For the past two days we have been enveloped in the hell world of potty training. The first day (Saturday) started off with much promise; we started off having Baylor use the potty every 30 minutes and we had a lot of initial successes. I even noticed him squirming in his seat at lunch time, had him get down and go to the bathroom, and he actually pooped in the potty! I went crazy with excitement, to say the least, and it was awesome to see so much pride in his eyes.
So, when the second day was nothing but resistance and accidents, Bryson and I were pretty broken-hearted. By the end of the day, no matter what bribe we offered or praise we heaped on him, Baylor flat-out refused to use the potty and had a bunch of accidents, none of which he was overly upset about. In fact, he wasn't upset about much of anything; he didn't get one of his beloved stickers because he didn't clean up and he didn't bat an eye, even though he is only one sticker away from a sticker reward. (Long story ... sorry, it's part of the whole Asperger's/autism/etc. thing.)
Anyhow, I knew something had to give. We'd tried rewarding him with peanut M&Ms, Hot Wheels cars, and a promise of a giant tub of Legos once he is finally potty trained. We tried telling him all the awesome things he would get to do once he became a big boy - the true sign of a big boy being that he can use the potty and not have to be constantly reminded every half hour; things like not having to wear a diaper in the pool, getting to have an even bigger bed (which he hopes will have three guard rails), getting to get out of said bed to use the potty when necessary, not have to sit in a booster seat all the time at dinner, drink from a regular (non-lidded) cup, and more! We told him that his sister, who he knows loves him most in all the world, is looking up to him and he needs to set a good example for her. Yadda, yadda, yadda ... nothing worked.
Then I got an idea ... an awesome idea. This mom got a wonderful, awesome idea. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)
I had to go grocery shopping last night, so while I was at Meijer, I picked up a small Lego set. It was only $5.99 but you could make three different construction vehicles with it. This morning I divided it up, piece by piece, into two ice cube trays (there were a few extra pieces that I'll have to put in later, but most of them fit).
So, when the second day was nothing but resistance and accidents, Bryson and I were pretty broken-hearted. By the end of the day, no matter what bribe we offered or praise we heaped on him, Baylor flat-out refused to use the potty and had a bunch of accidents, none of which he was overly upset about. In fact, he wasn't upset about much of anything; he didn't get one of his beloved stickers because he didn't clean up and he didn't bat an eye, even though he is only one sticker away from a sticker reward. (Long story ... sorry, it's part of the whole Asperger's/autism/etc. thing.)
Anyhow, I knew something had to give. We'd tried rewarding him with peanut M&Ms, Hot Wheels cars, and a promise of a giant tub of Legos once he is finally potty trained. We tried telling him all the awesome things he would get to do once he became a big boy - the true sign of a big boy being that he can use the potty and not have to be constantly reminded every half hour; things like not having to wear a diaper in the pool, getting to have an even bigger bed (which he hopes will have three guard rails), getting to get out of said bed to use the potty when necessary, not have to sit in a booster seat all the time at dinner, drink from a regular (non-lidded) cup, and more! We told him that his sister, who he knows loves him most in all the world, is looking up to him and he needs to set a good example for her. Yadda, yadda, yadda ... nothing worked.
Then I got an idea ... an awesome idea. This mom got a wonderful, awesome idea. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)
I had to go grocery shopping last night, so while I was at Meijer, I picked up a small Lego set. It was only $5.99 but you could make three different construction vehicles with it. This morning I divided it up, piece by piece, into two ice cube trays (there were a few extra pieces that I'll have to put in later, but most of them fit).
When Baylor woke up this morning, I gave him the instructions and told him that if he wanted any of the pieces he would have to use the potty, or at least try. If I said he needed to use the potty, he sat down, and had nothing, then he still got a piece. If he sat down and peed, he got just one piece; if he pooped in the potty - since this has been a bit of a struggle - he'd get two pieces. But if he told me that he had to use the potty and ended up just sitting there playing, he wouldn't get any pieces.
At first he liked the idea, then quickly he rebelled. But, by the end of the day, he seems to have warmed up to the idea quite nicely. I am cautiously optimistic to say the least.
Oh, and we got another treat today ...
Mollie, after seeing her brother potty train for the last two days, has decided that she no longer wants to wear diapers. So, lucky me, I'm potty training two kids at once. On the bright side, she only requires a little bit of praise to motivate her. Yay!
Best case scenario ... by the end of all this mess (and, dear God, have there been some messes) we'll have two potty trained kiddos and a little extra money each month that won't be thrown away in the diaper pail.
Worst case scenario ... Mommy ends up in the loony bin.
It's a crapshoot, but my money's on the former right now. (Knock on wood!)
1 comment:
Great idea with the legos! Good luck!
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