Wait. you mean there isn't a school to teach you how to potty train? Or other parts of parenting that are not easy and often H A R D? Darn. I wish there was one. I could get my master's with all this "homework" my kids are putting me through.
This last week I finally got fed up having an almost 4 year old not going to the bathroom when she needs too. It's hard. She'd tell me after the fact that she made a stinky in her pull-up, and I would have just asked her to go on the potty. She's a mess. A lovable, dorky, completely a young kid mess. And I absolutely love her and would do anything to make life easier for her. But enough is enough.
I bought the book Vegetables in Underwear in complete desperation that she would see pull-ups as what they are, glorified diapers, for babies. I'd ask her if she wanted to be a baby or a big girl. "A big girl!" Great! Wear your underwear.
And there were accidents. Lots of accidents. There have been times where I've said we are wearing a pull up because we aren't going to have much time for bathroom breaks, but I still want you to try.
They need to have a program for stubborn potty trainers, or at least for the parents of stubborn potty trainers.
So we stopped pull ups, except for rest times. And even then, we've told her to go potty when she needs to and not rely on her pull up, so next week may be the last time she wears pull-ups at naps, which has essentially devolved into a "play in your room and leave mommy and daddy alone" time.
I've read all the blogs. "Pull ups are diapers. Don't use them!" to "Pull-ups are great tools if used correctly!" "Keep your kid naked," they say, "they'll learn." But there's also the "Don't stress it if your kid isn't toileting on their own. They won't go to college in diapers." Ok, internet. MAKE UP YOUR DANG MIND ALREADY!
So, to you worn out moms and dads out there, tired of trying to figure out how to train your kid to go potty, wondering if there may be something wrong with your kid because going potty just is not happening, you are not alone. Nope. You are most definitely not alone. I'm there with you. My daughter was set to start school this fall in a preschool setting but we chose to pull her out for a variety of reasons, and she is just now, three months until her fourth birthday, starting to potty on her own. Because in an act of desperation, i told her pull ups are diapers. diapers are for babies. she is not a baby. brother is, however, very much a baby.
and then maybe, just maybe, my son will potty train on his own. after he starts to walk, of course.
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