Today marked the first "official" day of potty training at the Forsythe house. We have tried numerous times, without success, and I have to say part of the failure was due to a stubborn child and part was due to a frustrated Mommy who bailed by the time afternoon rolled around.
I will not lie, it hasn't been easy for us, but today I decided it was "go big or go home" time. We tackled potty training head on and used the ol' "Cold Turkey" method.
-Before reading on please take note that the pictures you will see have a PG-13 Rating-
Post breakfast I took Addy upstairs to sit on the potty. By the feel of her diaper I knew she had just recently gone, but I made her sit and try anyway. Without luck, we put on our princess panties and headed downstairs. After several minutes I noticed some serious dancing going on so we ran upstairs, kicking and screaming the entire time. She did not go and even though I knew better, I let her get down and go back downstairs, proving to be a poor choice when not 2 minutes later she was peeing all over the wood floors.
After some cleaning, a light scolding and a change of panties she understood her role as potty trainee and we were on the path to being diaper free once again.
We went back to playing and put Liva down for her nap and soon later pee was beginning to soak the couch pillow she decided to sit on (which has now been retired to the trash). We ran upstairs to finish the pee on the potty and collected M&M's and a pick of her choice out of the Easter Basket. I like to call this change of events the "Ice Breaker." We had made a connection and we spent the rest of our day in dry panties with 3 pee trips to the potty and 1 poop attempt. Oh, and I should mention, LOTS of Easter candy.
I can't discuss "The Forsythe Method" of potty training without filling you in on the specifics. During our first pee attempt, we spent several minutes playing the waiting game to which we ran out of books rather quickly. So to avoid a fight I scrounged in my closet for something new. For reasons I will never be able to explain, my daughter found delight in this little page turner:
I couldn't even tell you where this book came from. I am sure it was part of the many free items you get when you are pregnant with your first child. Which led me to the realization that you don't get near as much free crap during the following pregnancies. I guess they figure you've been through the craziness already so no need to warn you.
She sat and flipped through this book every single trip to the bathroom today. And I have to say, we both became very well educated on caring for your baby and young child.
She was especially intrigued with this photo. This was the boy who was also pottying and for some reason she started calling him her "brother."
During our poop attempt she found this little photo and said, "Aw that is sooooo cute."
...which left me somewhat worried about her perception of "cute." And then she came across this photo to which she said, "Oh vengables.... like grapes." Which is wrong on many different levels.
Needless to say it has been an interesting and successful day. I am very proud of her and I hope and pray it continues through the weekend. We are sticking to our guns, no matter how many couch pillows she ruins or how many self help books we go through.
Sincerely Yours,
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