Early Saturday morning, shortly after 3 a.m., I heard Sam calling for me. I got up, retrieved him from his bed, and helped him sit down on the little potty. TJ followed us within a minute, muttered something about having to go potty too, used the big toilet (standing up, as he always does) then shuffled back off to bed.
Sam was sitting on the little potty observing his big brother. After TJ left, Sam commented, "If TJ pooped standing up, it would get all over the rug."
I laughed. I couldn't help it. I told Sam he was exactly right.
Who knew potty training would provide so many good blog posts?
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Privacy, please!
Around 2 a.m. this morning, I woke up to the sound of Sam frantically calling TJ's name. I got right out of bed and got to the boys' room by the time Sam said TJ's name for the third time. For some reason, TJ is the designated night prowler, and Sam wanted him to go and get me so that he could go potty. I told Sam next time to call my name, or come and get me himself. TJ was dead to the world and slept through all the yelling.
I helped a sleepy and anxious Sam get on the potty. He started rocking back and forth saying, "Mama, just sleep!" I told him I understood he was tired and that it wasn't always fun having to go potty in the middle of the night. Once again, he said, "Mama, just sleep!" I gave him a hug and told him he could go back to sleep as soon as he went potty. "No!" he replied. "I said, 'Just LEAVE!' " Oh. He wanted privacy. I stepped out of the bathroom and 30 seconds later he was done.
He pooped in his cloth trainer 3 times today, so we haven't gotten that part figured out yet. Oh well. We took the boys out to dinner, and he stayed dry and didn't need to use the potty while we were out. He's afraid of public bathrooms and had us bring my mom's potty along (hers is slightly bigger than our potty, so we've been using that). I was glad we didn't have to use that in the minivan.
He drank a lot of Sprite at dinner, so I had the brilliant idea to wake him up and put him on the potty a few minutes ago (it's just after 11 p.m.). Failure. He did not appreciate being woken up, and just sat on the potty and cried. He was unable to go. I put him back in bed. I'm sure he'll be getting me up around 2 a.m. again....
I helped a sleepy and anxious Sam get on the potty. He started rocking back and forth saying, "Mama, just sleep!" I told him I understood he was tired and that it wasn't always fun having to go potty in the middle of the night. Once again, he said, "Mama, just sleep!" I gave him a hug and told him he could go back to sleep as soon as he went potty. "No!" he replied. "I said, 'Just LEAVE!' " Oh. He wanted privacy. I stepped out of the bathroom and 30 seconds later he was done.
He pooped in his cloth trainer 3 times today, so we haven't gotten that part figured out yet. Oh well. We took the boys out to dinner, and he stayed dry and didn't need to use the potty while we were out. He's afraid of public bathrooms and had us bring my mom's potty along (hers is slightly bigger than our potty, so we've been using that). I was glad we didn't have to use that in the minivan.
He drank a lot of Sprite at dinner, so I had the brilliant idea to wake him up and put him on the potty a few minutes ago (it's just after 11 p.m.). Failure. He did not appreciate being woken up, and just sat on the potty and cried. He was unable to go. I put him back in bed. I'm sure he'll be getting me up around 2 a.m. again....
Thursday, April 22, 2010
No longer a saga...I think it's a potty conquest
Sam has been dry since Monday at nap. Not even a drop in his diaper or trainer. He is getting much better at going potty when we ask him to (like right before leaving for Cuddle-Up Time last night), and not dragging each episode out for hours on end.
Today, he pooped on the potty. And immediately told Grandma he wanted to call me at work. So, she helped him do so. He is so funny. He's proud of himself, but he also acts like it is no big deal. He has it all figured out now. End of story.
I should probably start working on Nolan, but I want to savor this moment for awhile!!
Today, he pooped on the potty. And immediately told Grandma he wanted to call me at work. So, she helped him do so. He is so funny. He's proud of himself, but he also acts like it is no big deal. He has it all figured out now. End of story.
I should probably start working on Nolan, but I want to savor this moment for awhile!!
Nolan's Longest Sentence So Far!
Yesterday, the boys had their usual random assortment for snack. Nolan had a bowl with a graham cracker, a few mini marshmallows, and a handful of M&Ms in it. He inhaled it (Nolan doesn't chew, he just breathes in his food), and returned to the kitchen.
"Mama, I need more M&M" he informed me. I cracked up. His only grammatical error was forgetting to make M&Ms plural. And he forgot to say please. But after I gave him more candy, he said, "Tank you!"
"Mama, I need more M&M" he informed me. I cracked up. His only grammatical error was forgetting to make M&Ms plural. And he forgot to say please. But after I gave him more candy, he said, "Tank you!"
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Potty Saga, Day 2
Well, it did go better today, but it started out early. Sam woke up TJ at 1 a.m., and TJ came and got me. Sam had to go potty. My first thought? "Nooooooo!" I pictured myself sitting on the bathroom floor for 3 hours with him. Well, tired Sam pees much faster than awake Sam. The whole procedure, including hand-washing, only took 10 minutes.
This morning was a bit more stressful. Sam (who stayed dry all night) told Bill at 7 a.m. that he had to go to the bathroom. He didn't actually go until 11:15. But we are getting there! He stayed dry all day and went to the bathroom a total of five times.
