Poopie talk Fridays

I thought I'd give one (hopefully!) last potty training update.

Four weeks ago on Monday, darling daughter and I started on our potty training journey with the three-day potty training method. A month after starting potty training, I'm proud to say that we are about 95 per cent trained (knock on wood).

Now, I hope the potty training gods don't look upon this post and spite me for being cocky enough to say that we are almost at the end of the training journey. For the last week and a half, darling daughter has been pooping in the potty like a little champ. After initiating positive peer pressure, naming every kid to her who she knows who poops in the potty, both dear husband and I then introduced the "push, push, push" mantra. Push, push, push, we tell her. Push that poop out! We sound like a pair of labour and delivery nurses cheering on a patient. But you got to do what you have to do to encourage potty training.

It seems to be working. Now when she is trying to do her business, she says "push, push, push." Plus, the special surprises (otherwise known as Smarties) help as an incentive for potty usage.

The reason I say 95 per cent and not 100 per cent is because of the use of Pullups. Last week I gathered up enough courage to try out disposable training pants. Darling daughter was sick and no one was getting any sleep until I got her to wear Pullups. They were a security blanket of sorts, allowing her to sleep past 4 a.m. in her own bed. Having a tossing, kicking toddler in your bed at 4 a.m. is not a lot of fun as no one gets sleep.

For the most part, darling daughter is dry in the mornings. Last night when we got her up at 11 p.m. for her nightly pee and Pullup change she didn't have them on for very long. About an hour later she was demanding the Pullup off and wanting underwear instead.

So this is where we are in our potty training journey. There have been a lot of hard work, tears, poopie messes, coaxing and poopie talk. It is a work in progress and hopefully we will soon be done.