For weeks now, I have been intending to start potty training Eden and Sebastien. Every week I say, "Next Monday, I'll start." But there has always been one reason or another to put it off. But this is my last week of maternity leave, so we decided it was time to bite the bullet.
We've had potty seats for about five months now, and so far we've really only used them if the kids asked, and then every night before baths. We also have had a supply of pull-ups at the ready. Really, all we've needed was a ready mommy.
So, today, Day 1. Upon getting up, I announced to the kids that from now, "No more diapers" and I led them in a little cheer. They sat on the potties four different times by 9:30 am, with no success. But we talked a lot about it, I did a lot of encouraging and they didn't seem to mind. However, by about 10:30, Sebastien was getting a little tired of hiking over to the potty, and he began to complain. Not being one to battle my kids when I can avoid it, I gave him choices when I could.
Before lunch, we had our first potty-going success. Eden went pee pee on the potty! She got a sticker, we did a little song and dance, it was all great. This made Sebastien want to try as well. No go, but at least he wanted to try!
Then after nap, Sebastien was making familiar grunting sounds and concentrating. Recognizing what was happening, we hurried him to the potty. Adam sat with him, and when Bash stood up, there was a tiiiiiiny little bit of poopy in the potty! We celebrated like crazy for this little pebble. He got an M&M and a lot of dancing about. Of course, within ten minutes, the rest of his load was in his pull-up. But still! I call it a success.
Eden also discovered that her pull-ups are quite easy to pull down. She ran around bare-bottomed for a bit this morning before I could convince her that she should wear pull-ups as well as her pants. Then tonight, while she was monkeying around (supposed to be sleeping) she asked several times for someone to come in and put her pull-up back on. When we went in to check on the kids, Adam noticed a stray pull-up on the ground, and sure enough, Eden was bare-bottomed.
We gently rolled her onto her back and slid her pull-up back on. She stayed sleeping, but she automatically lifted her little bottom as she always does when we change her diaper. Talk about muscle memory!
So, that was day 1. Keep your fingers crossed for more little success stories.
