L. is 2 1/2. Which means that I’m starting to get questions along the lines of, “Is he potty-trained?”
Um…well…no. We haven’t even started.
But unfortunately the truth is, L. is starting to show signs of “readiness.” For example, last week he approached me, giggled, and then informed me that he was going to go into the other room, close his eyes, and poop. And because I’ve been through this process before, I knew what that meant. Yes, he’s hit that stage where he’s aware of what’s going on and can even predict its imminent occurrence.
Which means I have to start thinking about potty-training. Great.
Of course, L. is also showing signs of UN-readiness. One day, he told me he’d like to go sit on the potty. (I suspect he made this decision because I had mentioned in passing that big boys who use the potty have been known to get M&M’s as a treat. M&M’s wield great power in our house.) Not one to pass up an opportunity, and hoping desperately that he had decided to magically train himself over the course of exactly two minutes, I agreed to give it a try.
But alas, he was only on the potty for about one second before he made another decision:
“Uh-oh. UH-OH! No, thank you. No-thank-you-no-thank-you-no-thank-you-no-thank-you!”
I let him get off. So much for instantaneous self-training.
Though we haven’t actually started training yet, I DO talk about potty-training with L.. I tell him that soon he’ll use the potty, just like the rest of us do, because he’s getting to be a big boy. I talk about how nice it will be to not have to pay for wear diapers anymore. He doesn’t seem very impressed.
Last weekend, during a trip to Target, I decided to bite the bullet and purchase some necessary supplies.
“Hey, L.. Should we by a Go, Diego, Go potty seat?”
“Um…nope!”
I put it in the cart anyway. Along with a very nice step stool. Again: L.=not impressed. In fact, he started yelling, “No! Take it out! No!”
Nevertheless, we made it up to the cashier and actually purchased them.
It’s a first step. But I have to admit, they are still sitting in their Target bag in the back of my car. So clearly, I haven’t made it to the second step yet: bringing the supplies into the house.
Perhaps neither one of us is quite ready to commit to the struggle adventure process ahead of us. But I just keep reminding myself how nice it will be when the potty-training thing is behind us. And then I think about starting the training. And then I decide to just go have a couple more M&M’s, and leave the training for another day.
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
WoW! How closely do I identify! For my part, we talk about the special Thomas the Tank Engine underware that we also bought at Target as motivation. He loves to talk about his Thomas underware. He tell us enthusiastically that when he goes potty on the toliet, he gets to wear Thomas underware.
And that seems to be where the enthusiasm stops. (We’re at 28 months.)
I keep telling myself that perhaps this summer…..
BTW, I can spell underwear properly when forced.
I gave you the Kreativ Blogger Award on my site today.
Our youngest is getting to that point. sigh. Just.can’t.wait.
Yeah right.
Good luck (getting the bag from your car, that is!).
Jolanthe
I wouldn’t worry too much about it. And, ignore those people who give you “the eye” that he’s not potty trained. I stressed about it with Flicka – I *needed* her to be potty trained before Pojke’s arrival. I didn’t want TWO in diapers. But, then I remembered – she would be ONLY 22 months old when he arrived. *sigh*
I’ve let Pojke take the lead this time. We’ve talked about it for months…literally. I was planning on trying this past summer but he wanted NOTHING to do with it. Everything kinda came together last month (his interest, my motivation, etc.) so we decided to try it out on his birthday.
For the last four weeks at diaper changes, “what’s gonna happen on your birthday?” And, he replies “I stop wearin’ die-purrs” So, last Sunday was the big day to turn three. And, we started on Monday. This is day four. There’s been ups and downs but we actually went out to dinner last night and he peed in the public restroom twice! LOL
At the risk of sounding to laissez-faire, it’ll happen when it happens.
that is too funny….My oldest was potty trained completely one month before he turned 3…now I can’t wait for his brother to be there too…he is 18 months and I ready to ease the budget a little and NOT buy diapers..but all in its time!
good luck with getting the necessary supplies into the house…not to mention, in plain sight all the time!
I just kind of let nature take it’s course with my son and he just decided to start using the potty one day. He was 3 before it happened, so I had to endure all the comments about his age and not using the potty, but I survived it. He never had any accidents after he was trained, either.
I have no motherly advice to offer and anyways, I know you’ve been there done that all before! But from experience as a junior high teacher, I can say I never had a student who wasn’t potty-trained! For that matter, most of the little first graders I had to supervise on the playground from time to time had it together as well! Hey look at it this way . . . more M&Ms for you, right?!
oo it sounds like a blast! Sammy is only 20 months. He likes to tell us after he has gone so I guess I still have a little bit but man oh man I DO NOT look forward to it in the least! Good luck!
Wanted to stop by and welcome you to High Calling Blogs. Love your blog here, both insightful and funny. As for my children, I’ve found that boys are much harder to potty train than girls. We had to arrange a phone call from Buzz Lightyear before my son finally gave in and learned.
My son was 3 1/2 before he was ready. And before I was ready. So you’re fine!
None of mine were trained before they were 3. I was concerned about it with my oldest, but my doctor as fine with it, so I relaxed with the next two.
Ah yes, those M&M’s are best when saved for mommy. In our house it usually goes “One for you for going potty, and a handful for me for potty training.”
“… no thank you, no thank you, no thank you…” at least he’s polite about it!
This is too cute, and I don’t envy you one bit!
Oh I don’t miss those days. Grant was almost three. And Marah – well she was 2 and I thought wow she was easy – until she started walking by me saying – “I just peed like a dog in the living room mama”. GOOD LUCK!
Oh my goodness, I love that both my kids are PT now. It makes it so much easier to go places. But I HATED actually potty training them. One of the times when I wish I could have a time-travel machine.
Just wanted to say: “Yep. I’m with you. Change is hard. One step at a time!”
And a warm welcome to the High Calling Blog Network. Good to have you with us!
(Noted in your sidebar that you are reading Sacred Chaos. Attended several workshops with the author last fall. Transformative, memorable stuff. Good words — now to life them into a better life!)
Blessings on your New Year…
All’s grace,
Ann
I see that you are now a part of High Calling Blogs network. You will be a welcome voice to the chorus. I’ve had fun reading your take on life. You have an engaging, energetic style.
*sigh* Mine is 3 going on 3.5 and we’ve been potty training forEVER (or it feels like it). One step forward, two steps back. I think mine is just stubborn. I hope you have better success.
I’m not taunting you, but this does remind me of how glad I am that this is all behind me.
As you probably remember, Kyle didn’t really make any significant progress until he was 3, and by 3 1/2 it was taken care of. SIGH.
I always had this strange memory of myself bent over the potty & rinsing out one of my own diapers in complete disgust…my mom used cloth diapers. So one day I asked her if that memory really happened or if it was something I dreamed. She said, yes, it really happened. That is how she decided to potty train me & it worked a miracle because I was one hard-headed little kid.
AHHHHHHHHH!!! The memories that came back…I have 2 boys, thankfully both have been potty trained for a long, long, long time. Both were using the potty before they started preschool-which was around 3 1/2 but sometimes accidents did occur. I remember getting the same question: When will he be potty trained? My answer, “When he is ready.” I also remember the times I would be shopping or in a place that did not have a public restroom. Hard, to say the least!! Especially when your child HAS TO GO RIGHT NOW!!!!! I PRAISE you for following your son’s lead and readiness rather than pushing him.
Peace and Blessings…
Ahh…the joys of potty training
I feel for you and hopefully it goes well! My daughter is only 15 months and I’m already dreading it 
There are many many mothers of boys who have worried their son would be wearing pull-ups to KG…don’t worry, most boys do it just in the nick of time.