Tuesday, March 4, 2008

A New Low

I just put Grace in front of the TV for an hour-long episode of Little Einsteins.

For her own safety.

Since my blood is boiling with impatience.

Following the advice of a friend, Brad and I decided dressing Grace in underwear. To let her have a few accidents. Learn how to avoid them. We started two days ago. After two days of accidents, four loads of laundry, peer-pressure ("Grace, don't you want to be like Trey, Gwen, Whitney, Danica, Halley, Zion, Addison...?"), and 20-or so practice runs, I was anticipating a successful potty trip. Soon. She was learning; she was close.

This morning, Grace and I were sitting at the table eating breakfast. She took a bite of Lucky Charms, looked up with a fleeting grimace, and announced, "I should go on the potty."

And suddenly our thank-goodness-it's-tile-now kitchen floor was wet. And it was nearing my toes as Grace smiled and took another bite of cereal.

I'm done.

She will be going to college in diapers.

7 comments:

  1. Elise,

    I forbid you from labeling any future posts as "bad mom" or "failure". Not only are you neither of these things, but these are not topics that you will need to search your blog for in the future.

    Grace is definitely young enough to still be in diapers. Just chill with it. Continue to change them. Now, she knows how to do it. You just have to wait for her to decide to do it. Reward success, but be happy without.

    She will not go to college in diapers, but you may go crazy, so just let it go. Love you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Elise,

    This post cracks me up! She sounds so much like Hayleigh

    Ok each child is sooo different...Gordon was a piece of cake. He was 28 months and I wasn't even planning it..took me 2 days. Hayleigh took me forever...she is still in pull ups at night and we still have accidents once in a while and she is 4.

    I don't know how your trying it, but one thing that helped me is I took them potty every 45 mins. And give her lots and lots to drink. That way she is getting in the habit and she is going everytime in the potty.

    The other thing that worked with Hayleigh was the award system.

    All i can say is GOOD LUCK!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Elise, I think you're the best mom ever. MAybe besides Mom though. (She's not as high-stress as you)You could never have been my mom, I'd probably have driven you insane. This story totally cracked me up though. Maybe you should start making her clean up her accidents. That might teach her.....maybe not. Good luck. Patience is of God, remember.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Elise,
    I love you. and just for note - whitney isn't completely potty trained either. She still requests diapers. If you are completely frustrated there is a book you could read about it. Although if she is like whitney it won't work. it's something about potty training in one day, I can find out title if you are interested. We tried it with Whitney and then all she wants to do now is put her stuffed animals on the potty - not herself.
    You are a wonderful mom - remember that.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh no underwear, nude is the only way to go. That and set a timer for every half hour and sitting her down whether she has to go or not. The other solution is wait. Parker was three before we even started.
    And by the way you are a great mom. Never give up!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for the encouragement, and thanks for the reality check, Elke. Tags removed. :)

    I have unfortunately tried all the mentioned methods except waiting. So... waiting it will be, I suppose.

    There is nothing else to do when your kid's will to not use the toilet is stronger than her motivation to have toys, get stickers, wear cute underwear, or be dry!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Elise,
    I got the book in the mail today. Thanks for all the time you spent on it. I know that fitting it in, between potty training and all your other mommy jobs wasn't that easy. I'm not sure what I am going to do with it at this point. Thanks again, we miss you guys, Janna is going to try and talk you into coming up for Easter.

    ReplyDelete