Tif has been having a miserable time trying to teach KC to use the potty. Then someone told her that grandmothers are good for that. Siiiighhhh!
Luckily KC is quite verbal and understands a lot... sometimes too much. She also has her own opinion on how the world should be ordered and doesn't care what her peers are doing. (This will be great when she's a teenager.) Therefore, telling her that her friends are using the potty does not impress her one iota. I think she wondered why they gave up such a convenient, portable option.
I talked to her yesterday about using the potty and told her we would be helping her learn how. I asked her what she would like to have as a reward. She said, "Cookies!" I was relieved since she hasn't been given candy yet. She is also not given juice since the pediatrician said it has too much sugar.
However, Tif and Ed gave me permission to use whatever I needed. KC said she wanted orange juice and Juicy Juice. So we bought several packs of them.
This morning I gave her the juice. She took several sips of both and decided, "Noooo. I don't like them."
"What?" We bought two packs of those box drinks! I needed her to drink a LOT of liquids.
She wanted chocolate milk or water. Tif dilutes the chocolate milk with plain milk. She gets one glass of the mixture a day. I told KC she could have as much as she wanted so long as she used the potty. I also set up a sticker reward system for her.
It's been a challenging day! I've got eight big girl underwear in the wash tonight. However, she did use the potty seven times and was euphoric! She was jumping up and down, twirling about the room chanting, "I'm proud of myself. I want to tell Mommy and Daddy."
She went to bed as pleased as can be. We're thrilled, too. I'm hoping we can keep the progress going tomorrow. By this evening she told us two times that she needed to use the potty. I felt like she'd gotten a doctorate.
Hey! Maybe we should have had a third child...
WONDERFUL!!! I laughed while reading your post, Kay, because Maria is going through the same thing with 2.5 year old Julia. She's got to be toilet trained by the time she enters preschool in August!!!
ReplyDeleteTalking about it helps. Julia now tells her mom she wants to make doo doo in the toilet. When she does, she gets a BIG cookie as a reward.
Oh this post made me giggle, I admire your fortitude and self-sacrifice greatly, bon chance mon amie!
ReplyDeleteOh my, toilet training. I thought our grandson was going to start school in diapers. Our son and his wife believe in letting him do things at his own pace. It finally happened in due time. Hopefully, if he runs for president, that won't make the news he was late with toilet training.
ReplyDeleteTerrific! Good Job! Way to go! Once a teacher always a teacher! But I (also a grandparent) Suggest you have another grandchild. It is easier!
ReplyDeleteToilet training is such a huge hurdle, and I think you deserve several medals for taking it on. Our younger son was much quicker to get the idea, and much more willing to go with it. Our elder son was much more like your KC. But it sounds as if you're well on your way with her. What will your reward be if you achieve your goal?
ReplyDeleteI think second and subsequent siblings are easier because they follow the first-born. Nonetheless, after four children, I was happy to relinquish the task :-)
ReplyDeleteThey do it when they're ready, regardless of our efforts. But I do recommend a great little book, Everyone Poops - by Taro Gomi. It's been translated into many, many languages. The perfect book to read while sitting on the potty
ReplyDeletehow funny-you do have a third child-your grand child. Seems rewards do it everytime. Motivation is what it's all about. Congrats-hope your success continues-bring out the cookies!
ReplyDeleteHi Kay - I read in your comment on Lin's blog that you are buddhist...I am interested in interviewing you about your beliefs for my blog. I will be interviewing people of various faiths...nothing too difficult...just a way to learn about people of other faiths. Let me know if you would be interested. I would send you the questions via email...thanks! - Jocelyn
ReplyDeletehttp://beinglds.blogspot.com
My son potty trained seemingly overnight at about 3 years old, just when I was giving up!
ReplyDeleteYour story is beautiful! Thanks for this funny post! I hope you will be successful in your attempt to train your granddaughter!
ReplyDeleteReward is the answer. Remember when we potty trained Jon and Julie.
ReplyDeleteIt was summer and we put the potty on our deck. I didn't have a doll that went potty so we used a chewbocca doll. I look back and just laugh at chewy leakin water from all his joints.
