I have to be honest, people, I truly wasn't sure we'd jump over this hurdle. I mean sure, Jack can talk in full sentences, can usually tell you what day it is, and has an uncanny ability to understand emotion and feelings in books and movies already. However, going pee on the potty was a seemingly insurmountable task.
Pee.
It goes in the toilet.
What a concept.
For months, Jack has been rocking his big boy underwear, adorned with creepy, giant images of Spiderman, Cars, and Thomas the Train. {If I had my way, he'd be snug in white under grunders. Turns out 2 year old's do not prefer actual tighty whiteys. Bummer.} He literally would keep his underwear dry every. single. day. We had maybe two accidents in like four months. The catch, you ask? He NEVER. ever. went on the potty. He'd hold his pee/poop ALL day long. He'd get a diaper on at nap and let it all out....the same at bedtime. Anytime in between, he was dry and happy as can be in underwear. On weekends, we'd attempt to stick his stubborn butt on the toilet. We tried everything (even though everyone said not to, I was determined to NOT have a diaper-wearing soon-to-be three year old). We gave him m&ms if he tried, peed, or pooped. Nothing. We found a potty song on youtube. We memorized that song, in fact. We downloaded potty apps equipped with games, we turned on the water faucet to have water running. Nothing. Jack would sit there and smile and refuse to go pee. It was the most frustrating time...hmm maybe ever.
Fast forward to last weekend. I was determined. I told Eric I thought no diapers at nap or bedtime might be the key -- then our stubborn, sneaky kid wouldn't be able to just pee in diapers when he had planned. Eric wasn't so sure {or really just scared of the mess/laundry/tears to come} but I was ready. I sat on the cold tile floor with Jack for 40 minutes straight. His knees were trembling he had to pee so bad but was refusing. I finally threw my hands in the air and took him off the potty. Within seconds a stream of pee landed on my leg (which had happened time and time again before) but I yelled, "STOP" and instantly sat his little butt on his 'ducky seat' on the potty. In a matter of seconds, the stream of pee restarted and Jack was crying and smiling all at the same time! It went all over...the floor, my leg, the toilet, Jack's clothes. However, there was DEFINITELY pee in the toilet. We celebrated over the yellow sight and said goodbye as he flushed for the first time for real.
We knew we were probably just lucky. After doing a little potty dance, giving away 20 m&ms and celebrating, we went on with our day. Eric ran to the store and happened to pick up three little cars (you know, the .97 kind that we have 865,423 of). When he got back, Jack was interested in the cars. Eric said only if he went potty he could have one. Jack said, "I have to go potty"...walked into the bathroom and within seconds he peed again! We couldn't believe it. Two times in a matter of hours. After another successful trip, we decided we needed more cars. {At this point, I was well prepared to buy hundreds of them to keep this thing going...}
It's been two weeks. The only accidents we have is during the nighttime -- but we're determined to bust out even overnight potty training all at once. Jack's a peeing champ and even poops in the potty, too. Cars or no cars, he pees like a pro.
It is official.
Jack is potty trained.
I am convinced this may be one of the greatest, most challenging, and most rewarding parenting milestones of all time. I mean, without this Jack couldn't go to school, work, or be anything, really. It may sound ridiculous, but this is the first step towards Jack being independent. And, I am proud.
