Potty training has been a constant issue with Elle for the past…well year & a half. I haven’t talked about it too much on the blog because I’ve been kinda frustrated and maybe a tad embarrassed that my “genius” child has struggled so much. It’s almost felt like her refusal to tell me that she needs to use the bathroom is a sign that I’m a failure as a mom. Now, deep down I know that isn’t true, but hey “mommy guilt” is a real thing. Irrational, but real. The past several weeks we have seen some improvement but these issues seem to come in waves with Elle. We’ll go weeks without accidents & then have week or two when there are multiple accidents a day. In fact on multiple occasions I have arrived at the sitters to find her naked from the waist down because she’s peed through her close & her back up clothes. It’s been frustrating, but I keep assuring myself that she won’t enter middle school with a pullup in her backpack (hopefully). Plus, I’ve learned the hard way that my frustration only makes the situation worse.
Yesterday we had a classic Elle moment that revolved around potty issues. I picked her up from her Sunday School class at noon & as we were heading to get Paisley she immediately crouched down & shouted, “I have to go potty! Wait! I already did!” Sigh. Knowing that her backpack of extra clothes was in the car, I did what any mother would do. We went to the bathroom, got her cleaned up & I just let her run around (until I had a chance to go to the car) without any tights or panties on (she did had a dress on).
About 30 minutes later we were standing around chatting with Jim & Alisha when Elle spotted her friend & fellow 3 year old, Jonathan. What does she do? She shouts, “Hey, Jonathan! Look!” and she raises her dress to show the poor scarred boy that she is wearing nothing under her dress. It was like Girls Gone Wild right there at church.
Moral of the story: always bring the extra change of clothes inside…and begin to talk with Elle about what it means to be modest.
Kellogues 
Monday, March 15, 2010 at 2:37 pm |
Please validate “mommy guilt” for me. No one else believes me. Love the story about Elle. My boys are not modest at all either. When the youngest started potty training he would drop his drawers anywhere just to show people that he didn’t have a diaper on. Just what you want to see while grocery shopping! Hang in there.
Monday, March 15, 2010 at 3:28 pm |
I feel there is always too much pressure about when our kids should be potty trained. In my opinion there is no magic age and kids will do it when they are ready not when we think they are or should be ready. Both our kids were not fully potty trained until they were 3 1/2. Do not I repeat do not stress about it or be embarrassed you and Joe are doing a great job!!
Monday, March 15, 2010 at 3:39 pm |
Does it make me a bad friend if I LOL at the Jonathan part of this story?
Hang in there. I think she just has so much going on in her very smart little head that bathroom stuff just doesn’t get much priority. Just a theory…
Monday, March 15, 2010 at 4:17 pm |
I still wear pull-ups. ain’t no big thang.
Monday, March 15, 2010 at 4:28 pm |
Mommy guilt = very real.
But, I don’t think you need to stress about this…it will get better! Like you said, she won’t go to middle school with a pullup in her backpack.
Still, the flashing story cracks me up.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 2:22 pm |
Girls Gone Wild in church!! Ha!!
Seriously, you’re not a failure because your kid doesn’t feel like going on the toilet sometimes. She’ll figure out soon enough. Dress her in rain gear til then! Easy to rinse off and put back on!!!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 8:47 pm |
At least you get a REALLY funny story out of it! I agree with Nicole. It will get better. Don’t let it ruin your day. Have her deal with it and move on. You may want to pack a suitcase though..
Friday, March 19, 2010 at 8:33 am |
Well… you’ve always known she’s not shy.
Potty training is never fun, but it does pass, I promise. Hang in there girl!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 7:57 am |
Kelli,
Have I ever mentioned how much I love Elle stories?!? This will be good amo for you and Joe when Elle starts dating many MANY years from now!!!
I love you guys!!!
Friday, April 2, 2010 at 1:45 pm |
ok, I read this when you posted it and meant to get back to comment and am JUST now getting to it, so I hope you see comment!
I get your frustration. Totally. Madeline is the exact same way. She totally rocks out the toilet training for a few weeks and just when I think we’ve turned the corner, I’m doing 5 loads of laundry a day again. Madeline, like Elle, was and still is a very verbal child. It is frustrating because she speaks so well and so clearly so I expect more of her.
I have no advice, just a “I’m with ya sister!”
Oh, and the girls gone wild… totally hilarious!
M