Adventures in Twin Potty Training: Day 1

Editor's Note:  I wrote this post in real-time, though I've waited a while to publish it.  Why?  Check out this recap.  Now, cue the time machine and let's back up a few weeks...  

Adventures in Twin Potty Training: Day 1

Mood:  Committed, yet scared to death.

Hopes:  That they will intellectually understand what I'm asking them to do.  That practice and consistency is all we need.

Fears:  Too many to list.  That I won't eat, drink or go to the bathroom all day.  That I will lose my cool over constant accidents.  That I will be counting the seconds until Travis comes home.  That I am opening Pandora's box and we can't go back if this doesn't go well.

Reality:  Waaaaaay better than I could have ever hoped!  I took them to the potty upon waking, talking the whole time about how today is the day that we start practicing how to be a big girl and big boy.  We ditched the diapers, stripped them down and prayed.

Caden asked to go twice before Travis left for work.  He was successful both times.  After that it was 10:40 before there was any other action.  And I was on them like white on rice the whole time.  Waiting.  Playing.  Engaging and then stepping back.  But always being right in the mix.  Watching intently for any sign.  And doing absolutely nothing else.

By 10:40 we had finished snack, and I'd been pushing fluids for a while.  These kids needed practice after all.  Soon enough Caden was playing with toys and I had actually looked down for something when he announced, "I feel the tinkle coming!" and started toward me.  We both raced for the bathroom and he made it.  Mission accomplished!!

At 11:35, after breakfast, snack and a completely bonus juice box, Addison finally let loose.  Unfortunately, she was engrossed in play at the toddler table and either was too busy to notice in time, or just didn't care.  Real quick-like though, she cared, and clenched her legs together.  Creating what I am affectionately going to refer to as "the tinkle sprinkler".  There was more going forward and backward than there was running down.  Seriously.  I was so stunned that it took me a few seconds to respond.  I snatched her up and dashed to the potty, leaving a river running behind us.  The girl is a camel I tell you.  When we got there there wasn't a drop left.  (Womp, womp, womp.)  But, that experience was a great teaching tool.  She helped me clean up (she did 2% and I did the rest) and we talked about it.  I didn't say it was ok, I just called it an accident and said I knew she'd do better next time.  That THAT's what the feeling feels like and next time she feels it, to tell me and we'll run to the potty and make it.

Voila, at 12:01 she announces, "I need to tinkle in the potty."  Off we ran, with me being unsure if she was fibbing.  Guess all that water came in handy because she totally went all over again.

Then right before lunch I told them we were going to the potty before we got into our chairs.  Caden went first and was successful.  I set him up to eat as I took Addison, who was successful as well.  Then she earned bonus points for saying, "I didn't tinkle on the carpet!"

Of course during lunch, she announced three times that she had to go.  On the first false alarm I told her it was not good to fib about the potty.  On the second false alarm I repeated that and added that if it happened again I wouldn't make any more trips to the potty during lunch.  And you guessed it, there was a third false alarm... and no more lunchtime potty trips.

At naps, I put them back into diapers.  Ideally, I'd go cold turkey.  But training two kids at once, who share a room, and who will be experiencing all the excitement of Christmas this month...  made me decide that we'll get potty trained in two phases.  Waking and sleeping.  We'll see how it goes.  I did make sure to say the following script... which we'll repeat for a while during sleep times:

I am going to put your diaper back on while you sleep.   Your nap (or night) is a long time and you might not be able to hold it.  You have done a great job practicing today, and when you wake up we will take the diaper back off again so you can practice some more.

The both totally got that.  And they melted into sleep with no trouble at all.  Learning is hard work!

The afternoon brought 4 out of 5 successes for Caden, including one poop that he insisted was coming for-ev-er (is it just me, or do you hear trumpets?!??).  I love that he kindly saved it for Dad : )  The only miss was right after naps, I just couldn't catch him quick enough upon waking.

Addison was 2 for like a million.  She is all about the false alarms now.  But we talked alot tonight about fibs, how they hurt Mom and Dad's heart because we want to trust them.  There were even a few time outs involved.  She is a camel; a camel who likes to push her limits.

So.  All in all, a super day.  Minimal accidents.  Much success.  And I was even able to get dinner together and had the energy left to put them down tonight.  When you factor in that I'm training two kids at once, I think I may make myself a new mommy badge.

They seem to have the idea of what is happening and the new expectations we have for them.  They get that we have turned a page, and I'm confident that with more practice and our continued commitment they'll get it down pat soon.  That said, I fully expect increased resistance when they figure out that this it for real.  Wonder how long that will take?

Final Editor's Note:  I may gain fifteen pounds potty training these children.  Not only do I eat what I can easily grab instead of prepping something, but this is hard work.  And let's face it.  Chocolate just makes it better.