The Kids with Cousin Dakota

Isaac, cousin Dakota, and Allison at Grandma and Pa-pa McAbee's (Shane's mom and stepdad's) in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, early June 2007.

Potty Training Successes and Discipline

I find it interesting how potty training and discipline are intertwined. Since I made the potty chart, it's been easier to communicate to Allison what's expected of her. If she goes pee, she gets a sticker, if she flushes the potty, she gets a sticker, and so on. I even made a "Bonus" column to reward her for having a good attitude. If she grumbles or stomps her foot when it's time to try to go potty, I draw a sad face in the square and she gets no bonus sticker. Allison is actually staying dry for long periods finally! One night last week she stayed dry all night.

Last week was a good week for potty training and discipline. Reading "The Strong Willed Child" and "Parenting Isn't for Cowards," both by Dr. James Dobson, has really helped. I've been able to stay calm instead of get irritated when my kids disobey or have tantrums. I've been able to be firm and mean business instead of being a pushover. I've also been able to see that if I treat them with dignity (instead of anger borne out of irritation), that they actually respect me more.

This week hasn't been too great in part because Shane is out of town and because I've let our schedules get lax these last couple of days. I didn't put Allie down for a nap on Sunday or Monday and she was cranky at suppertime. It's hard not having Shane home at 5:45pm every day -- not just as a parent but as a spouse. The evenings are boring with no one to talk to and I have no energy to do the dishes!

To make things more difficult, Isaac has been peeing his pants. He's been totally dry for a good six months or more. Then last week he started putting stickers on Allison's potty chart whenever he went potty and talking baby talk. (Total regression, I know!) I think things will improve drastically in the Fall when he starts kindergarten and she starts preschool and they're around their peers. Till then, I'd like to start enjoying this summer instead of just trying to get through it!

Not that I'm down about all this stuff. There is joy in the Lord!

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12

Potty Training the Strong Willed Child, Part 2

Yesterday was a bad day for potty training. In the morning, she pooped in her new underwear. Then she pooped twice in her pull-ups. Just getting her to sit on the potty is a major pain! In the afternoon, we battled wills for 45 minutes while she begged to go outside and I kept telling her to sit on the potty first and then she could go outside. When she sits on the potty and actually goes and then puts her reward stickers on the chart, it's a beautiful thing. If only she was always so agreeable!!!
Maybe I waited too long and she's too set in her ways. Hindsight is always 20/20! But saying I waited too long doesn't help in the present. What do I do now? Does anyone know how to potty-train the strong willed child??
By the way, I checked out the book, "The Strong Willed Child," by James Dobson. If this book helps me to parent her better, then I can train her to use the potty. Know what I mean?
Your prayers and advice are appreciated! (Just don't tell me that your kids were trained at 18 months. That's depressing!)

Potty Training the Strong-Willed Child

I stepped up the potty training a knotch with Allison, our 3 1/2 year old this past weekend. I put her on the potty every hour, bought her The Little Mermaid underwear (her favorite character) and had her put stickers on a potty chart. She stayed dry all day yesterday and even pooped in the potty last night before bed. She pooped in her underwear this morning, but I made her stand up while I cleaned it up. No more lying down on the floor while her bottom gets wiped. We still have a ways to go but after 9 months of no progress, I feel more encouraged! I keep reminding myself that she and I need to work as a TEAM!! Being consistent with this is exhausting, and it's embarrasing to have a 3 1/2 year old not potty trained yet. Maybe later I'll post a picture of her in the new underwear she's so excited about.