Anyway, I remember Julie being my fastest potty training graduate.
Thanks for the memory.
PS I did hear that Grandparents to have a special gift in this area! Congratulations on your successes!
I can't remember what Patty or I told the kids they'd get if they started to use the toilet instead of a cloth diaper. Patty had to knock the turds out of them and then drop them with the ones with pee into a five gallon bucket to soak. She used an old Maytag wringer washer in those days and for 5 kids, cloth diapers were the way to go. Besides that, they didn't have the other kinds of diapers on the market.
ReplyDeleteI think they were promised something but not a beating.
Gigi: I'm not even going to think about the poopie part yet. A big cookie, hunh?
ReplyDeleteSarah: I'll NEED all the luck I can get... not to mention cooperation. Sigh.
Linda: Thank you, I'm so glad to hear somebody else was not eager to be toilet trained early or quickly. As for becoming president, I won't tell if you don't.
Steve: You are SO RIGHT! Having a grandchild is loads easier. And you're also right, I'm using my "teacher voice."
Amanda: I'm definitely going to expect a reward if I'm successful... I mean....if KC is successful.
jabblog: I think we make all our mistakes with the first and get better as we go along. You see? That's why your 4th is perfect.
:-)
Bobbie: Would you believe Tif has a TON of books on potty training for KC? If we waited until SHE was ready, she might go down the aisle with diapers on.
Lin: I agree about the motivation. She actually asked to put on "big girl pants" this morning.
Jocelyn: Thank you for your interest. I did write to your e-mail. I'm afraid I'm definitely not an expert on Buddhism...oh dear... far from it.
Christine: Overnight? Overnight? Arrrghhhh! I wish! KC woke up with a diaper FULL of poop this morning. Overnight won't happen. Siiiigh.
Reader Wil: Thanks, Wil! I sure hope so.... I sure hope so...
Peggy: I remember us setting our minds to it and getting it done. I forgot about the Chewbacca doll. I do remember it took about a week to achieve perfection. That's exactly how much time I've got with KC.
Jon was loads, LOADS faster than Tif. It must be because we were working together on this and two heads are always better than one.
I remember it being summer and them running around in the backyard while we kept reminding them to "go potty." Why do I remember that fondly? Like I said, maybe it's 'cause we were doing it together.
Abe: Love your comment, Abe. Not a beating, eh? I can't even imagine what it would be like to use cloth diapers. I've been spoiled. Granted, we're washing out the "big girl pants" now.
ReplyDeletePatty was a brave woman to have five kids to toilet train.
Oh you are a brave soul. I applaud you. All the experts told me the kids would do it themselves, and they did probably with lots of help from the baby sitter.
ReplyDeleteAin't grandparents the best thing parents ever had?
ReplyDeleteIs KC in disposable nappies? I kept mine in towelling nappies and they were toilet trained very quickly because they didn't like the feel of wet/soiled towel on their backsides. I'm convinced that the reason modern children seem to take so long to potty train is because disposables are too comfortable.
Oh my. Well, if anyone can make it happen it's you and your little KC. She sounds a lot like my little Irene, with a mind of her own. Once she decides to do it, she will.
ReplyDeleteMaggie: I agree. I could wait forever with KC. She doesn't mind the diaper AT ALL.
ReplyDeleteThe Laughing Housewife: Yes, she does wear disposables and they have improved them 98% since my kids were kids. They can hardly feel the wetness and it holds a lot!
Linda: Sigh... it's true. KC has a mind of her own. She'll do something when she's ready but then again, I have mind to help her make the RIGHT decision, too.
Thank you for the Korean Dogwood idea. I'll look around and see.
You and Art are the best!
ReplyDeleteAloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
Cloudia: Thanks, Cloudia. I'm using every bit of teaching experience in this endeavor.
ReplyDeleteNow that my son is completely toilet trained,i am reliving my experience through these post of yours...only that your post are much more fun.I don't remember how i rewarded them after every effort but i do remember that i rewarded my self with a generous chunk of fruit n nut chocolate.heeee
ReplyDelete