From time to time, we like to share our own adventures in child-rearing. This month I (Rebecca) am going to take you through the ups and downs of potty training.
It all started (and then briefly stopped) last September. My twins were turning two and I saw slight signs of "being ready" from my daughter, Bella. She was showing interest in her potty, not wanting to be in a wet diaper and using the correct language for bodily functions. Her brother, Walter, was content in his diaper but I was feeling confident he would adapt. I had to convince my husband, James, that we should try, as he was not as confident as I. As it turned out, he was right.
It started on a Saturday at 7:01 a.m. and I was done by Saturday at 7:42 a.m. Here is how the chaos unfolded. We set the two potties up in the play area of our house, put them in their underpants (no diapers) and gave them the speech, "If you need to pee or poo you need to tell Mommy and Daddy or just go to your potties and use them."
We did a few run throughs and then sent them on their way to play. Like a rubber band quickly stretched too far, Bella snapped right back crying, "I peed, I peed." Yep, she peed! As I was trying to clean her, and the floor, Walter's bladder let loose. He decided it would be fun to splash in the new puddles on the hardwood floors. Can you believe I kept my composure?
Well, I did, that is until 20 minutes later when James took the wet clothes down to the laundry. I cannot remember clearly who did what and in which order everything happened but I lost my mind, and patience, when one of them peed again, this time on a couch cushion (if you come to visit know that I had it cleaned!) and the other pooped on the floor.
I ran into the kitchen to get the cleaning supplies and as I came back to the play area our dog, "Monkey," was making his way over to the poo. I yelled, "No Monkey!" Poor thing looked at me as if to say, "Not fair! How come they get to have all the fun?"
Walter and Bella were now trying to poke at the poo. I chased them away from it, only to find that they wanted to continue their explorations with their soggy underpants. Now I am chasing them around, trying to clean them up, clean up the floor, keep the dog away from the poo and screaming to James, "Get up here and HELP ME!"
For six months it never once crossed my mind to start again, until I recently began seeing signs that both of my twins were ready. However, due to my work schedule, I had to begin slowly this time. Six months and three weeks after our initial try, I started with a flexible schedule and a rewards system.
Here's how it worked: In the morning, before breakfast, the twins sat on their potties and I gave them each a cup of milk and a banana while I read books. Throughout the day they wore pull-ups. I would have them go to the potty every half hour, when they asked to go and when they showed signs like hiding behind the couch saying something like, "Go away Mommy, go in the other room." (I always inwardly smiled.)
Look for Part II of "Potty Training - Kammerer Style!"
(Editor's Note: The opinions are not medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician about any changes you are contemplating.)
Rebecca Kammerer of Parents "R" Talking, Inc. l http://www.ParentsRTalking.com Patch: http://patch.com/A-rWr Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Kammerer |