Waiting for Bob: Poop Happens (Or Does It?)

We revisited the potty situation today. Heaven only knows why I chose Father's Day. "Happy Father's Day! Now could you hand me that paper towel?" I think its been on my mind for a while, since the boys are gaining independence and the summer weather seems far more appropriate for training than fall or winter. I reread my potty training guide, Elizabeth Pantley's No-Cry Potty Training Solution, which I highly recommend, and it got me all fired up to give it a go.

So yesterday I went and bought 18 pairs of "big boy" underwear (three packs of six teensy, weensy y-fronts) and a potty chair. I decided to buy a new potty chair because although I like the inserts we bought for our bathroom, I know I wanted to be outside with the boys in the backyard, and running up and down the stairs with them didn't seem like a good idea. I told myself I would wait until Sunday to show the boys and try the potty, but I was just too excited, darn it, so I got it all out and the excitement proved contagious!

Owen tried the potty chair first to no avail. William tried next and BINGO! Some pee in the potty! Well! Much hullabaloo in the house, whereupon William proudly announced he wanted to flush his pee-pee. So we marched up the stairs, all saying 'Wow! Great job! What a big boy!", flushed the minute contents of th bowl, washed Will's hands and...gave him a Special Treat. A Reeses Pieces M&M candy. As soon as Owen saw his brother get the little piece of forbidden fruit, he started yelling that he wanted a Special Treat too. I patiently and smilingly explained that he could have one as soon as he did a pee-pee in the potty. And if he did a poop, he could have TWO. New underwear off faster than you can say bribery and lo and behold, Owen pees too. Back up the stairs, more flushing and praise and treating and then off to bed. I was feeling pretty happy about the turn of events, although still kind of wondering why on earth I'd suddenly decided today was the day.

So this morning, the boys wake up and call for me as usual - "Moo-Meeeee!" - and I go in with the potty and new underwear. Owen immediately wants to give it a go, as does Will and there's a bit of a struggle to see who will use it first. I realise we need a second potty because I don't want to spend my summer having them fight over the loo or have accidents because they both need to use it at the same time. Anyway, they both use it and both produce little trickles, to much fanfare from me. Treats ensue and then into their high chairs for breakfast.

As I'm toasting their english muffins, I suddenly hear a waterfall, no make that two waterfalls. They both, without any warning or comment, peed like their life depended on it. I couldn't believe they both did it at the same time. Is that a twin thing? Or did they just give each other a little nod of the head to do it in unison? Weird. Anyway, I clean up and dole out new underwear and the day progresses from there. We had quite a few mini accidents (we went through 12 pairs of underwear in total today) but we also had a lot of success. William clearly gets it, he just has to be motivated to go to the potty. Owen...I'm not so sure he's with us yet, but we'll work on it.

Some of the highlights of the day include William waking up from his nap, going downstairs, taking off his diaper on his own and then peeing in the potty, all on his own; one-on-one time with the boys as they sat on the potty and I read or sang songs with them; realising I could buy another potty for free with some rewards points from a department store; seeing the pride in my guys' faces as they mastered such a big skill; William saying "take picture of me" as he sat on the potty. I think he's very proud of himself

Some of the lower points of the day include the absolute exhaustion Mark and I are feeling after such an intense day; the backache from sitting on the floor next to the potty all day; smelling like pee; cleaning poop out of new underwear (thanks Owen!); wondering if William will ever poop, since he's not too keen on it without a diaper; trying to hide the frustration when nothing happens and you know you have another eight hours before the boys can put their diapers on for bedtime.

All in all, I do think its going to work out in the end. I plan to stay home all week and only go out if absolutely necessary (and put pull-ups on the boys for the car ride) in order to cement the idea and routine of going to the potty in all of our minds. I'll review where we're at next Sunday and see if we're on the right track or if the boys just aren't ready yet. Wish us luck!

Owen in his new big boy undies