Potty Training is a stage in a boy’s life that at least in this family has proven to be a big headache. I shouldn’t say this was the way for all my boys, but 2 out of 3 is enough to really not like the process.
Eli has been working on it for a while. And I’ve been trying to not get frustrated, but it is hard! Here are some memorable moments from Eli:
We were working on the deck on afternoon and the boys were outside. I totally forgot to keep up with Eli. He was playing down by the fort and I realized he hadn’t come to see what was going on. He was staying away, a sure sign he had an accident, so I asked him about. “Eli, did you have an accident?” “Nope.” “Are you sure?” “I can’t remember.”
We use bribery to motivate the boys when they hit a stalemate during potty training. So Eli picked out a Captain America toy to sit on the sink until he met a very reasonable goal. Well, after multiple days of accidents and me trying to encourage him by reminding him about Captain America; he started telling me “I don’t want Captain America anymore.”
We went back to the store and came across a Hulk; since this was the original toy he had wanted we got it for him. We replaced the Captain America with Hulk and hoped for the best. A few days later he actually met his goal. In his little voice Eli said, “I’m so excited!”
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| Silly Monkey! |
No matter how frustrated I get, I can’t help but also laugh at some things Eli says. We have good days and bad. I recently came across an article about the 5 Issues of Potty Training and thought “what the heck,” maybe I will learn something. NOPE! Basically all the “issues” and their remedies I all ready do. That should make you feel better, right? No, just reminds you that NO ONE has the answers and every child is different. Uggg!
Eli is not doing too bad. I think the fact that there is not deadline to this potty training has helped keep some stress down. Eli is being just like his big brothers- he does great then regresses. They’ve always had a hard time stopping what they are doing and taking a “potty break”. Being number 4, I should be used to it right?! I guess I am a little, but believe me I will be so happy when he has this down! I am hoping the saying that “girls are easier to potty train than boys” is right. I’m not holding my breath, Makaela is so much like her brothers and sometimes worse!