Eyes on the Prize(s)*

I'm not above bribery, at least not in small doses. So, Josh said he had read a potty training tip that included letting a kid select a few new toys and then putting them out of reach and then giving them as reward once said kid uses the potty successfully. I didn't balk; in fact, I had a few ideas for prizes. Jack loves bicycles, but probably isn't really ready for one. A tricycle on the other hand, seemed like the perfect motivation, right?

So, I saw a trike in the sales paper and we took Jack along to buy it. Josh stopped in front of it in the store, and Jack asked if he could have it. Josh said sure, but told him he had to poo-poo** in the potty first. Jack then basically repeated to me the agreement. While at the store, we even let him pick out some real underpants. Sesame Street (complete with Elmo & Super Grover) were the garments of our two-year-old's choice. Well, that was about 4 weeks ago...yes, that stinkin' trike has been sitting (in the box) in our bedroom (as a fervent reminder) for almost a month!! Not only has Jack not fulfilled the agreement; he basically refuses to even sit on the potty. How could this be? I mean just look at how happy the kid on the trike box is! (Okay, you're right...he looks a little too happy. Probably because he just peed in his pants! So, you don't have to be potty trained to get a bike I guess) Anyway, I expected potty training to be difficult and challenging, but this is going to be a LOT harder than I thought!

I don't feel like I'm approaching it haphazardly. Jack & I have been talking about it for many months, and I've been reading lots of articles, websites, etc. One common theme was basically, "don't push it, let them send you signals that they are ready." I also read some ideas about clearing your schedule for several days (basically not leaving the house)...so summer seemed like the perfect time to embark on our journey, right? Well, Thursday was Jack's last day of school/mother's morning out. I've been telling him all week that we are going to start using the potty next week. Each time I'm promptly met with whining and fussing.


Several weeks back (before the big prize purchase) we started a chart. Jack loves stickers. Since I felt I couldn't really give him candy every time I wanted him to sit on the potty (currently the only way he'll sit on the throne without crying and pitching a fit the entire time), we'd make it a game. Each time he sat on the potty, he'd get a sticker for his poster. Every time he washed his hands, another sticker. More stickers for each time he produced results and then more for flushing afterwards. The chart was only exciting for about an hour...

This same two-year-old LOVES sports and playing outside. He'll even settle for watching it on tv every now and then. In fact this morning, he asked to watch tennis. So, we watched the French Open while folding laundry. Another strong favorite is golf. I knew he'd love this little golf set. Hopefully, so much so that he would NOT wet himself and instead pee pee in the potty. So, here's the reward for #1...it's been around almost as long as the trike.

So, as excited as I am that summer is here, I'm also dreading the start of full-on potty training. Even though he's fighting it tooth and nail I feel like I can't wait any longer. I know he's only 2 1/2 but he's a big 2 1/2 and no one wants to be changing a kid's diaper that is as tall as them. The plan is to lay-low next week (starting Tuesday...even potty training deserves a Memorial Day reprieve) and spend a lot of time in the bathroom. Wish us luck...we are going to need it!

*I'm going to guess I'm officially considered a mommy blogger since I have just blogged about potty training!

**yes, I just typed 'poo-poo' on my blog. I hope this is not a sign of what's to come unless of course it's in the potty...then in that case, bring it on!