Potty Forayes

I dreaded potty training from the day my son was born!

Some of the biggest issues hubs and I had concerned it.  So you can imagine that as the time got near I wasn't looking forward to it.  I read anything I could get my hands on, talked to other women who has gone through it, as well as attended a workshop.  However, my fear (?) of this milestone could not be dissipated.

In the end nature and instinct guided me to the best place to be- a spectator.  Yes my friends I decided to simply be a spectator that cheers and encourages and at times gives a few pushes.  So what all this ends up to?  Gregory has a potty and toilet training seat at his disposal which he can use anytime.  There are those rare moments where he asks to use it and those rarer moments where he simply goes on his own to do his business.  Most commonly I leave him running around free and when I see signs of him needing to wee or poo I tell him- looks like you need a wee come lets go to the potty/toilet.  It is occuring more often that he comes willingly and tries -though most of the time he doesn't manage to do anything.  Other times he calls a simple NO!! and that is it.

There are moments where I tell him that he has to put the nappy on if he doesn't wish to use the said potty and he complies other moments its a struggle.  Many a day he simply asks for the nappy and doesn't want to part with it even when soiled.  And so it goes, me cheering when he tries or actually does it and telling everyone else I see to cheer him on.  Sometimes giving him little pushes and reminders but mainly I just let him be.  Giving him the space and time he needs to feel confident enough to take the plunge.

It is quite a dance I tell you but I am not regretting it.  My hubs tried bribing him with toys etc but it didn't really work -it is one of the main ways it seems they get kids to use the potty bribing them with sweets, toys etc- however I admit that when we did that it didn't feel right.  After all this should come naturally to our kids right?  So where does this leave me.......it might take the whole of Summer and Winter and in the end I might need to do some real pushing to get there (especially if he is to start Kindergarten come February) but letting him choose which way he wants to go is reaping a lot of benefits.  I can see the struggle- the wish to use a toilet, yet the fear of what this would imply in his world.  I can see his swaying and so I just smile and encourage him and it is working a treat because since this started (a month ago) we have more yeses than nos and that is a big step forward :)