Man. It hardly seems possible that we have a three year old. A three year old who is quickly developing his own set of opinions about the world, repeats EVERYTHING, and makes me crazy proud to be his mama.
About repeating everything - I have had to train my sailor mouth to stop dropping F bombs (mostly successful), stop saying "shit" when I drop stuff (shoot just doesn't give the same satisfaction) and dad has had to learn to stop saying "Damnit!" when he's frustrated. We both curse like sailors, so it's taken a good deal of behavior modification.
About a year ago - Ivan must have just turned two, he picked up the word "shit" from us. He started using it in the right context too; like when he dropped a toy or made a mistake. At first it was shocking hearing such words coming from my little guy, but then later it was kind of funny. I would say, oh you mean "shoot" and he'd say, "No, mama. I mean shit." Um, oops.
At three, Ivan loves puzzles (he can put together a 24 piece puzzle with no help!), ice cream (man, does he LOVE ice cream), books, bike rides, singing, and Legos. He is curious, imaginative, sweet and VERY stubborn. And as annoying as this trait is now, I think it will serve him well later in life to be so strong-willed and spirited so I try my best not to crush this. But when it came to potty training, oh man, did that stubborn trait just about drive me to the madhouse.
Potty training loosely started in February, when Ivan was 2 1/2. In retrospect, he was not ready. He was showing textbook signs of being ready - hiding when he needed to go, telling me when he'd gone, showing self awareness, but I should know by now that everything happens on Ivan's own time (hello 41 week pregnancy and 30+ hour labor that ended up emergency c-section). We tried the potty training bootcamp method which I DO NOT recommend for a spirited child. It ended up backfiring and he refused to even sit on the toilet. We took a break and came back to it a couple of months later but still felt like it was not "clicking."
Over the last few weeks, we applied a method using the following:
1. This sticker chart. We put the chart up on the wall above his potty and it is a clear visual of his progress.
2. This potty training app. It's annoying, but it works. Ivan particularly likes telling the app when he goes potty and playing one of the games as a reward.
3. Trucks like these. For the first weekend that we went really hard core with this, he got a truck every time he went in the toilet. This was David's idea and it was a key motivator for this truck/car obsessed boy. There were only five trucks in the pack so we aren't doing this anymore, but I think this was especially effective. I found them for way cheaper at Big Lots.
4. M&Ms. Three m&ms for pee and five for poop. Pretty sweet deal.
5. Lots of Alcohol. (for me, not the kid)
And lo and behold! We are now well on our way to being totally potty-trained. I don't know why it took this much convincing and downright bribery to convince someone not to shit their pants, but I'm not even mad about it anymore. I want to dance and sing and laugh and skip. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that the sight of someone's shit would make me so happy or so proud. Motherhood is a trip.
