Potty Pities

A few months back, you might recall that we officially started potty training with Eli. I had high hopes for a quick and easy process but I was immediately disappointed. I didn't know what I was doing and Eli was not interested in leaving his beloved diapers. So, eventually, I let it drop and thought I would pick it up in a few weeks. Now, nearly a year later, I finally bought the book and got serious. We picked a week when Mark was on spring break and we could camp out in my mom's sizeable kitchen for a few days. I figured it could use a urine bath.

Apparently I had underestimated the mammoth task that lay in front of us. The first time Eli peed his pants, right through his mini-sized underwear, he just looked down at the floor puzzled. He kept calling my name and looking at it. He asked what it was and assured me several times that he had not thrown up on the floor. No, I explained to him, you have not thrown up, this is the pee I have to clean out of your diapers every day. The day continued with some accidents and some successes. Then day two. Eli didn't pee for 3 hours straight but once he did (partially on the floor), he went every few minutes. Fantastic fun.

These are not short days. We just sit in a chair for endless hours, hoping for success and reminding Eli every so often that the pee goes in the toilet, not on the floor. Last night Eli woke up twice in the middle of the night, and both times, through his half-asleep mumbles, I realized he was rehashing the day and having a nightmare about potty training. I, myself, was having similar dreams.

Today was similarly frustrating, but had some marked rewards. But at this point, I can't see my toddler leaving his play time or telling me at a store, unprompted, that he has to pee. Instead, he might just pee a little in his pants every day for the rest of his life before he realizes he has to go (this might make an uncomfortable situation at his first job).

We will continue to train, though we want to give up. The price of diapers alone fuels our motivation.

I am including some pictures of the members of our team that are all exhausted. Linda, in a show of support, decided to take a nap on one of Eli's diapers to demonstrate to him that we need to put these diapers to bed! Also, this picture of Mark is not staged. He literally fell asleep on the floor of the living room.

Don't make fun of my kid's skinny legs. He's going to be recruited for the AC Milan Jr. Team some day.


Linda in diaper heaven


Body found on the floor of the living room


Eli singing opera on the toilet


Lorenzo and Linda sharing a moment in the sun