, washed up, got dressed and tucked in, M wanted to try again, therefore so did N. So I let them, because M does seem to be right - not only did he go, but he made it on the big potty! Hooray! Celebration, choosing of the poopy prize, tuck back in, all while N was supposed to continue trying. But he was scootching around the bathroom like the potty was a car, rifling through the bathroom cupboards, and "driving" out toward the living room when I got back to him.
So I said he was done, slapped a diaper on him (he'd already had two small accidents prior to 12:30) and put him back to bed. That was at 1:15, so he'd spend most of 45 minutes sitting there...plenty of time, I'd think to do the deed if it were about to happen (because it usually does around 1:00 or immediately following the closing of the naptime door).
He was getting out of bed and helping himself to the bathroom less than 10 minutes later, WITH A POOPY DIAPER.
TODAY IS THE THIRD DAY IT'S HAPPENED LIKE THIS.
So, what do I do?
Anxiously awaiting your wisdom.,
Buried in Poop
Tomorrow marks six weeks since we began Operation Potty Training. Here's the good news: aside from sleep-times, I think M is 99% potty trained. And he's really improving in that department, waking up dry from naps sometimes, so if he were the only one being potty trained, I'd be throwing a freaking parade in his honor and thinking that I was a potty training champion mommy.
However, I'm pulling my hair out.
N can mostly stay dry when it comes to pee, and he KNOWS he's supposed to poop in the potty. But there is some sort of brain-bottom disconnect happening and I'm at my wit's end trying to help him. Here's what happened again, for the third day in a row - and it's severely affecting naptime, the two hours of the day I get to either accomplish some kind of chore (like meals or laundry) and/or put my swelling feet up (I'm 30 weeks prego tomorrow and finally beginning to feel it), and since this is day three of pretty much no nap, I'm desperate, and calling on you moms who've gone before; HELP!
How do I get him to let it go on the potty?
I think he feels it coming - he either has a little smear and runs to the bathroom, or just "feels" it. Then he pees and jumps up, thinking he's done. Since he's been a naptime pooper for years now, I've been making him stay put before nap - for a LONG time. Reading stories, the whole thing. Today the boys and I were in there from 12:30-1:00, just trying to go poo.
As soon as we gave up, washed up, got dressed and tucked in, M wanted to try again, therefore so did N. So I let them, because M does seem to be right - not only did he go, but he made it on the big potty! Hooray! Celebration, choosing of the poopy prize, tuck back in, all while N was supposed to continue trying. But he was scootching around the bathroom like the potty was a car, rifling through the bathroom cupboards, and "driving" out toward the living room when I got back to him.
So I said he was done, slapped a diaper on him (he'd already had two small accidents prior to 12:30) and put him back to bed. That was at 1:15, so he'd spend most of 45 minutes sitting there...plenty of time, I'd think to do the deed if it were about to happen (because it usually does around 1:00 or immediately following the closing of the naptime door).
He was getting out of bed and helping himself to the bathroom less than 10 minutes later, WITH A POOPY DIAPER.
TODAY IS THE THIRD DAY IT'S HAPPENED LIKE THIS.
So, what do I do?
- I've been repeatedly asking him if he knows where poopy goes. "In the potty" he says.
- He's seen M do this many times and receive a prize from the poopy prize jar. (N has received 2, and one was totally cheating because he had an accident then made a bit more on the potty, but I did it to reinforce the concept of being rewarded.)
- We've downloaded new games on the ipad as an alternate prize, thinking the candies and stickers in the jar aren't cutting it, to no avail.
- I've been trying to convince myself that since he's actually trying, or saying he's trying, that's progress, but seriously, he's messing up three diapers a day doing this (because it's not coming all at once), nearly the amount he used before potty training, and when I say diaper, I include Pull Ups, too because that's what he wears out of the house - and those are NOT cheap.
Anxiously awaiting your wisdom.,
Buried in Poop
Friday, February 17, 2012
iphone pics
Here are a few recent iphone pics I emailed to myself tonight just to show you. I'm not savvy enough to know how to blog them from my phone, but every now and then I get a funny photo with my iphone when I'm not prepared with my camera. Here are a couple:
Last week, the activity table at our Wednesday morning ECFE class was filled with sunflower seeds - there is a new medium every week. Here is evidence to prove to you that N wears his hoodie sweatshirt as often as possible! But the real reason this is funny is because M spent much of his playtime here, "making coffee" like Daddy! The sunflower seeds look quite like the coffee beans he "helps" Daddy grind in the morning.
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Here's the funny one, above, where he fills the container with seeds, puts his hand over the top (the way Daddy holds the lid down) and makes a "whirrrrrrrrrrr!" sound just like the grinder! The best part is when he brings me a cup full of beans and says, "here's your coffee!" I love, love, love it.
