Confessions of a bad mother

So… I am sure that you won’t remember, but I do, and since I do, I feel like I’ve been lying all this time! And I must say sorry to you, my lovely readers, for misleading you…

You see, almost a year ago, when my second son turned 2, I said that I was not going to put off the potty training thing any more, and since that was the last thing I said on the subject, I am sure that it was assumed that all went well and he has been using the toilet for at least 8 months now…

Well, my friends, I am sad to say that the whole potty training lasted about 2 days before I totally gave up in frustration! Then, I kept finding excuses to get out of doing it, or to justify the use of a diaper… after all, I do have 2 other kids to take care of you know!

Now, I am not the type of mother that would bribe my kids, seriously, I usually don’t believe in rewarding them for desirable behaviour, but out of desperation, yesterday I bought $30something worth of toys from the dollar store to use as “gifts” after each successful toilet deployment!

The truth is that someone had suggested this method to me, and at first, I refused to do it, but now, I am thinking it’s not really such a bad idea… seems good even!

I hope it works! and SOON! because argh, I hate toilet training!

Thoughts from Surviving

I tried to work with my 2 yr old about a month ago.  He will be 3 in June.  It didn’t go well at all.  After going through 3 pairs of underpants in less then an hour I decided to put on a diaper.  At this point I am just going to give it a little more time.  I went through so much trying with my oldest, nothing seemed to work.  Then one day he just started using the toilet on his own, after I had relaxed about it all. He was around 3 1/2 at the time. My older two are preemie so they tend to be slower at doing most things than other kids.  So I am really hoping this won’t be the case when the baby is older. 

I hope things go well for you.

Thoughts from crunchy carpets

Yep..ditto with above…
don’t think about it as training…just make sure it is there and available for them to ‘check’ out….and encourage.

We begged and pleaded with Adam to use the toilet and he really just did it when HE was ready..and that was around 3.5.

I think Caity will be the same..she goes and uses it when she pleases.

Thoughts from Robyn

Hi, this is my first time to comment, but I am in the midst of potty training, too. So it was nice to hear another voice out there saying it’s not all that easy and can be frustrating. The thing is is that I get so upset when my son, 3 in July, has an accident. We do underwear because I made the mistake of starting pull-ups too early and now he thinks of them as diapers. We’ve only been at it for about three weeks and he was doing so well at first, this after trying way back when he was 1 1/2 and it ending in disaster. Now, he’s having more accidents and he gets so sad when I try to explain to him what he should do. I feel like such a bad mother. Yesterday, I basically threw a tantrum right in front of him. I’m trying to be the adult here, but sometimes it’s hard.
Anyways, I feel your pain and I hope that the training goes well.

Thoughts from shaz

surviving, why is it so difficult the second time around? I feel like it should be easier! My first kid did it when he was 3 also, almost overnight. But see, this thing is that I am seriously considering day care for the almost 3 year old, otherwise it’s so hard to work, and you know it’s more expensive if they are not toilet trained!

crunchy, I agree with you… they will do it when they are ready it seems, and I think that by 3-3.5 they just end up doing it without much frustrations.

Robyn, welcome! confession is good for the soul right… I too am totally losing it over this thing! I told him today that he sucked at using the toilet! (he laughed, so don’t worry, I don’t think that I did any mental damage) but I don’t know what do to! so far today, the ‘gift’ idea was a total failure! He just doesn’t get it! And I have no idea what else to try. But I feel like I am on a deadline or something because I really think that he needs to go to a daycare for at least part of the day! Please let me know how it goes!

Thoughts from Surviving

I understand how you feel.  I was hoping to sign my almost 3 year old up for a preschool class that is 2 hours a day, 2 days a week.  Unfortunately if he is still wearing diapers it isn’t an option.  I tried so many things with my oldest and we all just ended up frustrated and angry so I haven’t done any of that this time around.  Preschool will just have to wait another year I guess.  Although there is the possibility of his therapy offering preschool, depending on his development by the end of the school year. So I’m not feeling the pressure you are feeling.

Thoughts from Cakes

ugh. potty training.
boys are the worst.

...feeling your pain.  but I’m not cleaning the walls and floor around your potty. sorry. even internet friends have their limits.

Thoughts from Mona

aww, hang in there. i have no wise words to share but here’s hoping things get better for you.
wouldn’t it be awesome if potty training themselves was a developmental milestone?
i think i’ll just send the baby over to my mom’s when it’s time.

Thoughts from shaz

Surviving, I hope you have an easier time when you try again!

Cakes… I can count on you to make me laugh!

Thanks Mona, I think you will soon know the joys of parenting a toddler, inshaAllah.