As a parent navigating the world of potty training, I’ve hit a new low—I’ve recently purchased a book titled Percy the Poop. Yes, it’s a children’s story centered around a talking piece of feces. The idea is that by giving poop a voice and personality, my daughter might understand where it belongs: in the potty.
It’s been a year since my daughter embarked on her potty training journey. A full year. And let me tell you, it has been a challenging 365 days, with no clear end in sight.
Our journey into potty training began unexpectedly. One weekend, my then two-year-old declared that she wanted to use the potty. Easy peasy, right? For the first few days, I could count the number of pee accidents on one hand. My husband and I were thrilled, thinking, “This is a breeze! What do other parents mean when they talk about the terrors of potty training?”
Then came the poop.
While I understand that every child’s experience with potty training is unique—some facing more challenges than others—our struggle revolves entirely around bowel movements. It’s hard to believe that a basic biological function could become this overwhelming.
Before you offer up a list of solutions, let me assure you that I’ve tried everything. Here are just a few of the tactics I’ve employed to encourage my daughter to poop in the potty:
- Offering her small and large rewards.
- Using a toddler potty chair and bringing it into various rooms.
- Trying a Disney-themed potty seat for the adult toilet.
- Implementing a potty money jar where she collects coins for each successful poop. Spoiler: we currently have one penny.
- Creating an elaborate sticker chart with large, expensive Disney princess stickers.
- Letting her watch videos and even full-length movies as motivation.
- Using special treats or candy as incentives.
- Reading poop-themed potty training books (hello, Percy).
- Demonstrating by dumping poop from her underwear into the potty.
- Making her clean up accidents.
- Allowing her to choose pull-ups or diapers for pooping.
- Sitting beside her in the bathroom or giving her privacy.
- Letting her pick out fun underwear at the store.
- Trying bare-bottom days at home (apologies to any visitors).
- Allowing her to “decorate” the poop in the toilet with glitter or color tablets.
I’ve cheered her on daily, broken into song and dance about the joys of poop, and even resorted to bribery. There have been tears, raised voices, and moments of questioning my sanity as I discuss poop in absurdly enthusiastic ways. I’ve even joined a potty training support group online—yes, it’s come to that!
The crux of the issue lies in my daughter’s stubbornness and her intelligence. She knows exactly what she should be doing but chooses not to. Unlike many children who may be fearful or hesitant, her reasons are different. There’s no discernible pattern to when she decides to go, making it difficult for me to intervene in time. This has led to a state of heightened awareness on my part, where I practically shadow her, watching for any telltale signs of an impending accident. This obsessive behavior is both exhausting and anxiety-inducing.
“Relax,” well-meaning friends advise. “She’ll figure it out eventually. Have you ever seen a high schooler still in diapers?” Clearly, they haven’t experienced the unique challenges I face. Yes, I know she will eventually get it, but that doesn’t lessen the frustration of the process.
When I find myself rinsing out dirty underwear for the umpteenth time, I remind myself that one day, this will all be a distant memory. Then I remember, I’ll likely be starting the potty training journey all over again with another child, facing many more pairs of little undies to wash.
The journey is long and filled with challenges, but I hold onto the hope that one day, she will use the potty without hesitation.
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Summary
Potty training can be a daunting journey for parents, especially when it comes to bowel movements. Despite various strategies attempted, challenges remain, particularly with stubbornness and unpredictability. However, patience and humor may ultimately lead to success.