Last night, I made the boys have playtime in the playroom, but instead of running around doing housework (like normal) I stayed put on the futon. I should - and will - do that more often, because even though I wasn't down on the floor playing with them, they would still come over to me from time to time and bring me a toy. I suppose it's good practice for them, to be doing independent play while I'm in the room, like I will be this summer, nursing their brother. M loves his matchbox cars and started driving one all over me, then on my belly, talking to baby brother. It only lasted a few seconds, but I got a quick shot of him playing cars with baby brother, below. For being such a serious baby, he's becoming a very sweet and caring little boy.
Above is the photo I took of the boys potty training today. I thought it was adorable because I knew that one of them was working on a number two (sniff, sniff) and when I told them it was potty time, they both grabbed a book and ran to the bathroom. They sat like this, waiting, for so long that I finally snapped a pic because it was so cute! They are finally finally getting it! This session lasted just about 10 minutes and resulted in two pee pee hits, so it was still successful. When the time for the poo to come came, it happened fast! M is making great strides and generally keeping clean and dry all day. N is keeping dry all day when he's feeling well and trying really really hard to get that poo in the potty, which is also progress, since he wasn't really trying a week ago.
By the way, his fever has been gone since late afternoon yesterday. I don't know what it was, but I suspect a mild ear infection was the culprit. I'll never really know.
It's Friday night again - have a great weekend!
Last week, the activity table at our Wednesday morning ECFE class was filled with sunflower seeds - there is a new medium every week. Here is evidence to prove to you that N wears his hoodie sweatshirt as often as possible! But the real reason this is funny is because M spent much of his playtime here, "making coffee" like Daddy! The sunflower seeds look quite like the coffee beans he "helps" Daddy grind in the morning.
.JPG)
.JPG)
Last night, I made the boys have playtime in the playroom, but instead of running around doing housework (like normal) I stayed put on the futon. I should - and will - do that more often, because even though I wasn't down on the floor playing with them, they would still come over to me from time to time and bring me a toy. I suppose it's good practice for them, to be doing independent play while I'm in the room, like I will be this summer, nursing their brother. M loves his matchbox cars and started driving one all over me, then on my belly, talking to baby brother. It only lasted a few seconds, but I got a quick shot of him playing cars with baby brother, below. For being such a serious baby, he's becoming a very sweet and caring little boy.
By the way, his fever has been gone since late afternoon yesterday. I don't know what it was, but I suspect a mild ear infection was the culprit. I'll never really know.
It's Friday night again - have a great weekend!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
First Prize
We've had to up the ante in Operation Potty Training. Apparently, we are in Phase Two. I didn't know there was a phase two when I started this nearly a month ago, but for us, at least, there is.
And it's all about - you guessed it- number two.
Yesterday I wrote about our weekend shopping trip to Sam's Club, where, amongst many other items, we purchased these:
A big box of Pull Ups and another huge package of disinfectant wipes because we are running out of the teeny tiny packs they sell at my used-to-be-normal-shopping stores. You also see a jar labeled "Poo Prize." It's full of all the random Halloween and Christmas candy that I didn't want to give the boys or eat myself, which was stored in the cupboard and promptly forgotten about. Until Saturday, when I found myself with giant boxes of cereal, animal crackers, cans of green beans and random snacks and nowhere to put them.
I was forced to clean out the cupboards, whereupon I found said icky candy, and heard my sister M's voice, "I had to make a poopy prize box for S because he quit pooping when he started preschool. I spent a small fortune at the Dollar Store, but it worked." Voila! A poopy prize jar was born!
That was Saturday. We introduced the Poopy Prize Jar with much fanfare and excitement. Today is Tuesday and NO ONE has come forward to claim a prize, (ie I should be folding that load of kid laundry but I'm blogging instead).
And it's all about - you guessed it- number two.
Yesterday I wrote about our weekend shopping trip to Sam's Club, where, amongst many other items, we purchased these:
I was forced to clean out the cupboards, whereupon I found said icky candy, and heard my sister M's voice, "I had to make a poopy prize box for S because he quit pooping when he started preschool. I spent a small fortune at the Dollar Store, but it worked." Voila! A poopy prize jar was born!
That was Saturday. We introduced the Poopy Prize Jar with much fanfare and excitement. Today is Tuesday and NO ONE has come forward to claim a prize, (ie I should be folding that load of kid laundry but I'm blogging instead).
THEN, IT HAPPENED.
I was talking with my mom on the phone while the boys played in the playroom before dinner, when I noticed M was becoming agitated, then started walking funny. "Bye, Mom, gotta go!" I knew she'd understand when I called her back later.
It took much convincing that poopy LIKES to come out on the little potty, not backwards on the big, big potty. (That's when my guys straddle the toilet facing backwards to pee - thanks to my mommy friends for that tip - it works, but only for pee.) Then more convincing and some storybook reading to get him to actually stay seated. Now, M has done this before but not in many days and not for a Poopy Prize Jar prize. Praise the Lord! It happened halfway through the story!
