So, it's hard to say who is the happiest about our latest milestone, but I might give it to our babysitter, C. She likes spending time with our kids a few Saturdays a month, but she dreaded the words from E's mouth after dinner, "I have to go poo. Can you please put a diaper on me?" Now you may not be familiar with all of the "normal" stages of potty training, but this particular stage of potty training is supposed to last a few days, *maybe* a few weeks, according to the books on this subject that are written by the experts. But I'm pretty sure it was about a year for my little E. Yep. A whole year. He never went at school. Nope. Just at home.
One day a long time ago and shortly after he started wearing underwear (because he was a quick study about peeing in the potty), he pooped in his underwear. I was so grossed out and upset...and I guess I sent a strong message to him because he never did it again. But after that, when he had to go, he asked for a diaper. Lest you judge, or simply wonder why we did not tell him to use the potty, I can assure you that insisting that any of my children sit on the potty is just a plain waste of time. They have wills very strong, and bodies even stronger! Reading on the potty, not having any of it. Begging did not work. Alas, this was the same stage that A went through, and after a few weeks (well, yes, to be honest it was several months, although my memory sincerely does fail me)...one day she just decided she could go in the potty and that was the end of her diapers. But this young man, my baby boy, he takes the cake. I had almost resigned myself to the fact that I might have to pack a diaper in his kindergarten back pack before he would get past this stage (I'm only kidding, Nana!! I swear!!!!).
So, one night a few weeks ago, after dinner (yes, we like routine around here)...E asked me for a diaper. He said he *really* had to go. So I thought I'd give it one of our semi-regular attempts to put him on the potty, since you never know when the timing just might be right. Well, he sat on the potty, and he said he had to go...but he just wanted his diaper to go in so he asked to get down. So next came my semi-regular begging for him to go in the potty. About this time his brother and sister finished dinner and decided to be the cheerleading squad at the doorway. And finally, there was my semi-regular BRIBE. For many months now, I have told E that when he goes poo in the potty he will get a toy. And so will his brother and sister (this part was just to encourage them to give him some peer pressure, which they did semi-regularly but just as unsuccessfully as everything else).
Now, the toy I have always had in my mind was a power tool. He likes tools, he likes noise, and he likes things with batteries and power. But I never told him what this toy was because I wanted it to really have he wow-factor when he earned it. So this night, he actually perked up a bit when I mentioned the toy thing. So I told him this toy was not just an average toy, but something remarkable and awesome. His brother and sister got on the train and talked about how much fun it would be to have a new toy. BBC was especially cute and earnest. He said things like, "Come on, E, you can do it! I know you can!" and "It will be so cool when you see your poo in the potty and you can flush it down."
Well, the stars aligned, the encouragement flowed, and it doesn't hurt that I think he really had to go. So, he did it. In the potty. Well, the party in the bathroom was hysterical. E was so excited and happy and surprised that he almost cried sitting there, really. BBC danced a spontaneous dance and he and A were in the halls screaming with excitement and calling for Daddy. Daddy did the best potty dance of the past 4 years of potty dances I can remember. I was in shock and almost speechless. And thanks to Auntie M and Uncle S, I had the coolest blue power tool toy hidden away in the closet just ready for giving for the reward of it all.


The best part was, that once it was done, that was it. He insisted that the very next day we take every single diaper out of this house to his preschool. We had about 10 left, and he gave a couple to each and every room in the daycare, starting with the baby room, the Willow room, the Apple room, and the Treefrog room. I tried to skip a room if no one was around that morning, but he wanted to go find the teacher for that room and be sure she had the diapers that she needed that he no longer needed. And so, another milestone comes in like a lion around here. He has been using the potty like a champ ever since.
