Potty Training

This guy has been Abby's potty training shadow for a few weeks now.  We've had little success with the girls' potty training.  Okay...so it is successful but it's painful.  And slow.  And I feel like a complete mothering failure as a result.  Kind of...

Anyway, our main success with potty training was with Joshua and that happened through something called infant potty training.  You can look it up, find a million websites and forums about it, and then feel like you're behind on the potty business when you're 5 month old still needs a diaper change.

This, however, did work for Joshua as an older baby and by the time he was 1 year old we almost never changed a poopy diaper.  Once he was 2 years old he was already completely dry during the days.  Of course, this was due in large part to two parents who sat him on the potty at regular times during the day.  But he was dry and we haven't had day time issues since.

The girls...not so much success.

They are humbling me.  And God is helping me to learn patience and self-control as I work with them.

So, back to Jeremiah.  He has been enjoying sitting on the little red potty once a day while Abby uses the big toilet.  She goes many times, but he has this one potty practice time.  When he hears the timer and I make the announcement that we're going to the potty he does a little dance and then runs to the bathroom, sits down, and enjoys a little video.  Sometimes this or this or another "school" one like this.  But the first one was this, which is a classic.  It does have a lot of inappropriate English subtitles out there, so be careful if you're checking out the related videos.  It is a bit strange but has sparked a lot of interest from the Abster and that is exactly what I was going for!

As a result of this fun practice, Jer is becoming very aware of his bodily functions.  He tells me when he needs a diaper change, brings me the necessary supplies, and even likes to apply aquaphor (our diaper cream of choice) on his pajamas.

Last night after his bath, Jeremiah was wandering around naked.  He came to get my attention and started pointing to himself.  He was obviously concerned and/or perplexed about something which I became aware of when he grunted and showed me the floor.

Where he had just peed.  It is not the first time this has happened, and certainly not the last. This part is not what made me laugh.

The thing that cracked me up was how Jeremiah handled the situation.

What does a toddler do when he finds he has peed on the carpet?

He grabs his brothers shirt to clean it up.  And clean it up he did!