Potty Wars

I decided this week, that I am done with diapers. Who cares if Carter is, right? Just joking, sort of… But before you go quoting me about what I said about my philosophy on potty training when Evan decided he was done with diapers, let me just tell you a few things…

• Evan NEVER minded pooping in his diaper. The kid would be in mid running stride, drop the load and keep on running. So I was NOT going to fight him until he was darn good and ready.
• Carter on the other hand has been “excusing” himself from the room to go do his thing for about 6 to 9 months. His hiding place of choice has been behind the couch or during the summer months, the playground. And as of the last couple of weeks, he will go into another room and close the door and tell us to leave him alone.  So he OBVIOUSLY knows he’s got to go…
• He stays dry about 80% of the time during the night. As soon as I change his diaper in the morning, he fills it up for me.

You know, I should learn NOT to laugh at my friends who are going through a struggle with their kids, because it will always come back to bite me. Not that I was laughing at anyone about potty training recently…*cough cough*.

Carter is stubborn. That is the premises of my new attitude about potty training.

Case in point. He wanted to wear underwear a few days ago, just like his brother. Why not? I texted Jeremy a photo of both boys running through the house in their undies, and his reply, “that’s gonna get messy!”

Heh, we have hardwood floors, so I wasn’t too concerned.

So, after some time of playing with Evan, I hear Carter in Evan’s room, “uh oh mama, pooped.”

I ran in to survey the damage. He hadn’t pooped and he barely peed. Just enough to get his undies wet.

Okay, no big deal, right?

So I sit him on the potty. I wait and wait. Knowing that he stopped his pee in mid stream just a few moments before so he must have to go, right?

Nope.

I change his undies and he runs off to play with Evan. A little while passed. He mentioned that he would “like a diaper please.” Translation: he needs to go to the potty.

So instead of putting a diaper on him, I sit him on the potty.

Nothing!

I wait and wait. And even now, start bribing with m&ms.

Nothing!

So I pull up his DRY undies and off he goes.

A couple of moments pass and I hear, “uh oh mommy!”

I ran into the room they had been playing in and sure enough, once again he is wet but not any puddles.

Hmmm.

So I sit him on the potty again.

NOTHING!

By now, he is requesting quite fervently to wear a diaper. No kid, I am going to break you !

So I put another clean pair of undies on him.

Surely, this time, will be the time.

About 30 minutes passed and I noticed he was running funny, but really didn’t think anything of it. I know, I know. But I thought he was just being silly.

Unfortunately, we had to leave so I had to put a diaper on him. I went to pull his undies down and sure enough they were wet. So I sat him on the potty for a last ditch effort.

I told him he couldn’t get up until he peed. BECAUSE I KNEW HE HAD TO! He had held it all morning and he drank 3 cups of juice! Come on!

But once again, my stubborn little man just sat there. So I gave up and put a diaper on him. And no joke, within 5 minutes the diaper was full!

Now come on people, I think I may have to back out of my previous philosophy. Enough is enough. He obviously knows when he has to go and he understands how to hold it.

I want to be selfish:

• I am tired of finding the best deals on diapers.
• I am tired of finding and clipping EVERY coupon I can get my fingers on.
• I am tired of spending the money
• I am tired of changing out the diaper genie
• I am tired of packing diapers every time we go anywhere.
• I am just tired…

Not that having a potty training toddler on your hands is so much easier. Awww nothing like having to frequent every new public restroom just because they know they can. Or worrying about an accident in the middle of the grocery store. Or having to change outfits multiple times a day.

But right now, that sounds heavenly.

I am just done!

That is all!