M has been wanting a "big big sucker" (ring pop) since he saw them in the jar, but I stayed strong and kept repeating my mantra of, "When you go poopy in the potty you can have one." Despite it being 5:30 and right before dinner, I didn't care and let him eat the whole sticky disgusting thing, in hopes that it would inspire N to give it a whirl.
He did give it a shot and made a number one hit, resulting in a standard M&M reward (which are losing their appeal at 3+weeks, btw). We celebrated that he kept his Pull Up dry all morning during our outing and his unders dry all night at home, which is an accomplishment in itself. One step at a time, I keep reminding myself.
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| First Prize - strawberry Ring Pop |
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| Ascending the throne |
I took the second pic to show you what our bathrooms look like now. There are two stools - one for the toilet and one for the sink, not shown, a toilet ring, a little potty, a container of disinfecting wipes, a container of baby wipes, a few books (on the sink and under M's feet), as well as a pile of pull ups, diapers, and underpants also not shown on the sink. It's a hot mess, and both of the bathrooms the boys use look like this.
But I'll live with the hot mess because I just took out the garbage bin and there is less trash in there than normal - I think we're finally reducing our diaper carbon footprint.
It was a pretty good day here in Potty Training Land, I mean, at our house.
It was a pretty good day here in Potty Training Land, I mean, at our house.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Groundhog's Day (Potty Update)
I've been trying really hard to keep my brain out of the toilet this week, for your sake, but today marks the 3 week mark, so I thought I'd give you a little update. We've come a long way, but still have a way to go. I've never seriously considered cloth diapers, but after 3 weeks of cleaning poo out of underpants, I am 100% convinced that disposables are the way to go (like I wasn't already, right?). Kudos to you if you are one of those cloth diaper people, but just 3 weeks of this and I'm about to go nuts!
Fortunately, both boys are willing and able to make pee pee in the potty almost every time. Whew! A few days ago, N burst into my bathroom while I was...ahem, using it...shouting at me and pointing "Point it down! Point it down!" It was so funny I couldn't help but laugh, because that's what I'd been telling him, emphatically and repeatedly as he sprayed the room! (He's much, much better about pointing it down, now.)
As I mentioned above, and previously, and to anyone who will listen, number two is an issue. Yesterday about five o'clock, when M had gone poo in the potty twice in two days, I thought we were coming out of the woods. That was just a couple hours after writing the glowingly positive haircut post, remember? I was on cloud nine. Then about an hour later, all heck broke loose and there were three NASTY poo accidents in a row. NOT a pretty sight, NOT a happy mama. The only silver lining is that I have a big beautiful laundry tub to rinse them out in now, I suppose!
Today is much of the same, mostly dry, still having trouble with number two. Like Groundhog's Day. If I think about it too much, it's A LOT like Groundhog's Day, ON Groundhog's Day. (I wonder if that movie is on cable tonight? I'll bet it is. I think I'll make myself a little snack and watch that this evening. Classic.)
And thank you for the tape on the auto flush toilet tip, ladies I've yet to leave the house, but I know we'll emerge in public this weekend and I'll be ready with some tape in my humongous Pull Ups Purse (as opposed to diaper bag). That, combined with their newfound favorite "going backwards" position, just might do the trick...I hope.
Fortunately, both boys are willing and able to make pee pee in the potty almost every time. Whew! A few days ago, N burst into my bathroom while I was...ahem, using it...shouting at me and pointing "Point it down! Point it down!" It was so funny I couldn't help but laugh, because that's what I'd been telling him, emphatically and repeatedly as he sprayed the room! (He's much, much better about pointing it down, now.)
As I mentioned above, and previously, and to anyone who will listen, number two is an issue. Yesterday about five o'clock, when M had gone poo in the potty twice in two days, I thought we were coming out of the woods. That was just a couple hours after writing the glowingly positive haircut post, remember? I was on cloud nine. Then about an hour later, all heck broke loose and there were three NASTY poo accidents in a row. NOT a pretty sight, NOT a happy mama. The only silver lining is that I have a big beautiful laundry tub to rinse them out in now, I suppose!
Today is much of the same, mostly dry, still having trouble with number two. Like Groundhog's Day. If I think about it too much, it's A LOT like Groundhog's Day, ON Groundhog's Day. (I wonder if that movie is on cable tonight? I'll bet it is. I think I'll make myself a little snack and watch that this evening. Classic.)
And thank you for the tape on the auto flush toilet tip, ladies I've yet to leave the house, but I know we'll emerge in public this weekend and I'll be ready with some tape in my humongous Pull Ups Purse (as opposed to diaper bag). That, combined with their newfound favorite "going backwards" position, just might do the trick...I hope.
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| Google Image of a Pull Up, aka, How I Get Out of My House, Occasionally. |
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