Potty Training Update

So... Potty training is still pretty much a no-go. My oldest had her 3-year old checkup today and I spoke with the doctor about my concerns. Apparently there's a trick.

Don't do it. Just simply don't do it. Don't force, coerce, shame or trick the child into going on the potty. If she doesn't want to do it, don't do it. Stop talking about. Ignore it. Pretend like it never happened. In time, she'll supposedly want to do it to get the attention she was getting from me asking if she had to go ever 30 minutes.

This is probably the most counter-intuitive piece of advise I have ever heard. I gave the pediatrician the stare-down with my, "if-you-are-lying-to-me-I-will-hunt-you-to-the-ends-of-the-Earth-and-you-will-never-experience-peace-again" look.  She seemed mildly afraid. That didn't inspire confidence.

So, we'll see how it goes. My youngest is completely taken with the potty and loves everything about it, so I'll focus my energies on her for the time being. We'll start with learning how to say potty and go from there. Maybe the oldest will get jealous of the attention and come back to the potty team.  We'll see.

Potty Training

I am a mother to a 3 year old and a 1 year old. Neither one is potty trained. I wanted to have my oldest done by the time she was 2, but her stubborn personality made that a pipe dream. Then I wanted to have her trained by the time she was 3. The date came and went. So now, she has just turned 3 and she is still going in a diaper/pullup/panties -- basically whatever she's wearing she will use. She doesn't seem to mind the sensation one bit and when I ask her if she needs to go potty or wants to be a big girl, her answer is no.

I've tried bribing her, begging her, guilting her, shaming her and even punishing her. Nothing works. She is determined to wear diapers to college. My mom friends seem to have similar luck with their children, but at least their kids don't just scream no and run away when asked if they need to go potty. We've tried different potty seats as well, and nothing works. I'm almost to my wits end. Everyone says she will train when she's ready, but at this point I'm thinking it's never going to happen.

Oh the joys of being mom to a toddler.  At least my 1 year old enjoys the potty.