For the past two weeks, we’ve been dealing with what I consider my most difficult parenting task so far – potty training. At nearly 3 ½, Abbie still doesn’t have any desire to be one of the big kids and go on the potty. Seriously, potty training is not for the faint of heart.
But you guys – my daughter is stubborn as stubborn can be and she is fighting this change every step of the way. She likes things just the way they are, thank you very much. We have tried almost everything I can think of – rewards, frequent trips, bribes, distraction – nothing has worked so far. Honestly, it’s pretty frustrating. I know she has the ability to do it, but she just refuses – she gets that stubbornness from my side of the family.
This is where I am so thankful we decided to use Pull-Ups to start the potty training process, because they have made all of that bearable. It’s easy to get her to sit on the potty to try, yet if she has an accident it’s no big deal.
Curious as to if other people have this issue, I took the Potty Training personality test for Abbie – and she’s a turtle. Slow and wants to learn things at her own pace, which completely describes what we’re going through and why she’s fighting us. Persistence and support is what’s going to get us over the hump here, and we’ve just got to be patient. I also plan on trying some of these fun potty training games with Abbie and grabbing her a few more potty books to read – for her personality, the more it’s around, the better.
In the meantime, I’m just thankful we have Pull-Ups to learn with, and that I snagged a coupon for $2 off at Dollar General, making them a bit easier on the wallet. If you’re in the process of potty training with me, make sure you grab yours here!
10 Responses
Potty training was definitely the most stressful parenting “thing” for us to date. Maddy was also a turtle and is already so strong-willed that it was like pulling teeth for her to use the potty. My mother finally told me, “Stop rushing it. She will do it when she’s ready, so stop stressing you and her out!” And sure enough, she did. One day, it was like it just clicked and she’s been using the potty ever since. Hang in there! I know it’s challenging! Happy Mother’s Day!
Ha! Typical Maddy. We had to keep pushing really, but she finally “got it” on Friday and we’ve been making progress since! One day at a time though… here’s hoping we’re at 100% by the time this new one gets here!
I wish I had some advice for you. Sammy just turned 3 and has been potty trained since the weekend after Christmas. I tried off and on since last October and did EVERYTHING-stickers, new undies, candy, you name it, but she just didn’t care to go on the potty. Weekend after Christmas was a long weekend so we tried then, just put her in underwear for a couple days straight. There was pee everywhere in the house…so it definitely requires patience BUT she finally got it by day 3…Now we are working on going #2 in the potty full-time! She’s only done it a few times but just still prefers to go in her diaper. They sure are stubborn aren’t they?! But when she’s ready, she’s ready. It’s just frustrating because you know they can totally do it, they just don’t want to!
We finally had some success on Friday – I’m really hoping it sticks and we’ll be done soon! They are just so set in their ways, huh?
We have been potty training for nearly a year. While I would say we are 98% potty trained, it’s that 2% that seriously sends me over the edge.
That would drive me crazy too!
Potty training was 100% the hardest parenting task we have had this far! Scarlett was like Abbie, slow to adjust, stubborn and just not interested! It did eventually get easier when she was reDy for it but she was well over three so don’t stress about it too much! I always say, they’ll be out of diapers before they’re in school 🙂 xo
Oh my gosh, I’d rather do any other task again than potty training! Thankfully Abbie finally seems to have gotten it!
Oh man, I don’t even want to think about potty training yet! I think we are going to try this summer when my husband is home from work, but I am already not looking forward to it!
Sooo hard. Literally worst parenting task so far! Good luck this summer, hopefully Jude is better about it!