Knock on Some Wood Before You Read This

So, I don’t think I went into our whole potty training ordeal over here.  I think all that happened in the middle of the 30 day project, so you all probably got the idea we were potty training because of this.  Anyway, so I decided to get started with it about mid-way through the week before Jack’s preschool spring break.  And it didn’t go so well.  He pretty much only went on the potty when he was sitting on it in front of the TV… for like an hour at a time.  Randomly he’d pee without realizing it and I’d make a big deal about it.  Anyway,  we made it almost all the way through spring break week without much progress… let me rephrase that.  With zero progress.  He had zero interest in learning or listening to how it worked.  He didn’t give a rip about any of the thousands of bribes I came up with.  As a matter of fact, somehow he usually managed to manipulate me into giving him what he wanted without doing much of anything at all.  And after watching him purposely pee his pants (to the point of straining so hard that I could see the veins in his neck) while I was on the phone (clearly an attempt to get some attention), I finally threw in the towel.  And decided to revisit it once he was out for the summer.

So last Monday, Jack woke up and I told him I needed to change his diaper.  I asked him if he wanted to wear a pull-up and he said no.  So when I tried to put on his diaper he told me he wanted to wear big boy pants.  Uh, ok.  So I put on the big boy pants and was quickly distracted by something or other.  And after a while he told me he needed to go poop on the potty.  So we ran over and put him on the potty.  And he peed.  He did this all day.  No accidents.  And the next day he started pooping on the potty as well.  Just like that.   And (knock on wood) as of last Monday, he has only had four accidents.  He’s been wearing pull-ups at night and big boy pants for naps.  And we’ve been keeping our regular everyday schedule… the pool, Target, playing outside, going for donuts or ice cream or whatever treat on the weekends.  The accidents have all happened while he’s been either disoriented after just waking from a nap or while totally distracted while playing.

Let me tell you how totally and completely stunned I am.  This kid is nothing but a challenge these days.  And while I’m sure it sounds like I’m tooting my horn over here all proud and annoying, but really, I just can’t help but tell everyone – how proud of him and excited I am for him.  That he has some sort of control in his life (and it is already starting to show that it makes him feel more at ease with life in general… if that makes sense).   This kid.  He constantly amazes me.  Like the other day… while he was playing with a fake phone.  Pushing the buttons and muttering under his breath and he says “goddammit”.  No idea where he learned that one.  And just now.  He’s walking around in his Elmo underpants.  With Teddy’s crocheted blanket draped over his shoulders.  He looks at me and says, “I’m a princess.”