Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Having a Pitty Potty

Are you up for a little potty talk?

This past May, Park started showing a lot of interest in, well, bathroom usages is the nicest way I know how to put it. We bought him a small potty and Chris discussed with him the basics, but being that he was about 21 months old and a boy, I really didn't foresee potty training in our near future. So, we were shocked to discover that from that day on, if his diaper was ever off when he "felt the urge" he took himself to the potty and produced.

Now, I have to admit I felt a little smug at that point. All my girlfriends had told me potty training would be a beating and to put it off until the child was either MORE than ready or needing to go to kindergarten, whichever came first. And yet, it appeared as if my sweet son had simply trained himself, at least in the urination department. Appeared being the opperative word.

Rookie Mom.

Panicking that my little baby was getting to be all grown up, I decided to hold off for a while before pursuing anything further. I was in no hurry to see him rush past another milestone and perhaps equally as important, force us to stop during long car trips. And since he only used the potty when his diaper was off, those occasions were few and far between.

Fast-forward 9 months.

A clue that it may be time to get serious about this potty training thing is my son now tells me, "I'm going to pooh-pooh. I'll be right back", as he heads off for some privacy in the closet.

Obviously, I am the pillar of perception.

But, try as I may to persuade him to take care of business on the potty, his answer always reflects something similar to that of thanks for the suggestion, Mom, but my diaper has worked well for the last 2 and 1/2 years of life, so why change up a good thing?

And although we still have "number 1" working for us when sporting the birthday suit, getting "number two" in the potty appears to be a distant dream. Which equals a slight problem when wearing the aformentioned suit around the house.

Hello Mr. Pull-Up.

While at Wal-mart buying the usual groceries and diaper supply, Park spied some Buzz Light Year pull-ups and found them to be irresistible. I agreed to buy them in lieu of the diapers, on the condition that he would keep them clean and dry. To both of which he agreed to try wholeheartedly.

He could hardly wait until we made it home to slip into his newfound undergarments and even used the potty before putting them on. While helping him get into them I began to tell him that these were special underwear made just for big boys. I explained that he wanted to keep his friend Buzz from getting wet or dirty by using the potty. I went on to tell him if he kept Buzz clean for an hour, we would get a special prize. My plan was to set the timer and ask him if he needed to potty around the thirty-minute mark.

He listened intently, with his little gaze locked on mine. At the end of my spiel he said, "OK, Mommy. I will take good care of Buzz!", and off he went to play. At the thirty minute mark I took him to the bathroom to no avail. I praised him for trying and reminded him to tell me if he needed to potty.

About 10 minutes shy of the hour marker, we were building blocks in his room when he jumped up and shouted, "OH, NO!!!"

I realized he was wet and tried to assure him that he was still learning, and we could get a new pull up and try again if he wanted.

Sadly, he shook his head no and stated very matter-of-factly, "It's too late. I drown Buzz in a fwud (flood)."

But before I could stop laughing comfort him , a huge smile replaced the formerly grim expression on his precious face.

"I know what to do!!!", he squealed with delight, "Let's build him an arc like Noah."

Judging from the fullness of that pull-up and the nastiness of the poopie that filled the one after that, Buzz may very well need a miracle to survive potty training.

And from the looks of it so far, so might I.

Perhaps we'll be taking the "more than ready or entering kindergarten" approach, after all.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

You looked beautiful today at the baby shower...I love you.

Chris

Mom22Boyz said...

I will not even begin to tell you how hard it was to train my first boy! Just know that when they are ready they will do it -- this is the first real showing of little boys having their own ideas!! Good luck and this too shall pass!!

Elizabeth said...

Oh, potty training. I have to say it wasn't that bad, even with a boy. But we did allow him to run around naked in the backyard so he could go whenever he needed to. We were potty training in the summertime and it made it really easy. #2 was a different story. The worst was when he went on the back porch. His sister dared him and he thought it was hilarious.

Stacey said...

Well, I have a little girl...she is going to be 3 in June. We are in the midst of all-out training right now and it is totally sporadic. I will tell you that bribery has worked so far...she gets a lollipop after going #1 at least 3 times a day and if she does #2, she gets a piece of chocolate candy.

But, it is hard to catch her before using that diaper. So at least it's good to hear others going through it too.

Hang in there and don't get "flooded" out.

Kelly @ Love Well said...

Take courage! You (and Buzz) will prevail.

But man! Potty training is one of the hardest things about parenting, if you ask me. Especially the all-elusive #2.

Kelly said...

Oh - potty training - something I try not to think about when I think about parenthood! But at least Park is on the right road. He will get there!!!! Just reserve a bunch of M&M's for him and a lot of patience!!!! Good luck!

Sunni at The Flying Mum said...

So funny! At least he knows he's drowning Buzz.

Tiffany said...

Ok, I feel like you have the inside view to my current potty training efforts! My MIL bought Trey a musical potty (at 16 months) when I was in the hospital giving birth to my daughter. She was sooo proud because she had him going (U) before she left at the end of the week. I however could not keep up her efforts, while recovering from a C-section, and caring for a toddler and newborn by myself. I started back at 21 months and he is sporadically going (both U&P.) But we are not w/out our own hilarious moments. While Trey hasn't quite got the hang of it, he wants to be rid of his diaper. The other day we were at the mall, and he reached inside his pants, undid the tabs and shook his diaper out of the leg of his pants. Then he wailed when I wanted to take him to the bathroom to put a diaper back on him. - I guess I could have written my own post by now...anyway good luck! We'll both need it!

Christy said...

OH my GOODNESS!!!!!!

That is HILARIOUS.

Poor you. And Buzz.

Potty training Laura Grace was a hellacious nightmare. The biggest mistake I made was not waiting until she started kindergarten LOL. Poor Layton will be the only four year old in Sunday School whose mother will not potty train him. I am still too traumatized to think about it...

Chrys and Mike said...

Hilarious. Thanks for making me laugh. We have talked about not getting the pull-up wet but Oliver apparently isn't as concerned about Lightning McQueen's safety as Park seems to be about Buzz.

Chrys

Ingram Gang said...

As a mom not in the midst of this situation, this is a sweet story :) We're on the "Noah is acting ready, but mommy is not" road now.
Pleas master this and then pass on all of your skills.
Side note: will you tell me how to do a strike-through with the words. Can't figure it out ;)
miss ya friend!

a boy a girl and a pug said...

Bless your heart. We have no little ones so no potty advice. Love your blog!

Jessica said...

What a funny post! : ) I am friend of Kellys! I will have to stop by here more often! : )

Anonymous said...

Okay. I'm a Mum of a 5 year old who potty trained in a week (he was nearly 2&9months) but I was rather smug about how easy it was, enter my 2nd boy, who is having similar difficulties to cute little Park, so I have just laughed SO hard reading your post. The problem is I'm 39 weeks pregnant with my 3rd and although I now feel better that its not just my boy who is erm... struggling but the realisation that I've gotta do it again! I just hope girls are easier! Thanks for sharing anyway you certainly put a smile on my face!