Yes. You do. I can tell by the beads of sweat that are forming along your quivering top lip. Those are excitement beads.
Okay, my peeps. Here goes:
1. Buy $4 three-pack of "beautiful" princess panties at Wal-Mart.
"Oh my god. That's such a good idea. No one wants to poop in their special panties." ~My Mom
2. Stop applying diapers to butt.
"I think she's pooping. Are you pooping? Are you sure? Can I check? Hon, I think she's pooping!" ~Carl, every time Wendy gets a far-away look in her eyes.
3. Clean up messes until she gets the point.
"Yup. Right in the tub."
"At least it wasn't on the carpet."
"Well, let me tell you about the living room..."
I should add a step 4 here:
4. Toast your-erm..her brilliant accomplishment. With beer. Or wine. Or whatever is on hand.
After a few weeks of ever-decreasing diaper usage and, yes, a few poos on the floor, Wendy has gone on the potty for two straight days without incident. In addition to Sleeping Beauty panties, I have also bribed her with Popsicles. And Tinkerbell snacks. Yeah, I bribe my kid for good behavior. What? I also feed her boxed macaroni and cheese. Child Protective Services awaits your call.
I know this particular brand of potty-training would not work with other kids, or, for that matter, other parents. I guess you could call this child-led parenting, because Wendy just seems ready for it, and therefor, so am I. I would, however, have to mix in a large measure of blase attitude toward it all ("meh. it'll happen when it happens.") and above all, willingness to clean up puddles of pee without taking it personally.
To take care of stage 4, I happen to have on hand about three ounces of Patron. In celebration of Potty Training, I have invented the Green Tea-quila Fizz! In whatever proportions seem right at the time:
Ice
Tequila
Orange Juice
Green Tea Ginger Ale
It isn't really green. But it's damn refreshing. As refreshing as being glad, for once, that my rug is already crap and needs replaced, like, five years ago. CHEERS, EVERYONE!
I aplaud your methodology! Rachel is in the throws of potty training and has her good days and bad days. Apparently, having a terrible diaper rash because poopy in the diaper has given rise to some motivation on her part. However, we are not beneath bribery ....and Happy Meals. And as I write, I am enjoying a glass of wine. Bravo.
ReplyDeleteI knew we weren't crazy...it WORKS, I tell ya!
ReplyDelete*toasts to no more diaper rash*
I used the same method, but added a step 2B.
ReplyDelete2b.) supply a continous and abundant supply of apple juice, gingerale and chocolate milk.
The flow is non-stop and they get it FAST.