Our First Attempt At Potty Training

The messes, the accidents, the prizes, the tears...yup, we started potty training. haha.
James is 2 years old, so i knew going into this that it would be difficult. So i tried to go into this new adventure with really no expectations except to see where he was at - if he was ready enough to be potty trained or not. And of course another big push to potty train was because we have another one on the way. Who wants to have 2 in diapers? So, yes there was quite a bit of motivation behind this.
The days leading up to the big day, i prepared a nice little reward "Potty Prizes" box. Full of cars, stickers and curious George books. I also had a potty chart on the fridge so he could put his stickers on it. I looked up every kind of method known to man on the Internet and books. So i figured i was pretty prepared for this....boy was i wrong. haha.
The first day started out rough. I tried the Pottywise method first...and he just was not having it. After sitting on the potty for 5 - 10 minutes...there was no action. But then, as soon as he got off and started playing, he went. That happened about 4 times. With the Pottywise method, you pretty much give them a lot to drink so, in return, they will pee a lot. He was peeing a lot, just not on the potty.
I was ready to give up. he wasn't getting the concept. I texted an amazing mom friend of mine who has a son who is about a month older than James. he is potty trained! She had great techniques and shared with what worked with her son. i was desperate to try anything. She had let her son run around naked from the waist down and took the little potty every where he went. I did this and James caught on so quickly! After the first time of me putting him on the potty, while he was "going," he started to do it all by himself! he would just say, "Mama! Pee!" And there he would run to his potty and sit down and begin to pee. (i had to help him - it would spray everywhere!) I was proud, tired, and smelled like urine by the time the day had ended.
I was exhausted as well. Bending over, picking up, cleaning up for a pregnant woman was very tiring.
I woke up today prepared to do the same thing. He started out great, but then he just started holding his pee because he wanted to play. Many many accidents. I felt like i was cleaning more than Potty Training. (i knew that would be normal - accidents)
But two things that broke my heart was that he has not pooped in 2 days. (i'm not sure if he is holding it in because he's scared to poo on the potty or just constipated...either way he is miserable) And the other thing, when he had an accident, pee shot out everywhere onto the floor. He screamed "oh no!" I gasped of course because part of it landed on me. haha. Then he started to cry! He was obviously frustrated...which was the last thing i wanted. I never yelled or made him feel like he was bad for having accidents...i would just tell him it's okay and praise him when he did go potty. So that just broke my heart to see him cry from his accident.
I don't want him to lose interest or become so frustrated that he won't ever want to try again. So i thought it would be best to take a break from it for a while. Plus the fact that he is constipated is a huge factor. The main thing that i have found in every potty training method is to not push your child...especially if you don't think they are ready.
I am so proud of my boy! He jumped right into potty training without any idea of really what it was. So now, he will be more familiar. And i am going to continue to take him or ask him to potty especially if he wakes up dry...but i won't push it.
At first, i felt like a huge parent failure! Especially when he cried.
Now we both know all that goes into it...which is a lot! So we'll see.
While "training" him, i realized how much he has grown up! I am going to be so sad when the day comes when he will be too big for my lap. (with this pregnant belly...he already does. haha) James i love you so much! And i am so proud of you!
Whew, well i am going to go relax a bit! Thursday night TV with my hubby!
More blogs to come...now that i have a little more time. haha.