Whatever it takes
Things I have used to bribe/entice/reward my daughter for using the potty in the last five days:
- M&Ms
- Games on my iPhone
- Books
- Songs
- Congratulatory phone calls to
- Daddy
- Grandma
- Grandpa
- Aunt Rachel
- Pennies (for her “collection”)
We may be turning a bit of a corner, in that she has finally started telling me that she needs to use the potty. It is often a false alarm, but I’ve been praising her and thanking her for telling me, even if there’s no actual production.
Our first trip out of the house yesterday afternoon was not terribly successful. We went to a playdate at a friend’s house, but it turns out to have been the most gargantuan playdate yet. Our previous record for number of kids was 12, but yesterday was a whopping 18 kids, all but one under the age of 3. It proved to be a bit much for Rebecca, who had two small and two larger accidents in quick succession. She was clearly sort of trying to hold it, but also wouldn’t release when I scooped her up and sat her on the potty. Alas, work in progress. And despite bringing a few changes, she rode home with no pants. What can you do…
This morning, however, was much better. She had a spontaneous ask-to-use-the-potty moment that, when I let her play a game on my phone in an effort to keep her on the potty for more than 3 seconds, actually resulted in success! Yipee! We then had a totally dry trip to music class (with one false-alarm potty request, and yes, I had the travel potty set up discretely in the corner), and followed it up with an accident-free stop at Starbucks.
Someday, I promise, I’ll stop writing about potty training…
Tags: accidents, potty training
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Lady, right now? You are doing totally awesome. And who cares if you post about this for a year! I’ve been there four times! It takes a while, it’s all consumptive, and you deserve some adult credit.
Whew. I’ll fight anyone who argues. Just tell me where they are.
JourneyBeyondSurvival´s last blog ..hang on
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:48 pm
I am digging the potty training posts and I may be tucking them away in a special place for me to find in about a year!
February 3rd, 2010 at 4:16 pm
I have no right judging anyone posting and posting about potty training bc I have been writing about it for a YEAR.
YAHOO to accident free outings!
LauraC´s last blog ..Home from San Diego…
February 4th, 2010 at 8:17 am
One thing I did for going out: Put panties on her. Then put on a pull-up. If she has an accident, she feels it but it doesn’t make a huge mess. Then all you need is a couple pairs of little girls panties instead of whole outfits if she has an accident.
Hang in there. I thought I would die. I made the mistake of potty training my girls (now 5) at the same time.
The days are long, the years are short.
February 4th, 2010 at 8:54 am
Melody once peed on the floor at Starbucks. Good times.
February 4th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
AAHHHGG Where were posts like these when I was potty training my little girl (now 5 yrs old). I love to read “real” posts about all the “just wonderful” parts of raising our children, Lord knows I don’t have many friends or family members that “remember” what it was like or what they did lol. Awesome posts, keep them coming!
Mary´s last blog ..Are you looking to make extra cash and have fun doing so?
February 4th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Hang in there! You’re doing awesome! When Emilia was potty-training we started the tradition of telling “Emilia stories” when she’s on the potty. They’re just totally unimaginative, uncreative stories I make up all about a little girl named Emilia (oftentimes they’re just me recounting some specific happening in Emilia’s life). At first they kept her on the potty longer than she’d stay otherwise, now they’re just tradition (and usually last only until I hear something come out; then they wrap up really quick).
Good luck!
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February 4th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Sounds like LOTS of progress to me!! Go Rebecca
Nancy´s last blog ..Book Review: The Given Day
February 4th, 2010 at 10:10 pm
Hooray for a dry outing! Sounds like Rebecca is making fantastic progress!
reanbean´s last blog ..Is it Saturday Yet?
February 5th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Way to go! It’s the little things that count when potty training. I’m with Heather on the pull-up over the underpants during outings. We do that as well, and it works out great.
I love hearing about your potty-training journey… it’s nice to know I’m not alone, so keep it up
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February 9th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
awesome! i’ve been meaning to comment and congratulate you and becca for this awesome accomplishment (or rather i should say “start” to an accomplishment). but the start means everything at this point, and it’s something to be proud of. i’m curious to know what daniel thinks of all this!
February 9th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
You are free to talk about potty training all you want, Liz! I personally fear that I may be talking about it until Jack is in middle school.
Sounds like Rebecca’s actually doing great. Jack went through a long period of false alarms, but when they start telling you they have to go, it really is turning a corner. She may be recognizing the very early signs that she needs to go, but she doesn’t need to go badly enough to produce anything, know what I mean?
Beverly´s last blog ..Cute, even if I do say so myself