Potty Training

Our story begins in 2004 when Caleb was two years old. He was like any typical child, or so I thought. He showed interest in the potty so I bought him one. He successfully peed in it a few times and then quit. So I put it away thinking he just was not ready. After all, he had just turned two.

As he got older I tried potty training again. This time he completely balked at it so I threw in the towel and waited a little while longer. I had attributed most of his balking to his dad and I separating, his older sister going to live with their dad, moving to a new place, and him having to spend more time at a babysitters because of my job.

Then I lost my job, discovered I was pregnant and we got a new babysitter. Even she had a time getting him to go potty. I struggled for the next 22 months, just two months shy of his 4th birthday before I finally got him potty trained. It felt like a ton of bricks had come off my back.

For over a year I had friends and family hounding me about getting my son potty trained. Even his dad had been critical accusing me of neglecting our son. It was humiliating enough to have your neighbors children come and tell you he's had an accident or to go to church and everyone else's children are potty trained in his Sunday School class. You had to cut short times to do errands or grocery shopping to keep from being embarrassed.

A close friend of mine who has an early childhood background could tell I was at my wits end. She shared with me the book she co-wrote about potty training. After potty training hundreds of two and three year olds including her own two boys in a twenty year span there were Three things she emphasized to me, that 1) I have to be consistent with him; put him on a schedule. 2) I let him take a favorite toy, book, blanket or snack if I want him to cooperate and thus, relax. 3)Whatever I am feeling he WILL pick up on it.

From what my son's Autism specialist shared with me recently, a schedule is imperative at home and at school. My son let me know he likes this idea. Also, he is a very intuitive child. Anyone who is angry, agitated, upset, sad, or happy he will pick up on it. I can bet that anytime I am having a not-so-good day he picks up on it and reacts in a negative way. This little tid bit has helped me change my attitude, my way of thinking and what I say. Basically, it has helped me work on creating a more positive life for myself and my children.