The Post About Pee & Poop

"Don't worry, Braedyn will use the potty when he's ready."

If I never heard this phrase again, it would be too soon. I was repeatedly told by the pediatrician and Braedyn's school teachers that potty training is not something I can force upon my child. And if I do force it upon him, I would regret it. I tried to believe it, I really did. But as Braedyn inched further and further away from 2 years of age, and closer and closer to 3 1/2 years of age, the fear began to set in. You know, the fear that he would go to college in Pull-Ups.

I finally took the advice of a good friend who recommended to just put him in regular underwear (thanks Mel). I finally did that, because seriously, what the hell did I have to lose at this point. So after painstakingly picking out just the right themed-underwear, I introduced them to Braedyn and he happily put on his Thomas the Train underwear, which absolutely thrilled me. That is, until he peed in them 30 minutes later. And then again 2 hours later. And then again 2 more hours later. You see a pattern forming here?

But aside from all the messiness, is it not the cutest thing ever seeing your toddler in big boy underwear?!? This picture below was taken to memorialize Braedyn's first time wearing big boy underpants. Too bad Chase thought the picture was all about him instead. =)~

After being frustrated with the underwear thing, and Braedyn eventually not wanting to wear them, I took a 2-week break for the sake of my sanity. I finally resumed this process last Saturday, and guess what happened... that's right, Braedyn promptly peed in his underwear about 30 minutes after putting them on.

But then, something magical happened. He must've got tired of peeing on himself, because after that, he began to tell me when he had to go potty, and he meant it. I kid you not when I tell you that I was THISCLOSE to crying tears of joy the first time this happened. He quickly got the hang of learning when he had to pee, but he had a horrible fear of pooping on the potty. I knew this would be a challenge, so I did what any rational mom would do... I let him flip through a Toy Story 3 book and point to all the toys he wanted, and I promised them to him if he pooped on the potty. Now, I'm not saying that bribery is the answer, but I am saying that I'm pretty sure it sped up the poop-on-potty process, because he is no longer going in his pants.

Today marked the first day that Braedyn wore Big Boy Underwear to school, and he wore them all day without incident. That is... until we got home, and he got all caught up in his toys, and then started to shout, "Mommy, I need to get clean". But after this one pee-in-pants incident, he resumed his normal use of the potty. So, we're not completely there yet. But we are 75% of the way there, and I'm pretty positive that by next weekend, I will feel confident in FINALLY saying, "One kid down, one kid to go".

I am not exaggerating when I say that potty training has been the most emotionally and mentally exhausting thing I've had to deal with since the boys were born. It even trumps the severe sleep deprivation I suffered the first two months with Braedyn (and umm, the first 10 months with Chase). And I seriously have nothing left, I gave every ounce of my being towards potty training Braedyn. When do you think I should inform him that it is now his duty to potty train Chase. Seriously...