POTTY TRAINING!!!

We have been working on potty training. Just go ahead and skip this post if you don't want to read about adventures in kid potty training!! I have been DREADING this day. Mostly because I have a thing with urine and feces. But also because Dozer is VERY stubborn. If he doesn't want to, he simply doesn't.   no.  matter.   what.  We have had some small hiccups, but overall he has been doing great!! I mean, its taken about a month to really be considered potty trained, but SO much better than I anticipated!

I had tried once a couple of months ago, and it was a disaster. We went through all 10 pairs of underwear before lunch. And not just a little wet, people!!    Gave up.  But then he had started showing more signs he was ready a while back. So I decided to try again. He did pretty good! If I remembered to take him to the bathroom every hour or two. But he wasn't too upset by it. 2-3 M&Ms were still working for a couple of days. Then they stopped working :(. So I gave him more! 5-10. Worked for 1/2 a day. Then fruit snacks, suckers, and any other candy that would pique his interest. Stopped working. He wasn't having accidents, he was just FIGHTING me to go to the bathroom! I didn't want it to be a bad experience. Thus the bribes. He got better and better. He had an accident or two when I forgot to take him in, but accidents are expected right? No problem! Then he started going in by himself! He caught on really well after a couple weeks.

But then #2.  The problem is that he always goes in the morning. As soon as he wakes up. Seriously. He is still in a night diaper, so he just goes in the morning when he wakes up. And, if he didn't, he would just go in his underwear. I TRIED SO HARD to catch him in the act! So I had to start punishing him when he wasn't going on the potty because after 3 WEEKS he still wasn't getting the hang of #2. At all. Time outs didn't work. I tried taking away toys. Didn't work. I resorted to spanking even though I don't like to. Didn't work. I think the cold shower finally started working. PLUS we went to walmart and bought TONS of toys as bribes. If you go on the potty you can have_____.  He wanted them bad enough, I guess!  But now the problem was he wasn't getting to the bathroom before he started going!  Stab me in the eye with a fork!! This was every nightmare about potty training I have ever had. He would smear it all up the front of the toilet, all over the adult seat, all over the kid seat, and all over his legs trying to get on the potty! Not on purpose, just in the act of scooting up onto the potty. Does NOT make for a happy me. Anyway, he is doing REALLY well now. I honestly don't even have to think about taking him potty anymore!! YAHOO!!! It was worth it after all!

This cars connect 4 was a prize. I had to get some BIG bribes to get him to comply. And princess watched for a little while while I played with him. then sat herself right down and started putting pieces in herself!  Smart girl!