He's not ready to poop on the potty, and I am fine with that. He went a little in his diaper right before bedtime (I had him in a diaper for that very reason). He's so obsessive about things I was afraid he would constipate himself if he decided he wasn't going to go on the potty or in his diaper. We will deal with that obstacle later.
This morning was a bit more stressful. Sam (who stayed dry all night) told Bill at 7 a.m. that he had to go to the bathroom. He didn't actually go until 11:15. But we are getting there! He stayed dry all day and went to the bathroom a total of five times.
He's not ready to poop on the potty, and I am fine with that. He went a little in his diaper right before bedtime (I had him in a diaper for that very reason). He's so obsessive about things I was afraid he would constipate himself if he decided he wasn't going to go on the potty or in his diaper. We will deal with that obstacle later.
Monday, April 19, 2010
3 years, 8 months, 26 days
That is exactly how long it took for my son Samuel to start peeing on the potty. I suppose you could say today was a momentous day. But I am exhausted and I am sure my mom is too.
I worked today. Late this morning, my mom called and immediately put Sam on the phone. He told me he did something that would make me happy and that I loved him (yes, he told me that I loved him. I laughed. He is right of course). Eventually, he 'fessed up to having gone potty one time for Grandma. She said it was quite a battle. He stayed dry all night (which he often does) and she informed him that today was the day. She put him in underwear and kept putting him on the potty until he could not hold it anymore and finally went. She got him to go a second time this afternoon.
Tonight, I got him to go once. It took 3 hours. It was agonizing. We moved from the little potty to the big potty...forward facing, then backward facing (some kids feel more secure that way). We moved the potty to the kitchen so I could make dinner. We went back to the bathroom while Bill finished dinner. We ate at 7:00. Sam ate half of his dinner while sitting on the potty. He kept assuring me he did not have to go, so I would pull his pants up and 60 seconds later he would be doing the potty dance and pleading with me to put him back on the potty. Eventually, I needed a break and to get a few things accomplished so I called good old Mom and she sat with him for 45 minutes. Sam watched Backyardigans while sitting on the potty. Then...it was bedtime. I put Sam in his pajamas and put him in bed. Mom left. 5 minutes later, Sam comes running down the hall crying. He REALLY had to go and did not want to wet his diaper. I put him on the potty for the gazillionth time and he went. We were both so exhausted that there was no big celebration. Just a hug and I put him in bed where he promptly went to sleep.
I hope this goes more smoothly tomorrow. Sam clearly does not understand how little patience I possess. I keep picturing myself spending the entire day in the bathroom with him. I will definitely be assembling our meatloaf during nap time so that we actually eat during the dinner hour.
We will survive this. No one has ever died during potty training (parent or child)...have they??
I worked today. Late this morning, my mom called and immediately put Sam on the phone. He told me he did something that would make me happy and that I loved him (yes, he told me that I loved him. I laughed. He is right of course). Eventually, he 'fessed up to having gone potty one time for Grandma. She said it was quite a battle. He stayed dry all night (which he often does) and she informed him that today was the day. She put him in underwear and kept putting him on the potty until he could not hold it anymore and finally went. She got him to go a second time this afternoon.
Tonight, I got him to go once. It took 3 hours. It was agonizing. We moved from the little potty to the big potty...forward facing, then backward facing (some kids feel more secure that way). We moved the potty to the kitchen so I could make dinner. We went back to the bathroom while Bill finished dinner. We ate at 7:00. Sam ate half of his dinner while sitting on the potty. He kept assuring me he did not have to go, so I would pull his pants up and 60 seconds later he would be doing the potty dance and pleading with me to put him back on the potty. Eventually, I needed a break and to get a few things accomplished so I called good old Mom and she sat with him for 45 minutes. Sam watched Backyardigans while sitting on the potty. Then...it was bedtime. I put Sam in his pajamas and put him in bed. Mom left. 5 minutes later, Sam comes running down the hall crying. He REALLY had to go and did not want to wet his diaper. I put him on the potty for the gazillionth time and he went. We were both so exhausted that there was no big celebration. Just a hug and I put him in bed where he promptly went to sleep.
I hope this goes more smoothly tomorrow. Sam clearly does not understand how little patience I possess. I keep picturing myself spending the entire day in the bathroom with him. I will definitely be assembling our meatloaf during nap time so that we actually eat during the dinner hour.
We will survive this. No one has ever died during potty training (parent or child)...have they??
It gets more interesting...
Yesterday, I dropped Sam, pardon me..."Baby Kitty" off at Sunday School. When I picked him up after class, his two teachers were chuckling and wished me luck. Sam was holding his hands out and was carefully holding FOUR invisible kitties. He informed me two of them had names. Their names?
"Laipson" and "Shimaling". Seriously. They rode home in the cup holder next to his booster seat. Of course.
I am still deciding whether Sam is the weirdest kid I have ever met, the funniest kid I have ever met, or if he is an outright genius. Maybe he is all three.
"Laipson" and "Shimaling". Seriously. They rode home in the cup holder next to his booster seat. Of course.
I am still deciding whether Sam is the weirdest kid I have ever met, the funniest kid I have ever met, or if he is an outright genius. Maybe he is all three.
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