Category Archives: Potty Training

As I mentioned before, Ari is no longer asking for rewards after using the potty. However, that means that he is less interested in stopping his busy life to use the potty. So I came up with another form of bribery: storytelling.

“Ari, if you go to the potty, I’ll tell you a story.” I offered, as he was busy lining up his cars, taxis and buses.
“Okay!” He exclaimed. He dropped everything and ran to the bathroom. I made up a story about a little boy who was desperately searching for a toilet on the playground. I think our toilet liked the story as much as Ari did.

Low and behold, during my story, Ari pooped! It was a shining moment for me.

I wonder if the Native Americans told their children stories while they were relieving themselves in the woods.

Tell me, what are your tricks for getting your kid to use the toilet?

I don’t want to jinx myself, but I believe that Ari is potty-trained! I would like to take a moment to give an extra special shout-0ut to my amazing friend Amanda. She talked me down from a ledge during the first day of hardcore potty-training. I decided to do the three day method. I stuck Ari in underwear and tried hard to stay strong and consistent.

It took every ounce of strength I had in me to stick with the plan. There were times that I’d look at the pee on the kitchen floor, or the poop-soiled Toy Story underwear, and the size 5 Target diapers were calling my name. It was during those times that I called or text Amanda and she fortified me with the strength to make it through.

But now, I believe we’ve made it to the other side. He doesn’t ask for rewards after using the potty anymore! He did pee on the floor this morning, but he woke up in a dry bed.

Potty training is intense. I’m constantly looking for signs that he has to go. I try to take him often, and every time I take him, he at least pees.

The funny thing is, now whenever I use the toilet, I feel a strange sense of accomplishment. I see what my parents must have gone through to get me to be friends with the toilet.

Now it’s your turn. Tell me your potty-training war stories. I want to know what it took to get your kid to poop in the bowl. If you are not at this point with your offspring, what are your thoughts on potty-training?

Yesterday, I decided it was time to attempt potty training again. Compared to Samara, who is only three months old, Ari is like an old man.

He’s going to be three-years-old tomorrow and that means it’s high time he spent some quality time on the toilet.

Yesterday, I put him in underwear all day long. He peed all over the floor, and (eventually) in the toilet multiple times. I was so focused on the task at hand, that I canceled a playdate I had previously scheduled. I told my friend, Liz, that there was pee all over my house and that we’d better hang out another day.

Each time he peed in the toilet, he got a cat cookie.

Despite all the peeing on the floor and the soaked underwear, my crowning achievement as a mother occurred when I woke up this morning to find that Ari had slept in underwear in a dry bed!

There are a lot of things that would be nice right now. A vacation by the beach, having more money, a manicure/ pedicure…I could go on and on.

I cannot believe I am saying this, but I would abandon those fantasies for one simple wish: I would love for Ari to be potty trained.

When this baby arrives in the winter, I hope that I am only changing one and not two.

Help me out people! How can I accomplish this feat?