the potty champ

we’ve been working on potty training for a long time at our house. for awhile jane was interested, then she just wasn’t at all. we’ve tried all kinds of incentives including cheetos, m&m’s and toys. we have watched lots of potty videos and have read every potty book on the market. we have used several different potty charts to track our progress.

recently we did 2 things that have paid off- well sort of. the first thing we did was make a new potty chart. this one had words, not pictures- so jane could actually read it. it had some pretty good prizes on it. the second thing we did was stop buying diapers. jane did pretty good. she was averaging a potty prize about once a week- or one good potty a day. eventually i had to make a new potty chart. this one had good prizes too. really good ones. on the picture, the “mall dollhouse store” is pottery barn kids! what was i thinking?!) but i figured that we could swing a new toy once a week. to be honest, i didn't think that she would get good at going potty anytime soon. but i was wrong. this kid kicked it into high gear. she started to average a new potty prize EVERY DAY. she started raking in the potty prizes. now i get two or three phone calls a day from jane. she calls every time she does a good potty while i’m away at work. she and Deanna have invented a special pee-pee-dance to celebrate each time she uses her potty powers. after the dance comes the special ceremony of putting a good job sticker on her chart.

jane finally got through her expensive potty chart and i got to make a new one. it could have been a lot worse. she chose some fairly inexpensive toys when we went to go and redeem her potty prizes. the new costume turned into new ariel pj's. her new potty chart is much more affordable- and has prizes that are just as fun- like a cookie from togo’s, a trip to the park and a visit to chuck e. cheese. all that is to say that my kid is a potty champ- and i’ll know not to underestimate her willpower in the future! its all worth it because its great to see her overcome a personal obstacle and grow in her confidence. POTTY POWER!