Vie was about a year and half when she started potty training all on her own. She wasn’t even talking yet but she would sign “potty” so I would sit her on the potty and she would go! Poop was a little harder for her, I remember sitting in the bathroom waiting, coloring or reading books. I regretted pushing the poop potty training because she would resist and hold it for days, so I thought I’d take a more natural, self-directed approach this time. I stupidly thought that since I had been successful with first, that potty training would be easy and self-initiated again. Let me tell you how it went his time…

Zoe had zero motivation to start potty training. I would ask her if she wanted to be a “big girl” like her sissy and go potty on the toilet, she replied “NO! I A BABY!” every time. I would tell her if she went potty on the toilet she could go to school with Vie or I would buy her princess chonies (underwear) NOPE. Zero motivation. She is almost 3 now and I was starting to feel like this was not going to happen. This kid clearly understands what I’m telling her. I couldn’t find a reason why she shouldn’t be potty training AND I am TIRED of changing diapers all day! So after a particularly nasty diaper that she ASKED ME TO CHANGE, I said “…that’s it Zoe, there are no more diapers for you. You have to wear chonchies now and you can’t pee pee or poopy them. You have to go to the potty like a big girl.” She said “ok mommy” and so our week began…

“more pee and poop information than you ever wanted to know”

She had an accident right away. Luckily she was standing on something washable! But it gave her the feeling of being wet and she got the hang of it pretty quickly. I started by giving her skittles every time she pee’d on the potty because I am not above bribery and I wanted this to be a positive celebratory experience for her.  She also got a sticker with each potty visit. Soon there were stickers all over the house so I had to make a chart for her to stick them on. One place for the pee stickers one place for the poop stickers and another place for the “try again” stickers for when we tried and nothing came out. She had a few accidents for the first 3 days but was happy to try and sit on the potty. Until Day 3 when she began to refuse to sit on the potty. She was crying she didn’t want to even try anymore. She hadn’t pooped since day 1 and we were all anxious waiting for this. She had the most accidents that day. I felt like giving up. I was trying so hard to remain calm and let her lead the way. But her personality resists change and newness. She likes things to go exactly as planned and she was not liking this new big girl potty life. After day 3 there were no more pee accidents but had a poop accident then held it again 3 more days until day 6! By then she was in a new phase where she proclaims she needs to go potty every 15 minutes. Going out of the house this week was very difficult and nerve wracking so we tried to stay home as much as we could. We made the mistake of going out to brunch on day 6 and I spent all of my time taking her to the potty instead of eating. Finally that night, we celebrated the first poop on the potty! After a full week of struggle and anxiously waiting for her to poop it felt like such a victory that it made me excited to write this all down for you!

In conclusion to this (quite long) story of more pee and poop information than you ever wanted to know… No kid is the same! Every kid takes to potty training differently and what works for one may or may not work for another. Don’t be so hard on yourself for pushing them too much or not pushing them enough. Both my kids held their poop anyway! I think it’s a comfort thing. As soon as they become comfortable with the new way of pooping things will settle and potty time will become normal. However you go about it, the key is consistency and gentle support through this change in lifestyle. Don’t give up! Once you start power through even if you feel like quitting. There is success ahead! This kid proved resistant to potty training but I think after a long hard couple of weeks, we’ve turned the corner to big girl life! Preschool here we come!!!!!