yes, potty on the pot!

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I am please to report that Nathanael is in the process of potty learning. Last weekend, I decided to give it a go, and it has been a success! At least, mostly a success.  Definitely ahead of Elizabeth's personal potty learning schedule  - she was about 3 years 2 months before she relented and was pretty much completely day trained in a few days. N is just about 2 years 5 months.

Before I was a parent, I told myself I wouldn't "bribe" my kids to use a potty.  Totally reformed potty briber, here.  We started with m&m's since I already had a few waiting to be eaten.  Then we got some skittles.  Either one works for my kids.

I will admit, the organic, don't-feed-my-kids-artificial-sugars-and-food-coloring part of me (yes, I own a set of food coloring that is all-natural and cost an astonishing $17) is crying out in anguish at the side of me that is getting my kids skittles for the potty. 

Maybe if I had a health food/natural whatever store around I would find something "better" there, but for now, I stick to easy, because hey, being 25 weeks pregnant while chasing two kids in the middle of a crazy long heat wave while I crave ice cream but can't give any to my kid, I realized that Dairy Queen also has slushies, and slushies and ice cream all come in the same kind of cup and those all have artificial junkiness in them anyway, so what's a few skittles? Did I just say all that out loud? Nobody's perfect, least of all me.

Back to the potty.

The first day, there were mostly "accidents" in his training pants.  I think that day helped him figure out more what was going on, and to realize he didn't like the sensation of pee running down his leg.  I mean, he's been telling us for a while about peeing, but would just refuse any potty, of any size or location.  Put the potty in front of the TV with a clear container of treats in obvious sight but out of reach, and suddenly, using the potty is much more exciting.

Once the boy realized that every time he used the potty he got a treat, he demonstrated a remarkable ability to pee just a little bit, and then 10 minutes later miraculously need to go AGAIN for yet ANOTHER treat.  He's got the system beat.

We're making our treats work double hard for us, by employing Elizabeth, too.  She gets a treat when he goes, which inspires her to ask him once in a while.  Totally to our benefit.

At first, he refused the big potty, but now he's willing to give that a try.  Good thing, as we're preparing for an upcoming vacation where little potties will not be available.

Once he seems to be pretty reliable, the treats will suddenly start to run out.  He's still not pooping in the potty, but hey, small steps. I'm just glad I have a kid who's potty learning before age 3!