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| Classic Kalina and Elise. Kalina can get the toddler to eat more green beans than I can. |
On Thursday right before naptime (bad idea), we hauled Kalina's old potty up from the basement ("New!" declared Elise both ignorantly and blissfully). Elise glued herself to it for a good 30 minutes with no success before I wrestled her into the crib for her nap.
Elise persisted in practicing all afternoon. No success.
But the next morning, after holding it for nearly three hours and then two minor accidents: success! And that's pretty much the end of diapers, and the end of my story, unless you want the gritty details:
For one, you should know that Elise completely spearheaded this effort. So far I've always been blindsided by potty training, as my kids are traditionally far more enthusiastic about it than I am. It was Elise who got the bright idea to start using the potty in the first place, and Elise who persisted despite her mommy's chipper, "You'll get it, we'll just keep practicing, let's go do something else for a while!" and the like. It was Elise's energy that never gave out during frequent trips to the potty, and frequent checks to see if the potty had worked yet ("I think I've got it this time! Do I? Nope. I'll try again. Now? No. How about now? Now? This time for sure! Not yet." Etc.). Hardly discouraged by setbacks (i.e., a dry and clean potty chair despite her best efforts), this girl would fly to the moon if she only had wings.
We mostly stayed home for several days in a row to help Elise get the hang of it--and under my watchful eye, and with a potty chair handy, we made it through some of them with virtually no accidents (and, for some reason, virtually no naps). We also made it without going completely crazy, thanks to a neighbor with three potty-trained children who thought nothing of my lugging our potty chair into her house so my kids could play with hers with limited liability, and also thanks to Grandpa, who braved potty training long enough for me to dash to the grocery store.
And then just as we were getting brave enough to venture beyond our backyard (or the neighbor's house), we mostly stayed home because Elise held onto a fever for six days, but persisted in potty training throughout. I'm pretty sure I would've given up.
Elise, for some strange reason, seemed to be enjoying herself dashing back and forth to the bathroom. It might have helped that every time she headed in that direction, she was accompanied by an entourage consisting of her hopeful mommy and her helpful big sister, not to mention an armful or two of stuffed animals and anything else Elise (or Kalina) decided it'd be necessary to scoop up along the way. Or maybe she's really that motivated to learn.
But it's still a strange thing, potty-training a 20-month-old--for some reason, even stranger than potty-training my 23-month-old. In fact, I'm stunned enough to regale anyone who will listen with the tale of Elise's potty training, and help the child pick out underwear at the store louder than I probably need to: "YOU DON'T NEED DIAPERS ANYMORE, DO YOU, SWEETIE? YOU GET TO WEAR UNDERWEAR!" Either that, or I've been trapped at home potty training my child and I'm lonely for conversation, any conversation at all.
Strangest of all is that we've hardly used bribes. I only implemented them out of desperation when Elise went most of two days without pooping, and began to voluntarily lay down on occasion requesting a diaper (that was when I knew she was really desperate, too). So now, she and Kalina both get marshmallowy rewards when Elise's efforts in that direction pay off. It's kind of working.
And, of course, we're not completely done with diapers. For some reason I can't quite count on a 20 1/2-month-old to effectively manage her bladder all the way through the super-exciting local kids' museum, or even the grocery store--but possibly as we dart into and out of the post office.
However, evidence says I shouldn't worry. Despite Elise's precautionary diaper, she let me know when she needed to go potty during our visit to the kids' museum (while Kalina was in preschool), and used the public facilities as if she'd been doing so all her life. Perhaps she hasn't yet learned to be terrified of loud flushing. (But she will.)
That, of course, won't stop me from constantly fretting while we're out for at least the next few months--because inevitably, I'll have to take her out of diapers so as not to send mixed messages (you don't have to use the potty while we're in public, but you do at home???). But that just goes along with the territory--and if you're not worrying about the condition of the local nature center's carpet, you're worrying that your child will climb to the top of the stuffed bear. It's always one thing or another.
Still to overcome: the giant road trip and family vacation, plus any larger outing we want to take on this summer (the zoo? The pool???).
Of course, we still have the occasional accident and I occasionally have to remind myself that Elise is only 20 months old, and not to expect too much of her. But if the girl can pretty much potty train herself, shouldn't I be expecting a lot?
For one, you should know that Elise completely spearheaded this effort. So far I've always been blindsided by potty training, as my kids are traditionally far more enthusiastic about it than I am. It was Elise who got the bright idea to start using the potty in the first place, and Elise who persisted despite her mommy's chipper, "You'll get it, we'll just keep practicing, let's go do something else for a while!" and the like. It was Elise's energy that never gave out during frequent trips to the potty, and frequent checks to see if the potty had worked yet ("I think I've got it this time! Do I? Nope. I'll try again. Now? No. How about now? Now? This time for sure! Not yet." Etc.). Hardly discouraged by setbacks (i.e., a dry and clean potty chair despite her best efforts), this girl would fly to the moon if she only had wings.
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| These bridges stayed put all of .5 seconds after Daddy built them over the girls. But it was still quite impressive to see Elise lay still for construction! Again, motivation. |
And then just as we were getting brave enough to venture beyond our backyard (or the neighbor's house), we mostly stayed home because Elise held onto a fever for six days, but persisted in potty training throughout. I'm pretty sure I would've given up.
Elise, for some strange reason, seemed to be enjoying herself dashing back and forth to the bathroom. It might have helped that every time she headed in that direction, she was accompanied by an entourage consisting of her hopeful mommy and her helpful big sister, not to mention an armful or two of stuffed animals and anything else Elise (or Kalina) decided it'd be necessary to scoop up along the way. Or maybe she's really that motivated to learn.
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| Elise shows Grandpa the best strawberries, while Kalina seeks out hidden gems. |
Strangest of all is that we've hardly used bribes. I only implemented them out of desperation when Elise went most of two days without pooping, and began to voluntarily lay down on occasion requesting a diaper (that was when I knew she was really desperate, too). So now, she and Kalina both get marshmallowy rewards when Elise's efforts in that direction pay off. It's kind of working.
And, of course, we're not completely done with diapers. For some reason I can't quite count on a 20 1/2-month-old to effectively manage her bladder all the way through the super-exciting local kids' museum, or even the grocery store--but possibly as we dart into and out of the post office.
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| The girls like to alternately jump and rest on Kalina's bed. |
However, evidence says I shouldn't worry. Despite Elise's precautionary diaper, she let me know when she needed to go potty during our visit to the kids' museum (while Kalina was in preschool), and used the public facilities as if she'd been doing so all her life. Perhaps she hasn't yet learned to be terrified of loud flushing. (But she will.)
That, of course, won't stop me from constantly fretting while we're out for at least the next few months--because inevitably, I'll have to take her out of diapers so as not to send mixed messages (you don't have to use the potty while we're in public, but you do at home???). But that just goes along with the territory--and if you're not worrying about the condition of the local nature center's carpet, you're worrying that your child will climb to the top of the stuffed bear. It's always one thing or another.
Still to overcome: the giant road trip and family vacation, plus any larger outing we want to take on this summer (the zoo? The pool???).
In truth, Elise has truly amazed us all, but Daddy the most. I don't know whether he doubted my sanity or Elise's motivation more, but either way, he's been pleasantly surprised. I'm not sure I've ever been happier to prove him wrong. I bet Elise would agree. :)
1 comment:
is she for hire to come convince noah that the potty is awesome? (in other news I FOUND MY POTTY BRIBE! thank goodness for jelly beans...it's actually working!) :)
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