The potty and I are becoming likethis

So, I'm potty training my three-year-old. (OMG, I have a three-year-old!) Let me rephrase, I'm helping to potty train my three-year-old. I am blessed to have seriously the best babysitter EVER in the world and she's doing 80% of the work while I just keep it up at home. I totally need to give her the babysitter-of-the-year award.

I know a few of you bloggers are in the throws of potty training (or potty learning if you want to be PC) so here's what we've been doing. We set the timer for 15 minutes and we take him to the potty every 15 minutes. For the most part he wears big boy undies instead of pull-ups. Pull-ups are basically diapers so he only wears them when he's in the car or if he's at his Grandma's house. He gets a "treat" when he uses the potty. You read that right, I totally bribe my kid to relieve himself into the toilet by giving him dum-dum suckers. I don't feel the least guilty about it either.

I'm not doing the 15 minute time thing anymore, really. Now I ask him about every 20 minutes and we go sit on the potty no matter what. I think he's getting it, slowly. I was reminded that he's had 3 years of going whenever he wants so I have to be patient. Also, I don't know any five-year-olds that aren't potty trained, so I don't feel to anxious yet.

He's doing relatively well although he's had an accident or two everyday and we've been at this for 2 weeks. There's no turning back though, I'm determined to not change another diaper. We tried using a little potty chair that sat on the floor but he wants nothing to do with it. We use a potty seat insert whositthingy. (Technical term, ya know.)

 
Y'all, when we get this potty training thing down I may throw a party. It'll be the greatest day I've had in a while.

Anyhoo, other than working and potty training my brain is basically fried. There's only 65 days till tax season is over and 96 days till I leave for England. Not that I'm counting or anything...

Oh! And also! I ran 4 miles the other day for the first time ever! I am ridiculously proud of my short, little legs and how they took me so far!

Comments

[Rebecca @ Diary of a Virgin Novelist]

Congrats on the potty training and the running! Big stuff!

I didn't know you were going to England. Where? Why? I am an England Slut and go at least every other year if not every year. Tell me tell me tell me! ;)

[Jennie]

I deny potty-training exists and will continue to deny it until I'm forced out of my denial. I think I have at least a year before I have to admit such things.

Four miles! That's so awesome! We'll kick butt on our Mother's Day run! (Well, you will. I'll struggle to reach the finish line.)

[Jess]

Sounds like it's going well so far! I think you have a good attitude about the whole thing and that helps a lot.

Congrats on the run! That's fantastic!

[Kristie]

Oh Jennie, I struggled. Believe me! I had intended on only doing 2 miles and then I forced my legs to take me farther. I still need to sign up for the run!

[natalie]

Best of luck with the potty! I hope it all works out, and don't give up! Imagine all of the gigantic rings you can buy, when you don't have to buy diapers. ;)

Great work on your running! Be so proud!

[barbetti]

Best of luck with the potty training! Steve expects me to have potty trained Dublin while he is deployed (HA, YOU WISH, BUDDY), but I don't know how feasible that is.

I actually knew a couple who rebelled against diapers from the get-go. Like, they would hold their infant over the toilet every time they thought he had to "go." In their mind, it would potty train him even sooner. But...he's three and peeing on their walls, soooo WHOOPS!